What are the schools like in Key Center, WA?

Key Center is served primarily by Peninsula School District. The district operates 10 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 18.8:1.

What is the median household income in Key Center?

The median household income in Key Center, WA is $92,241 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.9%.

What is the weather like in Key Center, WA?

Key Center has an average high temperature of 46.3°F in January and 75.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 52.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Key Center, WA affordable or expensive?

Key Center's cost of living index is 113, where 100 represents the national average. This means Key Center is 13% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $476,200 and the median rent is $1,438 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Key Center, WA?

Key Center has a violent crime rate of 545.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3238.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Key Center, WA a Good Place to Live?

Key Center is a small town of 3,359 in Washington, with a median household income of $92,241 and a 5.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 113 (US average = 100), which is 13% above the national average.

Strengths: Key Center's profile is close to national averages across most measures.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Key Center is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Key Center 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: 113.0

Key Center's overall cost of living index is 113.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Key Center costs roughly 13% more than the average American city.

Metric	Key Center, WA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$476,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,438	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	82.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$92,241	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Key Center's violent crime rate is 545.2 per 100,000 residents — 43% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

545.2 /100k

Property Crime

3238.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Key Center is served primarily by Peninsula School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.8:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Key Center, WA	National Avg
School District	Peninsula School District	—
Elementary Schools	10	—
Middle Schools	4	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	18.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	24.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Key Center sees average highs of 46.3°F in January and 75.5°F in July, with 52.7 inches of annual precipitation and 0.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Key Center, WA
Average High — January	46.3°F
Average High — July	75.5°F
Annual Precipitation	52.7"
Annual Snowfall	0.3"

Demographics

Metric	Key Center, WA	National Avg
Population	3,359	—
Median Age	49.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	40.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	86.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	17.5%	22.2%
65 and over	22.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Vaughn, WA 2 mi Grapeview, WA 3 mi Raft Island, WA 4 mi Stansberry Lake, WA 4 mi Home, WA 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Key Center

Key Center, WA is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

98329 98394

Key Center vs Other Cities

Key Center, WA vs Vaughn, WA Key Center, WA vs Grapeview, WA Key Center, WA vs Raft Island, WA Key Center, WA vs Stansberry Lake, WA Key Center, WA vs Home, WA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Key Center, WA affordable or expensive?

Key Center's cost of living index is 113, where 100 is the national average. That puts Key Center roughly 13% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $476,200 and median rent is $1,438/month.

What is the crime rate in Key Center, WA?

Key Center's violent crime rate is 545.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3238.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Key Center?

Public schools in Key Center are operated by Peninsula School District. The district has 10 elementary, 4 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.8:1. 24.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Key Center, WA a good place to live?

Key Center, WA has a population of 3,359, a median household income of $92,241, and an unemployment rate of 5.9%. 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 Key Center?

Key Center averages 46.3°F in January and 75.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.7 inches with about 0.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Key Center?

Key Center, WA is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 98329, 98394.

What is the population of Key Center?

The population of Key Center, Washington is 3,359 with a median age of 49.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Key Center?

Key numbers for living in Key Center: cost of living index 113 (100 = US average), median home $476,200, median household income $92,241, crime index 148 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Key Center side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.