The Town FilesCurlew Lake, Washington
Community in Ferry County · population 512 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $244,700
- Household income
- $51,188
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 53 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 67.4
Curlew Lake is a community of 512 people in Ferry County, Washington. The median home is worth $244,700, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks quieter than 97% of Washington towns, better for a vacation home than 94% of Washington towns, better for retirees than 87% of Washington towns.
How Curlew Lake 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 Curlew Lake is worth $244,700, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $51,188, which is more affordable than 65% of Washington towns. 83.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Curlew Lake | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $244,700 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | — | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $51,188 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 83.5% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1995 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 22.9% | — |
Who lives in Curlew Lake
| People | Curlew Lake | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 67.4 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 55.7% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 14.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.0% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.1% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 31.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 34.5% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | — min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.8% | 93.9% |
Weather in Curlew Lake
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 16.1°F. About 18.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.5 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 188 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Curlew Lake since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 25, 2004.
Severe weather in Ferry County since 1996
Ferry County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2026 | Fire | EM-3650: Wildfires |
| July 30, 2026 | Fire | FM-5653: Modrite Fire |
| July 24, 2024 | Fire | FM-5518: Swawilla Fire |
| April 28, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4775: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| February 4, 2021 | Fire | DR-4584: Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Ferry County
Ferry County had 1,713 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,738 a year. Unemployment was 8.4% in 2023; in Curlew Lake itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Curlew Lake
- Republic, WA6.5 mi · 992 people · home $236,200
- Kettle Falls, WA29.0 mi · 1,636 people · home $250,000
Curlew Lake questions
Is Curlew Lake, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Curlew Lake scores better for retirees than 87% of Washington towns and quieter than 97%. 55.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 67.4).
How much does a house cost in Curlew Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Curlew Lake is valued at $244,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,188, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Curlew Lake?
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 16.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 18.1 inches of precipitation a year and 52.5 inches of snow.
Does Curlew Lake get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Curlew Lake 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)