Your life in Chelan County, Washington

What stands out

Against every county in America, Chelan County is unusual in three ways: winter sunshine is among the cloudiest in America (-2.6 on the USDA scale), the home price against local income is in the top 3% of American counties (4.8 years of income), and the median home price is in the top 5% of American counties ($540K). Within Washington it ranks 27th of 39 counties for winter sunshine, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in Chelan County, Washington. 79,076 people live here with you. The population held steady at 0.1% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -72).

Washington has no income tax on wages but since 2022 taxes long-term capital gains above $278,000 at 7% and above $1,000,000 at 9%, and it has an estate tax with a $3 million exemption starting in 2025. Sales tax is high, over 10% in Seattle. Home prices in King County are among the highest in the country. The state does not tax retirement income of any kind.

Money

The typical household here brings in $71,876 a year, higher than 78% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $57,540. Unemployment runs 4.8%, higher than 86% of American counties. 8% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 18 minutes each way.

Washington has no state income tax, so none of that goes to the state.

Home

The median home costs $540K, pricier than 95% of American counties, about 4.8 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $1,188 a month. Property tax is 0.75% of home value, roughly $3,082 a year on that median home, lower than 60% of American counties. 63% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.8 per 1,000 residents, lower than 52% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 39 people per 100,000 in 2024, one of the harder-hit counties in the country.

A child born here can expect to live 79.7 years, longer than 90% of American counties. There are 331 active physicians in the county, about 41.9 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 3.0 of 5 stars. 12.3% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.72 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 84% of American counties. 85% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Democratic by 46 points, among the most lopsided counties in the country. 82% of eligible voters turned out. Under Washington law you can get a concealed-carry permit on request, abortion is protected by state law, and marijuana is legal for adults.

Weather and risk

The year averages 46°F, highs near 55 and lows near 37, colder than 89% of American counties. About 39 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 87 out of 100, riskier than 87% of American counties; the county has had 53 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 185 Mbps down, slower than 57% of American counties. There are 5 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 1.4 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 10 breweries, 3 museums.

Where these numbers come from

• BLS QCEW 2024
• CDC 2024
• CMS 2024
• Census 2023
• Census ACS
• Census ACS 2022
• Census Population Estimates 2023
• Census SAHIE 2024
• County Health Rankings 2024
• Derived from ACS 2022 home value / household income
• FAA Airport Database
• FEMA Disaster Declarations 1953–2026
• FEMA National Risk Index 2023 (0–100, all hazards)
• HRSA Area Health Resources File 2023
• IMLS
• NOAA Climate Normals
• National Park Service
• Ookla Speedtest Intelligence
• Open Brewery DB
• OpenElections 2024
• SEDA via County Health Rankings 2024 (3.0 = at grade level; not a Z-score)
• Tax Foundation 2023
• USDA Food Environment Atlas
• Zillow ZHVI 2024
• Washington tax and law data: state revenue department, Tax Foundation, Giffords, Guttmacher (2026)

Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure. Missing figures are left out rather than guessed. Share this page: the address is permanent.