Yakima, WA Local Data & Statistics

State: WA

Total population: 96,961 Household income: $62,815 Rent: $1,117

Overview

Total population

96,961

Rent

$1,117

Year built

1972

Household income

$62,815

Per capita income

$30,483

Poverty rate

16.6%

Unemployment rate

6.8%

Household size

2.7 persons

Rent over 30% of income

47%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Washington

Total population

96,961

Adults over 25

61,235

Total households

35,726

Household size

2.7 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$62,815

Per capita income

$30,483

Poverty rate

16.6%

Unemployment rate

6.8%

Rent over 30% of income

47%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,117

Year built

1972

Households that rent

46.2%

Households that own

53.8%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.1

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

48.3%

Black

1.1%

Asian

1.5%

Two or more races

26.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

49.4%

Not Hispanic or Latino

50.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

92.4%

Commute time to work

18 mins

Work from home

7.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

38.8%

High school graduate or GED

29.3%

Some college or associate degree

11.1%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

20.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Yakima, WA with: Washington State United States

Yakima, WA

Total population96,961

Rent$1,117

Year built1972

Household income$62,815

Per capita income$30,483

Poverty rate16.6%

Unemployment rate6.8%

Washington State

Total population7,816,116

Rent$1,760

Year built1985

Household income$98,141

Per capita income$53,744

Poverty rate9.9%

Unemployment rate4.5%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityYakima, WA	StateWashington	CountryUnited States
Total population	96,961	7,816,116	334,922,499
Rent	$1,117	$1,760	$1,413
Year built	1972	1985	1980
Household income	$62,815	$98,141	$80,734
Per capita income	$30,483	$53,744	$44,673
Poverty rate	16.6%	9.9%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	6.8%	4.5%	4%

View the complete comparison of Yakima, WA, Washington and United States →

Summary for Yakima, WA

Yakima is located in Washington.

Rent & Income

In Yakima, the typical monthly rent is $1,117 and the typical household income is $62,815. Rent here is lower than in both Washington and the U.S., and household income is also lower than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 16.6%, which is higher than in both Washington and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 46.2% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 20.8% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 6.8%, which is higher than both Washington and the national rate.

Yakima, WA — Rent vs Household Income

Yakima, WA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Yakima, WA compares in Washington State (25 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,117	1 / 25	from lower rent	$1,117 – $2,857
Household income	$62,815	25 / 25	from higher income	$62,815 – $239,690
Poverty rate	16.6%	24 / 25	from lower poverty	4.3% – 18.6%
Unemployment rate	6.8%	25 / 25	from lower unemployment	2.8% – 6.8%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Washington State with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Yakima, WA

Rent

Yakima ranks 1st out of 25 large places in Washington for rent. Statewide rents range from $1,117 in Yakima, WA to $2,857 in Sammamish, WA.

Household income

For household income, Yakima ranks 25th out of 25 large places. Across Washington, incomes range from $62,815 in Yakima, WA to $239,690 in Sammamish, WA.

Poverty rate

For poverty rates, Yakima is ranked 24th among 25 major areas. Across Washington, poverty runs from 4.3% in Sammamish, WA to 18.6% in Bellingham, WA.

Unemployment rate

Yakima places 25th among 25 large communities for unemployment. Statewide figures run from 2.8% to 6.8%.

💰 Rent in Yakima, WA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,117 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Yakima, WA

Annual Household Income: $62,815

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Yakima, WA

Estimated Rate: 16.6%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Yakima, WA

In Yakima, WA, households that rent: 16,489 (46.2%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	16,489	46.2%
Owner-Occupied	19,237	53.8%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Yakima, WA

In Yakima, WA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 7,748 (47%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	7,748	47%
Other renter households	8,741	53%
Total renter households	16,489	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Yakima, WA

Less than High School: 23,781 people (38.8%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 17,946 people (29.3%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 6,792 people (11.1%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 12,716 people (20.8%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 61,235

📊 Unemployment Rate in Yakima, WA

Estimated Rate: 6.8%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Conroe, TX96,976 Orem, UT97,048 Fayetteville, AR97,227 Suffolk, VA96,638 Sunrise, FL96,633 Portsmouth, VA97,299 Beaverton, OR97,502 Deltona, FL95,682 Edmond, OK95,618 Yuma, AZ98,461

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.