1st Advantage MortgageIn Douglas County, Washington, the typical household earns $80,363 a year and the typical rent is $1,305. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Douglas County, WA: the basics
- How much Douglas County households make
- Douglas County housing compared with Washington
- The Douglas County job picture
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Douglas County
- Counties near Douglas County
- Debt-to-income at Douglas County's medians
- More Douglas County figures
- What the numbers mean for Douglas County borrowers
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in Washington
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Douglas County, WA: the basics
Douglas County is home to about 44,366 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 25th most populous of 39 county-level areas in Washington. Land area is 1,819 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 24 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 6 Census places inside Douglas County, East Wenatchee leads by population with about 14,199; 6 of the 6 are incorporated.
How much Douglas County households make
Douglas County households have a median income of $80,363 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 16th of 39 in Washington.
| Households earning | Douglas County | +/- vs Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.1% | 0.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.5% | +9.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.7% | -2.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.8% | -6.7 pts |
About 16% of households earn under $35,000, while 39% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 8.3%, 2 points lower than the state's 9.9%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.431 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Douglas County housing compared with Washington
A typical Douglas County rental runs $1,305 a month including utilities, which is 26% below Washington. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 46% of renter households here. With a median value of $432,500, a typical Douglas County house costs 5.4 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 69% of homes. The median year built is 1988.
| Housing | Douglas County | Washington statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,305/mo | $1,760/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $432,500 | $564,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 64% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 30% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 11% | 7% | n/a |
The Douglas County job picture
The biggest employer of Douglas County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 21% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (16%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 16% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.9% in Douglas County. About 76% drive to work alone and 8% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 4.3% of the total (7.1% statewide).
| Top industries | Douglas County share | +/- vs Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.9% | -0.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 16.4% | +14.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.4% | +0.9 pts |
| Construction | 10.8% | +3.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.3% | -7.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 6.6% | -2.4 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Douglas County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Douglas County
6 Census places fall mainly inside Douglas County; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 20,385 residents, leaving about 54% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Waterville has the highest median household income on the list ($78,589) and Bridgeport the lowest ($52,375), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Bridgeport ($763) and steepest in East Wenatchee ($1,327). No Douglas County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 6.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Wenatchee | city | 14,199 | $77,558 | $1,327 | 35 mi |
| Bridgeport | city | 1,792 | $52,375 | $763 | 18 mi |
| Coulee Dam | town | 1,595 | $66,732 | $1,033 | 37 mi |
| Rock Island | city | 1,251 | $69,861 | $1,143 | 33 mi |
| Waterville | town | 1,250 | $78,589 | $1,200 | 19 mi |
| Mansfield | town | 298 | $61,458 | $575 | 6 mi |
Counties near Douglas County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (38 to 74 miles). 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Douglas County; Chelan County is highest at $82,381 and Ferry County lowest at $55,614.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas County | - | $80,363 | $1,305/mo | 69% |
| Grant County, WA | 38 mi | $73,267 | $1,116/mo | 66% |
| Chelan County, WA | 44 mi | $82,381 | $1,226/mo | 65% |
| Okanogan County, WA | 56 mi | $63,207 | $887/mo | 72% |
| Lincoln County, WA | 60 mi | $71,512 | $883/mo | 80% |
| Kittitas County, WA | 63 mi | $73,804 | $1,341/mo | 61% |
| Ferry County, WA | 74 mi | $55,614 | $663/mo | 78% |
Debt-to-income at Douglas County's medians
How much room does a median Douglas County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,697 before taxes
- Less median rent of $1,305, which is 19% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,106 a month
If your rent is above $1,305, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
More Douglas County figures
College graduates make up 21% of the adult population. 13.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Douglas County | All of Washington | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 38.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.5% | 39.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.5% | 7.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.3% | 6.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.3% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.5% | 19.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.3% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.9% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Douglas County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 42.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.6% |
| 60+ min | 3.8% |
What the numbers mean for Douglas County borrowers
What the Douglas County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Uninsured care. 13% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 13% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- 46% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Douglas County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Washington borrowers.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Checking a lender's license in Washington
Consumer lenders serving Douglas County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Washington that is the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Washington guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Washington guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Douglas County?
$80,363 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $98,141 for Washington. It ranks 16th of 39 in the state.
What do renters pay in Douglas County?
$1,305 a month at the median, about 19% of median household income.
I live in a small Douglas County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers East Wenatchee, Bridgeport, Coulee Dam, Rock Island, Waterville and 1 more.
Are Douglas County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Douglas County?
Start with the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.