The Town FilesLake Ketchum, Washington
Community in Snohomish County · population 1,268 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $543,000
- Household income
- $136,211
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 54.2
Lake Ketchum is a community of 1,268 people in Snohomish County, Washington. The median home is worth $543,000, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks easier by car than 94% of Washington towns, better for families than 84% of Washington towns.
How Lake Ketchum 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 Lake Ketchum is worth $543,000, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $136,211, which is more affordable than 86% of Washington towns. 93.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Ketchum | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $543,000 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | — | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $136,211 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 93.2% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lake Ketchum
| People | Lake Ketchum | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.2 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.0% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 14.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.9% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 11.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 38.5 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.8% | 93.9% |
Weather in Lake Ketchum
July highs average 77.3°F and January lows 28.6°F. About 49.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.5 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 94 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Ketchum since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Washington town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 18, 2005 about 7.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 18, 2005.
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 Lake Ketchum itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Lake Ketchum
- Stanwood, WA2.8 mi · 7,705 people · home $593,100
- Sunday Lake, WA5.3 mi · 1,184 people · home $697,100
- Bryant, WA8.2 mi · 2,128 people · home $665,500
- Warm Beach, WA8.3 mi · 2,990 people · home $671,100
- Big Lake, WA9.0 mi · 2,980 people · home $666,400
- Mount Vernon, WA9.2 mi · 35,219 people · home $472,300
- Kayak Point, WA9.9 mi · 1,883 people · home $711,200
- La Conner, WA10.0 mi · 965 people · home $553,200
Lake Ketchum questions
Is Lake Ketchum, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Ketchum scores better for retirees than 51% of Washington towns and quieter than 59%. 30.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.2).
How much does a house cost in Lake Ketchum?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Ketchum is valued at $543,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $136,211, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Ketchum?
July highs average 77.3°F and January lows 28.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.0 inches of precipitation a year and 4.5 inches of snow.
Does Lake Ketchum get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Ketchum since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 18, 2005. The typical Washington town has had 1.
- 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)