What are the schools like in Kalama, WA?

Kalama is served primarily by Kalama School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.9:1.

What is the median household income in Kalama?

The median household income in Kalama, WA is $100,600 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.6%.

What is the weather like in Kalama, WA?

Kalama has an average high temperature of 47.7°F in January and 79.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 67.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 3.0 inches.

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

Q: Is Kalama, WA affordable or expensive?

Kalama's cost of living index is 99, where 100 represents the national average. This means Kalama is 1% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $394,200 and the median rent is N/A per month.

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

Kalama has a violent crime rate of 98.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1277.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Kalama, WA a Good Place to Live?

Kalama is a small town of 2,952 in Washington, with a median household income of $100,600 and a 1.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 99 (US average = 100), which is 1% below the national average.

Strengths: Kalama stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

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

All Kalama 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: 99.4

Kalama's overall cost of living index is 99.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Kalama costs roughly 1% less than the average American city.

Metric	Kalama, WA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$394,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	N/A	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	61.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$100,600	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Kalama's violent crime rate is 98.3 per 100,000 residents — 74% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

98.3 /100k

Property Crime

1277.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Kalama is served primarily by Kalama School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Kalama, WA	National Avg
School District	Kalama School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	19.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Kalama sees average highs of 47.7°F in January and 79.3°F in July, with 67.8 inches of annual precipitation and 3.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Kalama, WA
Average High — January	47.7°F
Average High — July	79.3°F
Annual Precipitation	67.8"
Annual Snowfall	3.0"

Demographics

Metric	Kalama, WA	National Avg
Population	2,952	—
Median Age	52.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	80.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	16.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	18.7%	22.2%
65 and over	22.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Prescott, OR 3 mi Deer Island, OR 6 mi Rainier, OR 6 mi Kelso, WA 7 mi Woodland, WA 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Kalama

Kalama, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

98625

Kalama vs Other Cities

Kalama, WA vs Prescott, OR Kalama, WA vs Deer Island, OR Kalama, WA vs Rainier, OR Kalama, WA vs Kelso, WA Kalama, WA vs Woodland, WA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kalama, WA affordable or expensive?

Kalama's cost of living index is 99, where 100 is the national average. That makes Kalama roughly 1% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $394,200 and median rent is N/A/month.

What is the crime rate in Kalama, WA?

Kalama's violent crime rate is 98.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1277.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Kalama?

Public schools in Kalama are operated by Kalama School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1. 19.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Kalama, WA a good place to live?

Kalama, WA has a population of 2,952, a median household income of $100,600, and an unemployment rate of 1.6%. 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 Kalama?

Kalama averages 47.7°F in January and 79.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 67.8 inches with about 3.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Kalama?

Kalama, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 98625.

What is the population of Kalama?

The population of Kalama, Washington is 2,952 with a median age of 52.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Kalama?

Key numbers for living in Kalama: cost of living index 99 (100 = US average), median home $394,200, median household income $100,600, crime index 40 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Kalama side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.