The Town FilesRosalia, Washington
Town in Whitman County · population 598 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $197,700
- Household income
- $50,938
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 50.2
Rosalia is a town of 598 people in Whitman County, Washington. The median home is worth $197,700, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better for retirees than 94% of Washington towns, better for first-time buyers than 92% of Washington towns, quieter than 91% of Washington towns.
How Rosalia 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 Rosalia is worth $197,700, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $50,938, which is more affordable than 89% of Washington towns. Median rent is $1,042 a month. 86.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rosalia | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $197,700 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,042 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $50,938 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 86.7% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.3% | — |
Who lives in Rosalia
| People | Rosalia | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.2 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.1% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.3% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.8% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 10.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 31.2 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.3% | 93.9% |
Weather in Rosalia
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 24.5°F. About 18.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.2 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 146 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Rosalia since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on August 12, 2022.
Severe weather in Whitman County since 1996
Whitman County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 15, 2024 | Fire | DR-4759: Wildfires |
| February 4, 2021 | Fire | DR-4584: Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds |
| September 8, 2020 | Fire | FM-5355: Babb Fire |
| March 22, 2020 | Biological | DR-4481: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3427: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Whitman County
Whitman County had 19,125 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,512 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Rosalia itself the ACS puts it at 7.9%.
Public schools in Rosalia
1 public school with 164 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rosalia Elementary & Secondary School | PK-12 | 164 | 11.7 |
Towns near Rosalia
- Fairfield, WA13.9 mi · 589 people · home $249,100
- St. John, WA14.1 mi · 599 people · home $208,300
- Tekoa, WA14.3 mi · 817 people · home $211,900
- Rockford, WA18.8 mi · 522 people · home $328,600
- Garfield, WA19.2 mi · 562 people · home $221,200
- Cheney, WA20.1 mi · 13,255 people · home $395,900
- Colfax, WA22.4 mi · 2,782 people · home $245,300
- Plummer, ID23.9 mi · 1,015 people · home $197,200
Rosalia questions
Is Rosalia, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rosalia scores better for retirees than 94% of Washington towns and quieter than 91%. 25.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.2).
How much does a house cost in Rosalia?
The median owner-occupied home in Rosalia is valued at $197,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,938, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,042 a month.
What is the weather like in Rosalia?
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 24.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 18.4 inches of precipitation a year and 26.2 inches of snow.
Does Rosalia get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Rosalia 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)