1st Advantage MortgageIn Stevens County, Washington, the typical household earns $69,327 a year and the typical rent is $898. 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
- Getting oriented in Stevens County
- Employment and commuting in Stevens County
- What Stevens County households earn
- Renting and owning in Stevens County
- Stevens County towns compared
- Counties near Stevens County
- Stevens County households compared
- What the numbers mean for Stevens County borrowers
- Debt-to-income at Stevens County's medians
- Who licenses lenders for Stevens County residents
- A Stevens County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Stevens County
Stevens County is home to about 48,067 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 22nd most populous of 39 county-level areas in Washington. Spread over 2,477 square miles, that works out to roughly 19.4 residents per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metropolitan area. Suncrest is the biggest of its 11 Census places, at roughly 5,345 people (11% of the county total).
Employment and commuting in Stevens County
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Stevens County residents work in education and health care and 12% in retail trade. Compared with Washington, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (5% against 2%). Averaged over the five survey years, 5.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 23% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 4.1% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Stevens County | Compared with Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.2% | +1.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.3% | +0.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.3% | +1.3 pts |
| Construction | 8.8% | +1.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.6% | -6.0 pts |
| Public administration | 7.7% | +2.7 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.
What Stevens County households earn
At $69,327, the typical Stevens County household income is 6% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Household income | Stevens County | vs Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.6% | +6.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.9% | +11.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.2% | -7.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.3% | -10.2 pts |
Some 23% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 31% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 12.0% of Stevens County residents in poverty, against 9.9% across Washington. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Stevens County median.
Renting and owning in Stevens County
A typical Stevens County rental runs $898 a month including utilities, which is 49% below Washington. By the Census definition, 43% of Stevens County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $350,600, or 5.1 years of median income. Owners occupy 80% of homes. Median construction year: 1985.
| Home costs | Stevens County | Washington | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $898/mo | $1,760/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $350,600 | $564,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 64% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 18.4% | 5.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 15% | 7% | n/a |
Because most Stevens County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Stevens County towns compared
The table lists the 11 largest of 11 Census places in Stevens County, by population. Together all 11 hold about 16,678 people, so roughly 65% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $48,682 in Kettle Falls to $100,952 in Suncrest. Rent is cheapest in Kettle Falls ($855) and steepest in Colville ($912). No Stevens County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 11.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suncrest | CDP | 5,345 | $100,952 | n/a | 40 mi |
| Colville | city | 4,998 | $56,558 | $912 | 11 mi |
| Chewelah | city | 2,606 | $54,167 | $885 | 10 mi |
| Kettle Falls | city | 1,575 | $48,682 | $855 | 18 mi |
| Loon Lake | CDP | 906 | $76,250 | n/a | 24 mi |
| Springdale | town | 451 | $43,125 | n/a | 23 mi |
| Marcus | town | 242 | $55,489 | $975 | 21 mi |
| Northport | town | 164 | $33,333 | $700 | 37 mi |
| Clayton | CDP | 139 | $75,949 | n/a | 30 mi |
| Valley | CDP | 135 | n/a | n/a | 16 mi |
| Addy | CDP | 117 | n/a | n/a | 2 mi |
Counties near Stevens County
Pend Oreille County is closest, 30 miles from center to center; the sixth, Boundary County, is 66 miles off. Income ranges from $55,614 in Ferry County to $78,582 in Spokane County; 2 of these neighbors top Stevens County's median. The list crosses into Idaho, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stevens County | - | $69,327 | $898/mo | 80% |
| Pend Oreille County, WA | 30 mi | $67,436 | $855/mo | 81% |
| Ferry County, WA | 32 mi | $55,614 | $663/mo | 78% |
| Bonner County, ID | 57 mi | $66,979 | $1,122/mo | 78% |
| Spokane County, WA | 57 mi | $78,582 | $1,283/mo | 64% |
| Lincoln County, WA | 61 mi | $71,512 | $883/mo | 80% |
| Boundary County, ID | 66 mi | $67,237 | $877/mo | 75% |
Stevens County households compared
22% of Stevens County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 5.6%, against 6.3% for Washington.
| Residents | Stevens County | Washington | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.9 | 38.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.2% | 39.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.2% | 7.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.6% | 6.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.1% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.1% | 19.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.0% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.3% |
| 60+ min | 10.5% |
What the numbers mean for Stevens County borrowers
Based on the Stevens County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Commuter costs. 23% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Mobile home upkeep. 18% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Retirees. At a median age of 46.9, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
Debt-to-income at Stevens County's medians
Here is the Stevens County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $5,777 gross per month ($69,327 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $898 uses 16%
- $1,182: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,586 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $898, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Who licenses lenders for Stevens County residents
Stevens County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Washington state guide for the statewide picture.
A Stevens County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Stevens County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Stevens County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Related local guides
The Washington guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Stevens County a high-income county?
Its $69,327 median ranks 30th of 39 Washington counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Stevens County?
$898 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
I own my home in Stevens County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 80% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Stevens County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Suncrest, Colville, Chewelah, Kettle Falls, Loon Lake and 6 more.
Is the fit check different in Stevens County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.