Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Centralia, WA Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

18,830

Median Agei

Race & Ethnicityi

White

72.4%13,631

Hispanic/Latino

19.7%3,702

Two or More

3.6%669

Asian

1.6%298

Black

1.1%206

Other

0.9%165

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.7%128

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.2%31

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

6.4%863

High School Diploma

25.2%3,385

Some College (<1 yr)

7.6%1,017

Some College (1+ yr)

19.1%2,568

Associate's Degree

11.8%1,583

Bachelor's Degree

13.4%1,797

Master's Degree

4.9%652

Professional Degree

1.1%142

Doctorate

0.1%11

HS or Higher

89.5%

BA or Higher

19.4%

Graduate+

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$318,200

Median Renti

$1,084

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

60%4,740

Renter-Occupied

40%3,154

Total Units

8,121

Homeownership

60%

Vacancy Rate

2.8%

Home Values

Under $50K

6.2%294

$50K–$100K

7%334

$100K–$150K

3.5%168

$150K–$200K

11.5%545

$200K–$300K

16.1%765

$300K–$500K

45.6%2,162

$500K–$1M

9.1%430

$1M+

0.9%42

Rent Distribution

Under $500

401

$500–$750

288

$750–$1,000

639

$1,000–$1,250

619

$1,250–$1,500

418

$1,500–$2,000

574

$2,000+

131

Year Built

2020 or later

0.7%60

2010–2019

3.1%251

2000–2009

12.4%1,009

1990–1999

14.7%1,193

1980–1989

13.1%1,064

1970–1979

17.5%1,422

1960–1969

4.7%382

1950–1959

5.1%411

1940–1949

6%484

1939 or earlier

22.7%1,845

Heating Fuel

Electricity

80.4%6,350

Utility Gas

17.1%1,348

Wood

1.1%88

Bottled/LP Gas

1%76

Other

0.3%20

No Fuel

0.2%12

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$56,219

Mean Household Incomei

$73,591

Per Capita Incomei

$31,407

Poverty Ratei

19.2%

Unemploymenti

5.7%

Labor Forcei

8,758

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

5.7%450

$10K–$15K

4.6%363

$15K–$20K

5.6%440

$20K–$25K

4.2%334

$25K–$30K

9.5%751

$30K–$35K

5.3%422

$35K–$40K

5.1%404

$40K–$45K

3.9%306

$45K–$50K

3.4%267

$50K–$60K

3.7%289

$60K–$75K

9.4%742

$75K–$100K

13%1,030

$100K–$125K

8.6%678

$125K–$150K

7%553

$150K–$200K

8%631

$200K+

3%234

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

1,8479.8%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

959

Philippines

122

China

Germany

Canada

United Kingdom

Korea

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

7,886

Avg. Commutei

25.6 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

8,251

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

1,171(7.7% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

90.6%Insured

9.4%Uninsured