The Town FilesCathlamet, Washington
Town in Wahkiakum County · population 560 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $387,500
- Household income
- $70,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 75°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 59.4
Cathlamet is a town of 560 people in Wahkiakum County, Washington. The median home is worth $387,500, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks quieter than 99% of Washington towns, better for retirees than 84% of Washington towns, hipper than 83% of Washington towns.
How Cathlamet ranks
Percentile among Washington towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Washington towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Cathlamet is worth $387,500, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 5.5 times the median household income of $70,250, which is more affordable than 44% of Washington towns. Median rent is $913 a month. 71.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cathlamet | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $387,500 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $913 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $70,250 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.5× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 71.1% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.6% | — |
Who lives in Cathlamet
| People | Cathlamet | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.4 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 40.6% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 8.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.6% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.7% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 12.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.7% | 93.9% |
Weather in Cathlamet
July highs average 74.7°F and January lows 33.0°F. About 54.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.2 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 70 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Cathlamet since 1950.
Severe weather in Wahkiakum County since 1996
Wahkiakum County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, biological, earthquake.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Flood | DR-4906: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| December 12, 2025 | Flood | EM-3629: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 28, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4775: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 12, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4682: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 29, 2022 | Flood | DR-4650: Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Wahkiakum County
Wahkiakum County had 726 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,092 a year. Unemployment was 6.4% in 2023; in Cathlamet itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Cathlamet
2 public schools with 412 students, about 17.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Julius A Wendt Elementary/John C Thomas Middle School | K-8 | 271 | 18.1 |
| Wahkiakum High School | 9-12 | 141 | 17.6 |
Towns near Cathlamet
- East Cathlamet, WA1.3 mi · 578 people · home $400,000
- Puget Island, WA2.1 mi · 922 people · home $484,800
- Knappa, OR9.7 mi · 1,007 people · home $442,100
- Clatskanie, OR11.1 mi · 1,716 people · home $363,900
- Svensen, OR13.4 mi · 853 people · home $383,100
- Longview, WA20.5 mi · 37,818 people · home $361,600
- Astoria, OR20.7 mi · 10,181 people · home $444,800
- Longview Heights, WA20.7 mi · 4,033 people · home $456,700
Cathlamet questions
Is Cathlamet, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cathlamet scores better for retirees than 84% of Washington towns and quieter than 99%. 40.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.4).
How much does a house cost in Cathlamet?
The median owner-occupied home in Cathlamet is valued at $387,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,250, so homes cost about 5.5 times income. Median rent is $913 a month.
What is the weather like in Cathlamet?
July highs average 74.7°F and January lows 33.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.7 inches of precipitation a year and 3.2 inches of snow.
Does Cathlamet get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Cathlamet in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)