What are the schools like in Steptoe, WA?

Steptoe is served primarily by Steptoe School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.7:1.

What is the median household income in Steptoe?

The median household income in Steptoe, WA is $40,625 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 Steptoe, WA?

Steptoe has an average high temperature of 36.6°F in January and 83.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 17.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 26.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Steptoe, WA affordable or expensive?

Steptoe's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Steptoe is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $122,900 and the median rent is $780 per month.

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

Steptoe has a violent crime rate of 85.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 542.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Steptoe, WA a Good Place to Live?

Steptoe is a small town of 100 in Washington, with a median household income of $40,625 . Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

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

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

All Steptoe 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: 96.1

Steptoe's overall cost of living index is 96.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Steptoe costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Steptoe, WA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$122,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$780	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	69.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$40,625	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Steptoe's violent crime rate is 85.8 per 100,000 residents — 77% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

85.8 /100k

Property Crime

542.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Steptoe is served primarily by Steptoe School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Steptoe, WA	National Avg
School District	Steptoe School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	11.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Steptoe sees average highs of 36.6°F in January and 83.6°F in July, with 17.1 inches of annual precipitation and 26.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Steptoe, WA
Average High — January	36.6°F
Average High — July	83.6°F
Annual Precipitation	17.1"
Annual Snowfall	26.6"

Demographics

Metric	Steptoe, WA	National Avg
Population	100	—
Median Age	59.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	32.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	81.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.0%	18.9%
Asian	4.0%	6.3%
Under 18	8.0%	22.2%
65 and over	36.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Colfax, WA 7 mi Oakesdale, WA 10 mi Garfield, WA 10 mi St. John, WA 13 mi Palouse, WA 15 mi

ZIP Codes in Steptoe

Steptoe, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

99174

Steptoe vs Other Cities

Steptoe, WA vs Colfax, WA Steptoe, WA vs Oakesdale, WA Steptoe, WA vs Garfield, WA Steptoe, WA vs St. John, WA Steptoe, WA vs Palouse, WA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Steptoe, WA affordable or expensive?

Steptoe's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Steptoe roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $122,900 and median rent is $780/month.

What is the crime rate in Steptoe, WA?

Steptoe's violent crime rate is 85.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 542.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Steptoe?

Public schools in Steptoe are operated by Steptoe School District. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.7:1. 11.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Steptoe, WA a good place to live?

Steptoe, WA has a population of 100, a median household income of $40,625, 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 Steptoe?

Steptoe averages 36.6°F in January and 83.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 17.1 inches with about 26.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Steptoe?

Steptoe, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 99174.

What is the population of Steptoe?

The population of Steptoe, Washington is 100 with a median age of 59.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Steptoe?

Key numbers for living in Steptoe: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $122,900, median household income $40,625, crime index 24 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Steptoe side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.