Is Pullman, WA a Good Place to Live?
Pullman is a small city of 31,972 in Washington, with a median household income of $41,479 and a 7.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.
Strengths: Pullman stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Pullman is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Pullman 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: 103.4Pullman's overall cost of living index is 103.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Pullman costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.
| Metric | Pullman, WA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $379,000 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $971 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 29.2% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $41,479 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafePullman's violent crime rate is 129.9 per 100,000 residents — 66% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Pullman is served primarily by Pullman School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.6:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Pullman, WA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Pullman School District | — |
| Elementary Schools | 4 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | 1 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 16.6:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 64.8% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 97.8% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Pullman sees average highs of 37.7°F in January and 84.1°F in July, with 20.4 inches of annual precipitation and 32.7 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Pullman, WA |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 37.7°F |
| Average High — July | 84.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.7" |
Demographics
| Metric | Pullman, WA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 31,972 | — |
| Median Age | 22.8 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.8% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 13.6 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 73.5% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 2.5% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 5.3% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 11.5% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 12.1% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 6.4% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Pullman
Pullman, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code: