What are the schools like in Ritzville, WA?

Ritzville is served primarily by Ritzville School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.9:1.

What is the median household income in Ritzville?

The median household income in Ritzville, WA is $60,638 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.4%.

What is the weather like in Ritzville, WA?

Ritzville has an average high temperature of 35.8°F in January and 86.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 12.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 15.7 inches.

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

Q: Is Ritzville, WA affordable or expensive?

Ritzville's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Ritzville is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $156,000 and the median rent is $878 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Ritzville, WA?

Ritzville has a violent crime rate of 234.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 5633.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Ritzville, WA a Good Place to Live?

Ritzville is a small town of 1,733 in Washington, with a median household income of $60,638 and a 1.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Ritzville stands out for below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. Whether Ritzville is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Ritzville 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: 98.2

Ritzville's overall cost of living index is 98.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Ritzville costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	Ritzville, WA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$156,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$878	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	70.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$60,638	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Ritzville's violent crime rate is 234.7 per 100,000 residents — 38% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

234.7 /100k

Property Crime

5633.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Ritzville is served primarily by Ritzville School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.9:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Ritzville, WA	National Avg
School District	Ritzville School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	21.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Ritzville sees average highs of 35.8°F in January and 86.7°F in July, with 12.8 inches of annual precipitation and 15.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Ritzville, WA
Average High — January	35.8°F
Average High — July	86.7°F
Annual Precipitation	12.8"
Annual Snowfall	15.7"

Demographics

Metric	Ritzville, WA	National Avg
Population	1,733	—
Median Age	45.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	88.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.9%	18.9%
Asian	1.6%	6.3%
Under 18	22.3%	22.2%
65 and over	20.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lind, WA 15 mi Odessa, WA 21 mi Lamont, WA 23 mi Sprague, WA 23 mi Harrington, WA 25 mi

ZIP Codes in Ritzville

Ritzville, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

99169

Ritzville vs Other Cities

Ritzville, WA vs Lind, WA Ritzville, WA vs Odessa, WA Ritzville, WA vs Lamont, WA Ritzville, WA vs Sprague, WA Ritzville, WA vs Harrington, WA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ritzville, WA affordable or expensive?

Ritzville's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Ritzville roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $156,000 and median rent is $878/month.

What is the crime rate in Ritzville, WA?

Ritzville's violent crime rate is 234.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 5633.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Ritzville?

Public schools in Ritzville are operated by Ritzville School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.9:1. 21.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Ritzville, WA a good place to live?

Ritzville, WA has a population of 1,733, a median household income of $60,638, and an unemployment rate of 1.4%. 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 Ritzville?

Ritzville averages 35.8°F in January and 86.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 12.8 inches with about 15.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Ritzville?

Ritzville, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 99169.

What is the population of Ritzville?

The population of Ritzville, Washington is 1,733 with a median age of 45.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Ritzville?

Key numbers for living in Ritzville: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $156,000, median household income $60,638, crime index 144 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ritzville side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.