Housing Value★★★★★★★★★★2.8 / 5Home values compared with local household income.
Living in Kelso, WA
Explore Kelso and see how it fits the life you want to build.
Overall Match6.5 / 10
Baseline match from currently available location scores. Choose priorities to personalize it.
Kelso at a Glance
Key facts and current data
Population12,684
Median Household Income$66,751
Median Home Value$337,600
Median Gross Rent$1,220
Median Age39.9
Average Household Size2.3
Unemployment6.6%
Work From Home5.6%
Homeownership56.1%
Housing Vacancy3.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year.
Kelso is a smaller community, so land use, housing supply and its relationship with surrounding communities can be especially important to movers.
Experience the Area
Experience Life in Kelso Before You Move
Explore Short-Term Stays in Kelso →Stay options powered by Stay22 · affiliate
NarrowTheList highly recommends you spend a week or two in Kelso and experience everyday life before deciding whether it is the right place to call home. Use that time to explore neighborhoods, drive your normal routes, shop where residents shop, and get a feel for the area at different times of day.
NarrowTheList Ratings
Data-driven starter ratings. More categories appear automatically as new datasets are added.
Housing & Cost of Living in Kelso
Current housing indicators from the U.S. Census Bureau
Median Home Value$337,600
Median Gross Rent$1,220
Homeownership56.1%
Housing Vacancy3.9%
Home values are relatively high compared with local household income, so purchase affordability deserves close attention. The housing mix leans toward owner-occupied homes while still supporting a meaningful rental market.
Jobs, Income & Remote Work
Employment and household-income context for Kelso, WA
Median Household Income$66,751
Unemployment6.6%
Work From Home5.6%
The reported unemployment rate is elevated enough to warrant a closer look at current local employment conditions.
Population & Household Profile
Who lives in Kelso and how households are structured
Population12,684
Median Age39.9
Average Household Size2.3
Kelso is a smaller community, so its relationship with nearby towns, employment centers and services can be especially important.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year. NarrowTheList presents these values as relocation context; conditions can vary within a community.
Climate & Weather in Kelso
Long-term NOAA climate normals and practical seasonal context
NOAA climate normals for Kelso point to warm summers, cool winters, a wetter annual rainfall pattern and occasional snowfall.
Average Summer High79.3°F
Average Winter Low35.1°F
Annual Rainfall48.1 in.
Annual Snowfall2.3 in.
Seasonal Life in Kelso
What the long-term climate pattern may mean for everyday living.
Spring
Spring is a good time to see how wetter conditions affect drainage, yards, commuting and the usability of outdoor spaces.
Summer
Summer highs are comparatively mild, which may reduce cooling demands and can make daytime outdoor activity more comfortable than in hotter inland locations.
Fall
Fall can be one of the best seasons for comparing neighborhoods because daily routines are active while temperatures transition away from summer conditions.
Winter
Winter is generally cool with limited snowfall. Heating needs still matter, but snow-related disruption should be less central than in colder markets.
Source: NOAA/NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Seasonal descriptions are relocation context derived from the available long-term normals, not a forecast.
Kelso is located in Cowlitz County, but city-level housing, income and neighborhood conditions can differ meaningfully from countywide averages. Cowlitz County.
County Intelligence
Kelso & Cowlitz County
Data Pending
Foreclosure Activity
Kelso is located in Cowlitz County, Washington.
NarrowTheList uses county-level information alongside local community data because many factors that matter when choosing a place to live are measured beyond city boundaries. Housing, property taxes, employment, healthcare access and other regional characteristics can add useful context to the picture of life in Kelso.
Current NarrowTheList data for Kelso shows a population of about 12,684. These local figures become more useful when read together with county-level tax, housing, foreclosure and demographic conditions rather than treated as isolated city statistics.
Foreclosure Activity: Data Pending. A county-specific foreclosure signal is not available yet.
For someone comparing homes, county boundaries can matter because taxes, public services, court and recording systems, assessment practices and housing-market conditions are often administered or reported at the county level. NarrowTheList keeps that county relationship attached to the community so future tax, foreclosure, housing and demographic data can be interpreted in the correct geographic context.
County relationship
Cowlitz County
How NarrowTheList uses it
County information is used as a supporting geographic layer, not as a substitute for local data. As more county datasets are added, NarrowTheList can use them to improve comparisons, ratings and relocation insights for Kelso.
For someone considering a move to Kelso, the available data currently points to housing affordability that deserves careful budgeting. These signals are most useful when considered alongside the specific neighborhood, commute and housing type that fit the household making the move.
Nearby Cities & Communities
Nearby incorporated cities, towns, villages and other municipalities shown by straight-line distance.