Is McChord AFB, WA a Good Place to Live?
McChord AFB is a small town of 2,899 in Washington, with a median household income of $48,063 and a 2.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 113 (US average = 100), which is 13% above the national average.
Strengths: McChord AFB stands out for solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living. Whether McChord AFB is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All McChord AFB 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: 113.0McChord AFB's overall cost of living index is 113.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in McChord AFB costs roughly 13% more than the average American city.
| Metric | McChord AFB, WA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | N/A | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,217 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 0.0% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $48,063 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Higher than AverageMcChord AFB's violent crime rate is 545.2 per 100,000 residents — 43% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
McChord AFB is served primarily by Clover Park School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | McChord AFB, WA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Clover Park School District | — |
| Elementary Schools | 17 | — |
| Middle Schools | 4 | — |
| High Schools | 8 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 15.6:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.2% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 98.8% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
McChord AFB sees average highs of 48.1°F in January and 76.8°F in July, with 43.4 inches of annual precipitation and 5.6 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | McChord AFB, WA |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 48.1°F |
| Average High — July | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.6" |
Demographics
| Metric | McChord AFB, WA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,899 | — |
| Median Age | 23.2 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 15.0 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 72.5% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 7.5% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 11.6% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 2.3% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 32.5% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 0.0% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in McChord AFB
McChord AFB, WA is covered by 2 ZIP codes: