1st Advantage MortgageThe median Lincoln County household earns $71,512, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Washington before sharing details.
On this page
- Lincoln County at a glance
- Household income in Lincoln County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Lincoln County
- Jobs and commutes in Lincoln County
- Lincoln County and the counties next door
- Places inside Lincoln County
- Lincoln County households compared
- Reading the Lincoln County data as a borrower
- Budget math at the Lincoln County median
- Checklist for Lincoln County applicants
- Washington rules that apply in Lincoln County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Lincoln County at a glance
Roughly 11,489 residents live in Lincoln County, Washington, 35th by population among the state's 39 counties and county equivalents. It covers 2,311 square miles of land, or about 5 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Davenport is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 1,774 people (15% of the county total).
Household income in Lincoln County
The median household income in Lincoln County is $71,512; statewide it is $98,141, so Lincoln County runs 27% below Washington as a whole. In the state ranking that is 26th of 39.
| Band | Lincoln County | Compared with Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.3% | +8.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.8% | +7.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.5% | -4.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.5% | -11.0 pts |
Some 24% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 34% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 12.5% of Lincoln County residents in poverty, against 9.9% across Washington. None of these numbers decides a Lincoln County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Rent, home values and ownership in Lincoln County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $883 in Lincoln County versus $1,760 statewide. By the Census definition, 31% of Lincoln County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $292,800, a typical Lincoln County house costs 4.1 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 80%. Median construction year: 1972.
| Home costs | Lincoln County | Washington | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $883/mo | $1,760/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $292,800 | $564,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 64% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 31% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 14.2% | 5.5% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Lincoln County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Jobs and commutes in Lincoln County
The biggest employer of Lincoln County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 27% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (11%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 11% locally and 2% for Washington. The survey's unemployment rate for Lincoln County averages 7.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.1%). Long commutes are common here: 23% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Lincoln County | Difference from Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.0% | +5.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 11.0% | +8.7 pts |
| Construction | 10.4% | +3.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.7% | -1.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.5% | -4.1 pts |
| Public administration | 7.3% | +2.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Lincoln County and the counties next door
Adams County is closest, 40 miles from center to center; the sixth, Ferry County, is 62 miles off. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Lincoln County; Douglas County is highest at $80,363 and Ferry County lowest at $55,614.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | - | $71,512 | $883/mo | 80% |
| Adams County, WA | 40 mi | $66,136 | $877/mo | 69% |
| Spokane County, WA | 47 mi | $78,582 | $1,283/mo | 64% |
| Grant County, WA | 55 mi | $73,267 | $1,116/mo | 66% |
| Douglas County, WA | 60 mi | $80,363 | $1,305/mo | 69% |
| Stevens County, WA | 61 mi | $69,327 | $898/mo | 80% |
| Ferry County, WA | 62 mi | $55,614 | $663/mo | 78% |
Places inside Lincoln County
8 Census places fall mainly inside Lincoln County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 5,771 residents, leaving about 50% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $49,750 in Odessa to $76,849 in Davenport. Median rent ranges from $583 in Wilbur to $1,068 in Davenport. No Lincoln County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 8.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport | city | 1,774 | $76,849 | $1,068 | 13 mi |
| Wilbur | town | 842 | $55,625 | $583 | 18 mi |
| Odessa | town | 783 | $49,750 | $800 | 21 mi |
| Reardan | town | 726 | $73,864 | $740 | 26 mi |
| Sprague | city | 583 | $67,857 | $839 | 28 mi |
| Harrington | city | 468 | $40,444 | $946 | 10 mi |
| Almira | town | 360 | $52,333 | $955 | 26 mi |
| Creston | town | 235 | $56,071 | $580 | 13 mi |
Lincoln County households compared
24% of Lincoln County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 3.4%, against 6.3% for Washington.
| Measure | Lincoln County | Washington statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.9 | 38.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.2% | 39.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.7% | 7.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.4% | 6.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.8% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.0% | 19.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.5% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.8% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Lincoln County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.2% |
| 60+ min | 13.0% |
Reading the Lincoln County data as a borrower
What the Lincoln County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Commuter costs. 23% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- 14% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Retirees. At a median age of 46.9, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
Budget math at the Lincoln County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Lincoln County's medians:
- $71,512 a year is $5,959 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $883 uses 15%
- $1,680: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Lincoln County's.
Checklist for Lincoln County applicants
A short checklist for Lincoln County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Washington borrowers.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Washington rules that apply in Lincoln County
The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Washington license. 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
Is Lincoln County a high-income county?
Its $71,512 median ranks 26th of 39 Washington counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Lincoln County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $883 a month; 31% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Lincoln County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 8 Census places: Davenport, Wilbur, Odessa, Reardan, Sprague.
Is the fit check different in Lincoln County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Lincoln County check a lender's license?
With the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.