What are the schools like in Clarkston, WA?

Clarkston is served primarily by Clarkston School District. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 18.1:1.

What is the median household income in Clarkston?

The median household income in Clarkston, WA is $48,587 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 9.9%.

What is the weather like in Clarkston, WA?

Clarkston has an average high temperature of 42.1°F in January and 90.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 12.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 12.7 inches.

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

Q: Is Clarkston, WA affordable or expensive?

Clarkston's cost of living index is 87, where 100 represents the national average. This means Clarkston is 13% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $193,000 and the median rent is $858 per month.

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

Clarkston has a violent crime rate of 468.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 4545.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Clarkston, WA a Good Place to Live?

Clarkston is a small town of 7,222 in Washington, with a median household income of $48,587 and a 9.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

Strengths: Clarkston stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Clarkston is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Clarkston 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: 87.2

Clarkston's overall cost of living index is 87.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Clarkston costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric	Clarkston, WA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$193,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$858	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	51.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$48,587	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Clarkston's violent crime rate is 468.3 per 100,000 residents — 23% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

468.3 /100k

Property Crime

4545.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Clarkston is served primarily by Clarkston School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.1:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Clarkston, WA	National Avg
School District	Clarkston School District	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	18.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Clarkston sees average highs of 42.1°F in January and 90.8°F in July, with 12.9 inches of annual precipitation and 12.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Clarkston, WA
Average High — January	42.1°F
Average High — July	90.8°F
Annual Precipitation	12.9"
Annual Snowfall	12.7"

Demographics

Metric	Clarkston, WA	National Avg
Population	7,222	—
Median Age	36.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	9.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	13.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	85.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.9%	18.9%
Asian	3.2%	6.3%
Under 18	22.3%	22.2%
65 and over	14.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

West Clarkston-Highland, WA 1 mi Lewiston, ID 3 mi Clarkston Heights-Vineland, WA 3 mi Asotin, WA 6 mi Uniontown, WA 9 mi

Clarkston vs Other Cities

Clarkston, WA vs West Clarkston-Highland, WA Clarkston, WA vs Lewiston, ID Clarkston, WA vs Clarkston Heights-Vineland, WA Clarkston, WA vs Asotin, WA Clarkston, WA vs Uniontown, WA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Clarkston, WA affordable or expensive?

Clarkston's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Clarkston roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $193,000 and median rent is $858/month.

What is the crime rate in Clarkston, WA?

Clarkston's violent crime rate is 468.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4545.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Clarkston?

Public schools in Clarkston are operated by Clarkston School District. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.1:1. 16.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Clarkston, WA a good place to live?

Clarkston, WA has a population of 7,222, a median household income of $48,587, and an unemployment rate of 9.9%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. 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 Clarkston?

Clarkston averages 42.1°F in January and 90.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 12.9 inches with about 12.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Clarkston?

The population of Clarkston, Washington is 7,222 with a median age of 36.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Clarkston?

Key numbers for living in Clarkston: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $193,000, median household income $48,587, crime index 161 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Clarkston side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.