What are the schools like in Pe Ell, WA?

Pe Ell is served primarily by Pe Ell School District. The district operates several elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.3:1.

What is the median household income in Pe Ell?

The median household income in Pe Ell, WA is $58,281 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.0%.

What is the weather like in Pe Ell, WA?

Pe Ell has an average high temperature of 49.8°F in January and 76.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 54.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 3.7 inches.

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

Q: Is Pe Ell, WA affordable or expensive?

Pe Ell's cost of living index is 97, where 100 represents the national average. This means Pe Ell is 3% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $161,600 and the median rent is $711 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Pe Ell, WA?

Pe Ell has a violent crime rate of 218.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1817.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Pe Ell, WA a Good Place to Live?

Pe Ell is a small town of 513 in Washington, with a median household income of $58,281 . Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

Strengths: Pe Ell stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Pe Ell is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Pe Ell 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: 96.7

Pe Ell's overall cost of living index is 96.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Pe Ell costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric	Pe Ell, WA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$161,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$711	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	76.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$58,281	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Pe Ell's violent crime rate is 218.1 per 100,000 residents — 43% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

218.1 /100k

Property Crime

1817.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Pe Ell is served primarily by Pe Ell School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.3:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Pe Ell, WA	National Avg
School District	Pe Ell School District	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	9.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Pe Ell sees average highs of 49.8°F in January and 76.8°F in July, with 54.0 inches of annual precipitation and 3.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Pe Ell, WA
Average High — January	49.8°F
Average High — July	76.8°F
Annual Precipitation	54.0"
Annual Snowfall	3.7"

Demographics

Metric	Pe Ell, WA	National Avg
Population	513	—
Median Age	38.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	30.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	86.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	21.2%	22.2%
65 and over	23.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lebam, WA 12 mi Chehalis, WA 17 mi Ryderwood, WA 18 mi Winlock, WA 18 mi Skamokawa Valley, WA 18 mi

ZIP Codes in Pe Ell

Pe Ell, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

98572

Pe Ell vs Other Cities

Pe Ell, WA vs Lebam, WA Pe Ell, WA vs Chehalis, WA Pe Ell, WA vs Ryderwood, WA Pe Ell, WA vs Winlock, WA Pe Ell, WA vs Skamokawa Valley, WA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pe Ell, WA affordable or expensive?

Pe Ell's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Pe Ell roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $161,600 and median rent is $711/month.

What is the crime rate in Pe Ell, WA?

Pe Ell's violent crime rate is 218.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1817.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Pe Ell?

Public schools in Pe Ell are operated by Pe Ell School District. The district has several elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.3:1. 9.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Pe Ell, WA a good place to live?

Pe Ell, WA has a population of 513, a median household income of $58,281, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%. 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 Pe Ell?

Pe Ell averages 49.8°F in January and 76.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 54.0 inches with about 3.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Pe Ell?

Pe Ell, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 98572.

What is the population of Pe Ell?

The population of Pe Ell, Washington is 513 with a median age of 38.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Pe Ell?

Key numbers for living in Pe Ell: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $161,600, median household income $58,281, crime index 69 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Pe Ell side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.