What are the schools like in Goldendale, WA?

Goldendale is served primarily by Goldendale School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 25.1:1.

What is the median household income in Goldendale?

The median household income in Goldendale, WA is $45,467 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 18.7%.

What is the weather like in Goldendale, WA?

Goldendale has an average high temperature of 37.9°F in January and 86.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 16.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 26.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Goldendale, WA affordable or expensive?

Goldendale's cost of living index is 99, where 100 represents the national average. This means Goldendale is 1% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $164,900 and the median rent is $907 per month.

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

Goldendale has a violent crime rate of 114.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3218.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Goldendale, WA a Good Place to Live?

Goldendale is a small town of 3,448 in Washington, with a median household income of $45,467 and a 18.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 99 (US average = 100), which is 1% below the national average.

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

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

All Goldendale 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: 98.7

Goldendale's overall cost of living index is 98.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Goldendale costs roughly 1% less than the average American city.

Metric	Goldendale, WA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$164,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$907	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	50.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$45,467	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Goldendale's violent crime rate is 114.9 per 100,000 residents — 70% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

114.9 /100k

Property Crime

3218.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Goldendale is served primarily by Goldendale School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 25.1:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Goldendale, WA	National Avg
School District	Goldendale School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	25.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	19.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Goldendale sees average highs of 37.9°F in January and 86.1°F in July, with 16.5 inches of annual precipitation and 26.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Goldendale, WA
Average High — January	37.9°F
Average High — July	86.1°F
Annual Precipitation	16.5"
Annual Snowfall	26.6"

Demographics

Metric	Goldendale, WA	National Avg
Population	3,448	—
Median Age	36.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	18.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.3%	6.3%
Under 18	25.4%	22.2%
65 and over	19.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Centerville, WA 6 mi Maryhill, WA 9 mi Rufus, OR 10 mi Biggs Junction, OR 11 mi Wishram, WA 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Goldendale

Goldendale, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

98620

Goldendale vs Other Cities

Goldendale, WA vs Centerville, WA Goldendale, WA vs Maryhill, WA Goldendale, WA vs Rufus, OR Goldendale, WA vs Biggs Junction, OR Goldendale, WA vs Wishram, WA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Goldendale, WA affordable or expensive?

Goldendale's cost of living index is 99, where 100 is the national average. That makes Goldendale roughly 1% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $164,900 and median rent is $907/month.

What is the crime rate in Goldendale, WA?

Goldendale's violent crime rate is 114.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3218.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Goldendale?

Public schools in Goldendale are operated by Goldendale School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 25.1:1. 19.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Goldendale, WA a good place to live?

Goldendale, WA has a population of 3,448, a median household income of $45,467, and an unemployment rate of 18.7%. 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 Goldendale?

Goldendale averages 37.9°F in January and 86.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 16.5 inches with about 26.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Goldendale?

Goldendale, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 98620.

What is the population of Goldendale?

The population of Goldendale, Washington is 3,448 with a median age of 36.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Goldendale?

Key numbers for living in Goldendale: cost of living index 99 (100 = US average), median home $164,900, median household income $45,467, crime index 79 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Goldendale side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.