The Town FilesChewelah, Washington
City in Stevens County · population 2,470 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $267,400
- Household income
- $54,167
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 48.0
Chewelah is a city of 2,470 people in Stevens County, Washington. The median home is worth $267,400, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks hipper than 89% of Washington towns, better for retirees than 88% of Washington towns, better for a vacation home than 85% of Washington towns.
How Chewelah 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 Chewelah is worth $267,400, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 4.9 times the median household income of $54,167, which is more affordable than 63% of Washington towns. Median rent is $885 a month. 67.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chewelah | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $267,400 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $885 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $54,167 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.9× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 67.6% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.8% | — |
Who lives in Chewelah
| People | Chewelah | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.0 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.8% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 15.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.3% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.8% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 12.7% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 16.1 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.2% | 93.9% |
Weather in Chewelah
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 20.3°F. About 21.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.4 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 170 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Chewelah since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.25 inches on May 20, 2023.
Severe weather in Stevens County since 1996
Stevens County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2026 | Fire | EM-3650: Wildfires |
| August 2, 2026 | Fire | FM-5659: Autumn Lane Fire |
| August 16, 2021 | Fire | FM-5411: Ford Corkscrew Fire |
| March 22, 2020 | Biological | DR-4481: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3427: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Stevens County
Stevens County had 11,512 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,211 a year. Unemployment was 6% in 2023; in Chewelah itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Chewelah
4 public schools with 838 students, about 17.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gess Elementary | K-6 | 354 | 15.4 |
| Jenkins Junior/Senior High | 7-12 | 338 | 17.8 |
| Quartzite Learning | K-12 | 116 | 19.3 |
| Chewelah Open Doors Reengagement Program | 10-12 | 30 | — |
Towns near Chewelah
- Loon Lake, WA15.3 mi · 898 people · home $340,800
- Colville, WA20.0 mi · 4,917 people · home $281,500
- Deer Park, WA25.4 mi · 4,383 people · home $347,000
- Kettle Falls, WA27.4 mi · 1,636 people · home $250,000
Chewelah questions
Is Chewelah, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chewelah scores better for retirees than 88% of Washington towns and quieter than 71%. 28.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.0).
How much does a house cost in Chewelah?
The median owner-occupied home in Chewelah is valued at $267,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,167, so homes cost about 4.9 times income. Median rent is $885 a month.
What is the weather like in Chewelah?
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 20.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 21.4 inches of precipitation a year and 43.4 inches of snow.
Does Chewelah get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Chewelah 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)