The Town FilesWhite Salmon, Washington
City in Klickitat County · population 2,485 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $614,900
- Household income
- $72,923
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 51.9
White Salmon is a city of 2,485 people in Klickitat County, Washington. The median home is worth $614,900, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Washington towns, hipper than 97% of Washington towns, better for young professionals than 93% of Washington towns.
How White Salmon 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 White Salmon is worth $614,900, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 8.4 times the median household income of $72,923, which is more affordable than 3% of Washington towns. Median rent is $1,311 a month. 75.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | White Salmon | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $614,900 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,311 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $72,923 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 8.4× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 75.0% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.6% | — |
Who lives in White Salmon
| People | White Salmon | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.9 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.0% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 12.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.0% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.5% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.8% | — |
| Work from home | 26.3% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 26.8 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.2% | 93.9% |
Weather in White Salmon
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 30.4°F. About 30.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.2 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 92 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of White Salmon since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on August 17, 2024.
Severe weather in Klickitat County since 1996
Klickitat County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Flood | DR-4906: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 19, 2025 | Fire | FM-5601: Burdoin Fire |
| April 28, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4775: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 23, 2023 | Fire | FM-5470: Newell Road Fire |
| March 29, 2022 | Flood | DR-4650: Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Klickitat County
Klickitat County had 7,194 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,979 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in 2023; in White Salmon itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in White Salmon
5 public schools with 1,101 students, about 21.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hulan L Whitson Elem | K-4 | 373 | 18.7 |
| Columbia High School | 9-12 | 358 | 21.1 |
| Wayne M Henkle Middle School | 7-8 | 178 | 25.4 |
| Wallace & Priscilla Stevenson Intermediate School | 5-6 | 171 | 21.4 |
| White Salmon Academy | 9-12 | 21 | — |
Towns near White Salmon
- Bingen, WA1.3 mi · 778 people · home $443,400
- Hood River, OR2.4 mi · 8,313 people · home $684,100
- Odell, OR7.2 mi · 2,328 people · home $433,600
- Lyle, WA10.1 mi · 518 people · home $409,800
- Chenoweth, OR14.4 mi · 1,975 people · home $228,600
- Carson, WA16.4 mi · 2,323 people · home $490,400
- Dallesport, WA16.7 mi · 1,328 people · home $377,600
- The Dalles, OR18.4 mi · 16,010 people · home $360,800
White Salmon questions
Is White Salmon, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, White Salmon scores better for retirees than 99% of Washington towns and quieter than 76%. 31.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.9).
How much does a house cost in White Salmon?
The median owner-occupied home in White Salmon is valued at $614,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,923, so homes cost about 8.4 times income. Median rent is $1,311 a month.
What is the weather like in White Salmon?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 30.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.4 inches of precipitation a year and 17.2 inches of snow.
Does White Salmon get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of White Salmon 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)