Is La Center, WA a Good Place to Live?
La Center is a small town of 3,685 in Washington, with a median household income of $112,758 and a 4.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 107 (US average = 100), which is 7% above the national average.
Strengths: La Center stands out for lower-than-average crime.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, longer commutes. Whether La Center is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All La 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: 106.6La Center's overall cost of living index is 106.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in La Center costs roughly 7% more than the average American city.
| Metric | La Center, WA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $484,800 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,895 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 83.4% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $112,758 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeLa Center's violent crime rate is 63.7 per 100,000 residents — 83% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
La Center is served primarily by La Center School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.3:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | La Center, WA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | La Center School District | — |
| Elementary Schools | 1 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | 1 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 18.3:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.1% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 95.5% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
La Center sees average highs of 46.1°F in January and 78.6°F in July, with 68.2 inches of annual precipitation and 3.0 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | La Center, WA |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 46.1°F |
| Average High — July | 78.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" |
Demographics
| Metric | La Center, WA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,685 | — |
| Median Age | 40.4 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 37.0 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 82.8% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 0.0% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 4.0% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 11.1% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 18.0% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in La Center
La Center, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code: