Chelan County, Washington Income Statistics
Chelan County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Chelan County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Chelan County | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $81,888 | $98,224 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $53,646 | $73,370 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.9% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 13.1% | 19.3% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 12.6% | 18.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Chelan County is about 17% lower than in Washington. Income has been growing faster in Chelan County (5.9%/yr) than in Washington (5.6%/yr).
About 13% of adults in Chelan County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Washington average of 19%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Chelan County, Washington grew by 74.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $81,888 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.9% per year.
Chelan County stayed below the U.S. median household income from 2009 to 2023, starting 8.0% lower, and overtook it in the latest figures (2024), at 1.8% higher.
Income Distribution in Chelan County
How incomes are spread across brackets, compared with the U.S. Pick a range to count who falls in it.
Households by income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 12,848 households (40.8% of all households) have an income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 40.2% of all households.
In 2024, 19.3% of households in Chelan County had an income under $35,000 and 22.9% had $150,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 21.6% and 22.8%.
Compared with the U.S., Chelan County has a larger share of households earning $50,000 to $74,999 (16.9% vs 15.5%) and a smaller share earning under $10,000 (3.9% vs 5.1%).
| Household income | Households | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $10,000 | 1,218 | 3.9% | 5.1% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 751 | 2.4% | 3.5% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 1,852 | 5.9% | 6.4% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 2,265 | 7.2% | 6.7% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 3,247 | 10.3% | 10.1% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 5,315 | 16.9% | 15.5% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 4,012 | 12.7% | 12.6% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 5,623 | 17.8% | 17.4% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 3,255 | 10.3% | 9.5% |
| $200,000 or more | 3,969 | 12.6% | 13.2% |
Shares are of all 31,508 households, one per occupied home whatever its size. Households with zero or negative income are counted in the lowest bracket. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19001).
Residents 15+ by personal income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 8,524 residents (13.1% of residents aged 15 and over) have a personal income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 13.9% of residents aged 15 and over.
That is 14.6% of residents who have any income.
In 2024, 10.6% of Chelan County residents aged 15 and over reported no personal income, 27.1% had some income but less than $25,000, and 20.2% had $75,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 12.8%, 28.7% and 22.0%.
Compared with the U.S., Chelan County has a larger share of residents earning $35,000 to $49,999 (15.7% vs 12.6%) and a smaller share with no personal income (10.6% vs 12.8%).
| Personal income | Residents | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| No income | 6,897 | 10.6% | 12.8% |
| $1 to $9,999 | 6,984 | 10.7% | 11.2% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 3,503 | 5.4% | 7.0% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 7,170 | 11.0% | 10.5% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 7,266 | 11.2% | 9.5% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 10,258 | 15.7% | 12.6% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 9,932 | 15.2% | 14.3% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 4,625 | 7.1% | 8.2% |
| $100,000 or more | 8,524 | 13.1% | 13.9% |
Shares are of the 65,160 residents aged 15 and over, the only people the Census Bureau asks about income, and include those who reported none. A share of the whole population would count children as people without income, while a share of earners alone would hide the 10.6% with no income; the calculator adds that second share whenever your range leaves out people with no income. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19325).
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Chelan County
| Metric | Chelan County | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.527 | 0.534 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $66,819 | $86,137 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $51,686 | $68,506 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 22.6% | 20.5% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Chelan County, it is 0.527, lower than Washington's 0.534, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 29% more than women's income in Chelan County, Washington. Over a 35-year career, a 29% wage gap accumulates to roughly $529,655 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Chelan County, Washington has widened from about 20% to 23% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2021, and was narrowest at 16% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,941 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Chelan County widened by 2.9 points while Washington's narrowed by 4.4 points.
Employment
| Metric | Chelan County | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 5.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.6% | 19.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 1,423 people are unemployed in Chelan County, Washington.
The average commute time in Chelan County is 16 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Washington.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Chelan County, Washington has fallen from 7.6% to 3.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.2% in 2014 and fell as low as 3.4% in 2022.
Chelan County has stayed below the U.S. unemployment rate from 2011 to 2024 and has never risen above it. It came closest in 2014, when the two were level. The gap has held fairly steady over the period.
Chelan County, WA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Chelan County, WA is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 80,140 residents against a local median of 47,168. Chelan County, WA's unemployment, at 3.7%, runs 17% below the 4.5% typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.4% on unemployment, so Chelan County, WA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Chelan County, WA has the lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chelan County, WA | 80,140 | $81,888 #4/6 | 5.9%/yr #2/6 | 3.7% #1/6 | 0.527 #4/6 |
| Kittitas County, WA | 47,168 | $73,884 | 5.6%/yr | 6.3% | 0.549 |
| Douglas County, WA | 44,366 | $82,191 | 5.4%/yr | 3.9% | 0.522 |
| Okanogan County, WA | 43,418 | $62,935 | 5.5%/yr | 4.5% | 0.553 |
| Snohomish County, WA | 843,136 | $111,921 | 5.3%/yr | 4.4% | 0.527 |
| King County, WA | 2,275,758 | $124,760 | 5.9%/yr | 4.8% | 0.511 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Chelan County, Washington has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Washington, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Chelan County, Washington.
How Rich Is Chelan County, Washington?
Chelan County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $81,888, about 17% lower than the Washington average of $98,224.
How fast is household income rising in Chelan County, Washington?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Chelan County, Washington rose 74%, from $47,058 to $81,888. Over the same years, income here outpaced Washington as a whole: +74% against +73%.
What was the median household income in Chelan County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Chelan County, Washington was $77,237, up 6% from $73,131 in 2022. The Washington median that year was $95,216.
What was the median household income in Chelan County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Chelan County, Washington was $61,414. By 2024 it had risen 33% to $81,888.
Is unemployment high in Chelan County, Washington?
Unemployment in Chelan County, Washington is only 3.7%, well below the Washington rate of 5.0%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Chelan County, Washington?
The Gini coefficient in Chelan County is 0.527. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Chelan County, Washington?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Chelan County, Washington has widened from about 20% to 23% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2021, and was narrowest at 16% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $6,941 since 2009.
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