The Town FilesMcCleary, Washington
City in Grays Harbor County · population 1,997 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $351,700
- Household income
- $77,813
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 38.6
McCleary is a city of 1,997 people in Grays Harbor County, Washington. The median home is worth $351,700, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 96% of Washington towns, better for families than 77% of Washington towns, quieter than 72% of Washington towns.
How McCleary 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 McCleary is worth $351,700, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $77,813, which is more affordable than 74% of Washington towns. Median rent is $1,077 a month. 80.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | McCleary | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $351,700 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,077 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $77,813 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 80.4% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in McCleary
| People | McCleary | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.2% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.1% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.4% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 10.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 15.5% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 30.4 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.1% | 93.9% |
Weather in McCleary
July highs average 78.4°F and January lows 34.6°F. About 72.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.9 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 69 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of McCleary since 1950.
Severe weather in Grays Harbor County since 1996
Grays Harbor County has been included in 35 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 |
| March 29, 2022 | Flood | DR-4650: Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding |
| April 8, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4593: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Grays Harbor County
Grays Harbor County had 23,816 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,803 a year. Unemployment was 6.3% in 2023; in McCleary itself the ACS puts it at 11.2%.
Public schools in McCleary
1 public school with 350 students, about 18.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mccleary Elem | PK-8 | 350 | 18.4 |
Towns near McCleary
- Elma, WA7.6 mi · 3,438 people · home $409,600
- Satsop, WA10.3 mi · 696 people · home $350,000
- Brady, WA13.4 mi · 692 people · home $370,500
- Shelton, WA13.7 mi · 10,371 people · home $345,700
- Oakville, WA15.2 mi · 715 people · home $230,800
- Montesano, WA15.2 mi · 4,138 people · home $354,300
- Tumwater, WA17.3 mi · 25,350 people · home $472,200
- Olympia, WA17.7 mi · 55,605 people · home $486,200
McCleary questions
Is McCleary, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, McCleary scores better for retirees than 57% of Washington towns and quieter than 72%. 19.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.6).
How much does a house cost in McCleary?
The median owner-occupied home in McCleary is valued at $351,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,813, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $1,077 a month.
What is the weather like in McCleary?
July highs average 78.4°F and January lows 34.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 72.0 inches of precipitation a year and 1.9 inches of snow.
Does McCleary get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of McCleary 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)