The Town FilesMedical Lake, Washington
City in Spokane County · population 4,874 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $368,700
- Household income
- $79,989
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 41.1
Medical Lake is a city of 4,874 people in Spokane County, Washington. The median home is worth $368,700, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 94% of Washington towns, better for young professionals than 77% of Washington towns.
How Medical 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 Medical Lake is worth $368,700, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $79,989, which is more affordable than 70% of Washington towns. Median rent is $785 a month. 66.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Medical Lake | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $368,700 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $785 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $79,989 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 66.1% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Medical Lake
| People | Medical Lake | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.8% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.3% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.1% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 15.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 10.9% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 21.4 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.1% | 93.9% |
Weather in Medical Lake
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 22.6°F. About 17.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.2 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Medical Lake since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Washington town. The strongest, an F1, struck on October 17, 1983 about 9.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 18, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on May 17, 2005.
Severe weather in Spokane County since 1996
Spokane County has been included in 33 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-5658: Fairview Fire |
| August 2, 2026 | Fire | FM-5659: Autumn Lane Fire |
| August 1, 2026 | Fire | FM-5656: Old Trails Fire |
| June 16, 2026 | Fire | FM-5638: Upriver Fire |
Jobs and pay in Spokane County
Spokane County had 243,161 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,488 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Medical Lake itself the ACS puts it at 1.2%.
Public schools in Medical Lake
4 public schools with 1,374 students, about 16.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Lake High School | 9-12 | 511 | 17.0 |
| Hallett Elementary School | PK-5 | 479 | 15.0 |
| Medical Lake Middle School | 6-8 | 373 | 16.2 |
| Martin Hall Detention Ctr | 7-12 | 11 | — |
Towns near Medical Lake
- Fairchild AFB, WA3.8 mi · 2,695 people · home —
- Airway Heights, WA7.3 mi · 10,757 people · home $348,500
- Cheney, WA7.5 mi · 13,255 people · home $395,900
- Spokane, WA13.6 mi · 228,989 people · home $363,500
- Town and Country, WA16.5 mi · 5,068 people · home $356,800
- Country Homes, WA17.5 mi · 6,251 people · home $429,400
- Suncrest, WA18.2 mi · 5,413 people · home $522,500
- Fairwood, WA18.5 mi · 10,541 people · home $469,100
Medical Lake questions
Is Medical Lake, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Medical Lake scores better for retirees than 66% of Washington towns and quieter than 64%. 15.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.1).
How much does a house cost in Medical Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Medical Lake is valued at $368,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,989, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $785 a month.
What is the weather like in Medical Lake?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 22.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 17.4 inches of precipitation a year and 48.2 inches of snow.
Does Medical Lake get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Medical Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on October 17, 1983. 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)