The Town FilesTekoa, Washington
City in Whitman County · population 817 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $211,900
- Household income
- $46,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 57.3
Tekoa is a city of 817 people in Whitman County, Washington. The median home is worth $211,900, 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 Tekoa 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 Tekoa is worth $211,900, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $46,250, which is more affordable than 70% of Washington towns. Median rent is $796 a month. 62.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tekoa | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $211,900 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $796 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $46,250 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 62.0% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.1% | — |
Who lives in Tekoa
| People | Tekoa | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.3 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 35.5% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.6% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.2% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 11.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.6% | — |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.0% | 93.9% |
Weather in Tekoa
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 23.8°F. About 28.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.4 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 158 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Tekoa since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 11, 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 Tekoa itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Tekoa
2 public schools with 201 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tekoa Elementary School | PK-6 | 109 | 10.9 |
| Tekoa High School | 7-12 | 92 | 13.1 |
Towns near Tekoa
- Plummer, ID11.4 mi · 1,015 people · home $197,200
- Fairfield, WA12.0 mi · 589 people · home $249,100
- Rosalia, WA14.3 mi · 598 people · home $197,700
- Garfield, WA15.1 mi · 562 people · home $221,200
- Rockford, WA15.9 mi · 522 people · home $328,600
- Palouse, WA21.7 mi · 1,015 people · home $286,200
- Potlatch, ID22.4 mi · 763 people · home $244,200
- St. Maries, ID24.3 mi · 2,357 people · home $236,300
Tekoa questions
Is Tekoa, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tekoa scores better for retirees than 94% of Washington towns and quieter than 91%. 35.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.3).
How much does a house cost in Tekoa?
The median owner-occupied home in Tekoa is valued at $211,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,250, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $796 a month.
What is the weather like in Tekoa?
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 23.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.5 inches of precipitation a year and 35.4 inches of snow.
Does Tekoa get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Tekoa 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)