The Town FilesDarrington, Washington
Town in Snohomish County · population 1,462 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $419,400
- Household income
- $66,488
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 42.6
Darrington is a town of 1,462 people in Snohomish County, Washington. The median home is worth $419,400, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks quieter than 95% of Washington towns, better for a vacation home than 92% of Washington towns, better for retirees than 74% of Washington towns.
How Darrington 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 Darrington is worth $419,400, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 6.3 times the median household income of $66,488, which is more affordable than 23% of Washington towns. Median rent is $879 a month. 68.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Darrington | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $419,400 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $879 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $66,488 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.3× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 68.7% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Darrington
| People | Darrington | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.0% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.8% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.4% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 16.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 24.0 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.0% | 93.9% |
Weather in Darrington
July highs average 78.1°F and January lows 30.3°F. About 83.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.3 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 102 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Darrington since 1950.
Severe weather in Snohomish County since 1996
Snohomish County has been included in 37 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, biological.
| 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 |
| January 12, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4682: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| September 10, 2022 | Fire | FM-5455: Bolt Creek Fire |
| April 8, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4593: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Snohomish County
Snohomish County had 297,617 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $79,940 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Darrington itself the ACS puts it at 10.8%.
Public schools in Darrington
2 public schools with 478 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darrington Elementary School | PK-8 | 364 | 16.5 |
| Darrington High School | 9-12 | 114 | 12.7 |
Towns near Darrington
- Swede Heaven, WA4.9 mi · 839 people · home $435,700
- Canyon Creek, WA20.1 mi · 3,445 people · home $446,300
- Concrete, WA20.1 mi · 801 people · home $347,300
- Granite Falls, WA20.3 mi · 4,450 people · home $562,700
- Arlington Heights, WA21.2 mi · 2,477 people · home $751,100
- Lake Bosworth, WA22.2 mi · 868 people · home $678,300
- Lake Roesiger, WA23.9 mi · 611 people · home $661,200
- Lochsloy, WA24.2 mi · 2,806 people · home $610,200
Darrington questions
Is Darrington, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Darrington scores better for retirees than 74% of Washington towns and quieter than 95%. 25.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.6).
How much does a house cost in Darrington?
The median owner-occupied home in Darrington is valued at $419,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,488, so homes cost about 6.3 times income. Median rent is $879 a month.
What is the weather like in Darrington?
July highs average 78.1°F and January lows 30.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 83.1 inches of precipitation a year and 11.3 inches of snow.
Does Darrington get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Darrington 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)