The Town FilesOnalaska, Washington
Community in Lewis County · population 657 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $423,700
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 38.4
Onalaska is a community of 657 people in Lewis County, Washington. The median home is worth $423,700, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better for a vacation home than 87% of Washington towns, quieter than 86% of Washington towns, better for retirees than 78% of Washington towns.
How Onalaska 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 Onalaska is worth $423,700, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Median rent is $844 a month. 57.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Onalaska | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $423,700 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $844 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | — | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | —× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 57.4% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Onalaska
| People | Onalaska | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.4 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.8% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.0% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.9% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 0.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.1% | — |
| Work from home | 11.4% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | — min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.3% | 93.9% |
Weather in Onalaska
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 33.1°F. About 58.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.4 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 66 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Onalaska since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Washington town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on May 27, 2011 about 8.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 27, 2011.
Severe weather in Lewis County since 1996
Lewis County has been included in 37 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 |
| January 12, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4682: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 29, 2022 | Flood | DR-4650: Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lewis County
Lewis County had 27,148 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,706 a year. Unemployment was 5.4% in 2023; in Onalaska itself the ACS puts it at 14%.
Public schools in Onalaska
3 public schools with 891 students, about 17.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onalaska Elementary School | PK-5 | 413 | 15.9 |
| Onalaska High School | 9-12 | 260 | 17.3 |
| Onalaska Middle School | 6-8 | 218 | 19.8 |
Towns near Onalaska
- Napavine, WA9.1 mi · 1,888 people · home $419,100
- Mossyrock, WA11.1 mi · 768 people · home $280,400
- Toledo, WA11.4 mi · 631 people · home $333,700
- Winlock, WA11.6 mi · 1,472 people · home $361,700
- Chehalis, WA13.4 mi · 7,439 people · home $372,900
- Centralia, WA15.8 mi · 18,183 people · home $318,200
- Vader, WA16.8 mi · 629 people · home $317,200
- Bucoda, WA16.8 mi · 600 people · home $270,000
Onalaska questions
Is Onalaska, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Onalaska scores better for retirees than 78% of Washington towns and quieter than 86%. 32.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.4).
How much does a house cost in Onalaska?
The median owner-occupied home in Onalaska is valued at $423,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of —. Median rent is $844 a month.
What is the weather like in Onalaska?
July highs average 81.1°F and January lows 33.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.7 inches of precipitation a year and 3.4 inches of snow.
Does Onalaska get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Onalaska since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on May 27, 2011. 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)