1st Advantage MortgageThe median Kittitas County household earns $73,804, and 14% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Kittitas County by the numbers
- Renting and owning in Kittitas County
- Paychecks and income spread in Kittitas County
- Work, industries and travel time in Kittitas County
- Towns and communities in Kittitas County
- Regional comparison for Kittitas County
- Kittitas County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for Kittitas County
- Room for a loan payment in Kittitas County
- Checklist for Kittitas County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Kittitas County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Kittitas County by the numbers
Kittitas County is home to about 47,172 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 23rd most populous of 39 county-level areas in Washington. Land area is 2,297 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 21 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 10 places in the county (5 incorporated, 5 census-designated); the largest is Ellensburg, with about 20,874 residents, or 44% of the county.
Renting and owning in Kittitas County
A typical Kittitas County rental runs $1,341 a month including utilities, which is 24% below Washington. By the Census definition, 58% of Kittitas County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $497,400, about 6.7 times the median household income. 61% of Kittitas County households own their home and 39% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1993.
| Kittitas County | Washington | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,341/mo | $1,760/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $497,400 | $564,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 61% | 64% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 58% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 36% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.1% | 5.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 19% | 7% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Paychecks and income spread in Kittitas County
Kittitas County households have a median income of $73,804 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 22nd of 39 in Washington.
| Income band | Share in Kittitas County | Difference from Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.6% | +7.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.3% | +3.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.5% | -4.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.7% | -6.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 38% of Kittitas County households make $100,000 or more, and 24% make less than $35,000. Census counts 14.4% of Kittitas County residents in poverty, against 9.9% across Washington. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.474 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $73,804 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Work, industries and travel time in Kittitas County
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Kittitas County residents work in education and health care and 16% in arts, lodging and food service. Compared with Washington, the county leans toward arts, lodging and food service (16% against 8%). The survey's unemployment rate for Kittitas County averages 6.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.1%). Long commutes are common here: 16% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Kittitas County | Gap to Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.1% | +3.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 16.0% | +7.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.1% | -1.5 pts |
| Construction | 9.0% | +2.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.9% | -6.7 pts |
| Public administration | 6.0% | +1.0 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Towns and communities in Kittitas County
The table lists the 10 largest of 10 Census places in Kittitas County, by population. Together all 10 hold about 27,079 people, so roughly 43% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $55,438 in Ellensburg to $112,500 in Easton. Median rent ranges from $1,295 in Cle Elum to $2,542 in Easton. No Kittitas County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 10.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellensburg | city | 20,874 | $55,438 | $1,340 | 10 mi |
| Cle Elum | city | 1,905 | $63,973 | $1,295 | 14 mi |
| Kittitas | city | 1,221 | $80,278 | $1,351 | 16 mi |
| Roslyn | city | 1,076 | $104,800 | $1,500 | 24 mi |
| Easton | CDP | 647 | $112,500 | $2,542 | 24 mi |
| South Cle Elum | town | 579 | $66,750 | $1,661 | 14 mi |
| Snoqualmie Pass | CDP | 428 | $140,054 | $1,148 | 39 mi |
| Thorp | CDP | 230 | $120,739 | $1,433 | 4 mi |
| Ronald | CDP | 119 | n/a | n/a | 18 mi |
| Vantage | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 35 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Regional comparison for Kittitas County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (46 to 70 miles). 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Kittitas County; King County is highest at $124,746 and Yakima County lowest at $70,656.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kittitas County | - | $73,804 | $1,341/mo | 61% |
| Yakima County, WA | 46 mi | $70,656 | $1,109/mo | 62% |
| Chelan County, WA | 51 mi | $82,381 | $1,226/mo | 65% |
| Grant County, WA | 57 mi | $73,267 | $1,116/mo | 66% |
| King County, WA | 60 mi | $124,746 | $2,092/mo | 55% |
| Douglas County, WA | 63 mi | $80,363 | $1,305/mo | 69% |
| Pierce County, WA | 70 mi | $99,564 | $1,806/mo | 65% |
Kittitas County residents: age, schooling, coverage
37% of Kittitas County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 5.8%, against 6.3% for Washington.
| People and households | Kittitas County | Washington | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.8 | 38.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 37.0% | 39.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.6% | 7.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.8% | 6.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.4% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.8% | 19.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.4% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.3% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 51.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.1% |
| 60+ min | 12.3% |
Local borrowing considerations for Kittitas County
What the Kittitas County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Rent squeeze. 58% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Kittitas County borrower sees (free reports).
Room for a loan payment in Kittitas County
Kittitas County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $73,804 a year is $6,150 of gross monthly income
- 22% goes to median rent ($1,341)
- Under a 43% cap, $2,645 total minus rent leaves $1,304
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Kittitas County's.
Checklist for Kittitas County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Kittitas County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the Washington license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Licensing and complaints for Kittitas County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Kittitas County borrowers answers to 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 does a typical Kittitas County household make?
About $73,804 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 25% below the Washington median.
What do renters pay in Kittitas County?
$1,341 a month at the median, about 22% of median household income.
I live in a small Kittitas County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Ellensburg, Cle Elum, Kittitas, Roslyn, Easton and 5 more.
Will a Kittitas County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Washington as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Kittitas County?
Start with the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.