The Town FilesPe Ell, Washington
Town in Lewis County · population 642 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $321,800
- Household income
- $62,679
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 38.2
Pe Ell is a town of 642 people in Lewis County, Washington. The median home is worth $321,800, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks easier by car than 91% of Washington towns, better for families than 85% of Washington towns, quieter than 82% of Washington towns.
How Pe Ell 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 Pe Ell is worth $321,800, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 5.1 times the median household income of $62,679, which is more affordable than 57% of Washington towns. 86.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pe Ell | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $321,800 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | — | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $62,679 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.1× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 86.2% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Pe Ell
| People | Pe Ell | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.2 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.1% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.4% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.9% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 15.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 2.8% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 34.2 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.6% | 93.9% |
Weather in Pe Ell
July highs average 76.8°F and January lows 33.7°F. About 103.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.7 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 78 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Pe Ell since 1950.
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 Pe Ell itself the ACS puts it at 8.6%.
Public schools in Pe Ell
2 public schools with 279 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pe Ell School | PK-12 | 279 | 14.0 |
| Trojan Alternative School | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Pe Ell
- Chehalis, WA17.1 mi · 7,439 people · home $372,900
- Fords Prairie, WA18.6 mi · 2,234 people · home $368,000
- Centralia, WA18.7 mi · 18,183 people · home $318,200
- Oakville, WA18.8 mi · 715 people · home $230,800
- Napavine, WA18.9 mi · 1,888 people · home $419,100
- Winlock, WA18.9 mi · 1,472 people · home $361,700
- Vader, WA19.9 mi · 629 people · home $317,200
- Rochester, WA20.5 mi · 6,064 people · home $445,300
Pe Ell questions
Is Pe Ell, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pe Ell scores better for retirees than 73% of Washington towns and quieter than 82%. 25.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.2).
How much does a house cost in Pe Ell?
The median owner-occupied home in Pe Ell is valued at $321,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,679, so homes cost about 5.1 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Pe Ell?
July highs average 76.8°F and January lows 33.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 103.5 inches of precipitation a year and 3.7 inches of snow.
Does Pe Ell get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Pe Ell 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)