What are the schools like in Cathlamet, WA?

Cathlamet is served primarily by Wahkiakum School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.6:1.

What is the median household income in Cathlamet?

The median household income in Cathlamet, WA is $55,694 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.2%.

What is the weather like in Cathlamet, WA?

Cathlamet has an average high temperature of 46.6°F in January and 74.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 79.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 3.2 inches.

Cathlamet, WA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Cathlamet, WA affordable or expensive?

Cathlamet's cost of living index is 104, where 100 represents the national average. This means Cathlamet is 4% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $327,300 and the median rent is $1,125 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Cathlamet, WA?

Cathlamet has a violent crime rate of 44.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 378.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Cathlamet, WA a Good Place to Live?

Cathlamet is a small town of 546 in Washington, with a median household income of $55,694 and a 2.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 104 (US average = 100), which is 4% above the national average.

Strengths: Cathlamet stands out for solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Cathlamet is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Cathlamet city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 103.9

Cathlamet's overall cost of living index is 103.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Cathlamet costs roughly 4% more than the average American city.

Metric	Cathlamet, WA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$327,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,125	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	71.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$55,694	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Cathlamet's violent crime rate is 44.6 per 100,000 residents — 88% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

44.6 /100k

Property Crime

378.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Cathlamet is served primarily by Wahkiakum School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.6:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Cathlamet, WA	National Avg
School District	Wahkiakum School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	21.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Cathlamet sees average highs of 46.6°F in January and 74.7°F in July, with 79.8 inches of annual precipitation and 3.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Cathlamet, WA
Average High — January	46.6°F
Average High — July	74.7°F
Annual Precipitation	79.8"
Annual Snowfall	3.2"

Demographics

Metric	Cathlamet, WA	National Avg
Population	546	—
Median Age	59.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	96.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.2%	6.3%
Under 18	9.2%	22.2%
65 and over	39.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lower Elochoman, WA 1 mi East Cathlamet, WA 1 mi Puget Island, WA 2 mi Upper Elochoman, WA 4 mi Westport, OR 5 mi

Cathlamet vs Other Cities

Cathlamet, WA vs Lower Elochoman, WA Cathlamet, WA vs East Cathlamet, WA Cathlamet, WA vs Puget Island, WA Cathlamet, WA vs Upper Elochoman, WA Cathlamet, WA vs Westport, OR

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cathlamet, WA affordable or expensive?

Cathlamet's cost of living index is 104, where 100 is the national average. That puts Cathlamet roughly 4% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $327,300 and median rent is $1,125/month.

What is the crime rate in Cathlamet, WA?

Cathlamet's violent crime rate is 44.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 378.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Cathlamet?

Public schools in Cathlamet are operated by Wahkiakum School District. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.6:1. 21.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Cathlamet, WA a good place to live?

Cathlamet, WA has a population of 546, a median household income of $55,694, and an unemployment rate of 2.2%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Cathlamet?

Cathlamet averages 46.6°F in January and 74.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 79.8 inches with about 3.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Cathlamet?

The population of Cathlamet, Washington is 546 with a median age of 59.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Cathlamet?

Key numbers for living in Cathlamet: cost of living index 104 (100 = US average), median home $327,300, median household income $55,694, crime index 14 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Cathlamet side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.