What are the schools like in Centralia, WA?

Centralia is served primarily by Centralia School District. The district operates 5 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.3:1.

What is the median household income in Centralia?

The median household income in Centralia, WA is $50,422 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.4%.

What is the weather like in Centralia, WA?

Centralia has an average high temperature of 46.1°F in January and 77.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 41.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 3.7 inches.

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

Q: Is Centralia, WA affordable or expensive?

Centralia's cost of living index is 101, where 100 represents the national average. This means Centralia is 1% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $233,000 and the median rent is $993 per month.

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

Centralia has a violent crime rate of 269.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2738.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Centralia, WA a Good Place to Live?

Centralia is a small city of 18,234 in Washington, with a median household income of $50,422 and a 6.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 101 (US average = 100), which is 1% above the national average.

Strengths: Centralia stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Centralia is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Centralia 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: 101.2

Centralia's overall cost of living index is 101.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Centralia costs roughly 1% more than the average American city.

Metric	Centralia, WA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$233,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$993	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	56.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$50,422	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Centralia's violent crime rate is 269.6 per 100,000 residents — 29% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

269.6 /100k

Property Crime

2738.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Centralia is served primarily by Centralia School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.3:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Centralia, WA	National Avg
School District	Centralia School District	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	17.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	85.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Centralia sees average highs of 46.1°F in January and 77.5°F in July, with 41.6 inches of annual precipitation and 3.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Centralia, WA
Average High — January	46.1°F
Average High — July	77.5°F
Annual Precipitation	41.6"
Annual Snowfall	3.7"

Demographics

Metric	Centralia, WA	National Avg
Population	18,234	—
Median Age	38.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	81.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	10.2%	18.9%
Asian	1.3%	6.3%
Under 18	21.2%	22.2%
65 and over	20.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Fords Prairie, WA 2 mi Chehalis, WA 4 mi Grand Mound, WA 6 mi Bucoda, WA 7 mi Rochester, WA 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Centralia

Centralia, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

98531

Centralia vs Other Cities

Centralia, WA vs Fords Prairie, WA Centralia, WA vs Chehalis, WA Centralia, WA vs Grand Mound, WA Centralia, WA vs Bucoda, WA Centralia, WA vs Rochester, WA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Centralia, WA affordable or expensive?

Centralia's cost of living index is 101, where 100 is the national average. That puts Centralia roughly 1% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $233,000 and median rent is $993/month.

What is the crime rate in Centralia, WA?

Centralia's violent crime rate is 269.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2738.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Centralia?

Public schools in Centralia are operated by Centralia School District. The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.3:1. 17.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Centralia, WA a good place to live?

Centralia, WA has a population of 18,234, a median household income of $50,422, and an unemployment rate of 6.4%. 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 Centralia?

Centralia averages 46.1°F in January and 77.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.6 inches with about 3.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Centralia?

Centralia, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 98531.

What is the population of Centralia?

The population of Centralia, Washington is 18,234 with a median age of 38.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Centralia?

Key numbers for living in Centralia: cost of living index 101 (100 = US average), median home $233,000, median household income $50,422, crime index 95 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Centralia side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.