What are the schools like in Wapato, WA?

Wapato is served primarily by Wapato School District. The district operates 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.9:1.

What is the median household income in Wapato?

The median household income in Wapato, WA is $48,877 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.4%.

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

Q: Is Wapato, WA affordable or expensive?

Wapato's cost of living index is 97, where 100 represents the national average. This means Wapato is 3% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $140,700 and the median rent is $827 per month.

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

Wapato has a violent crime rate of 340.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1988.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Q: What is the weather like in Wapato, WA?

Wapato has an average high temperature of 39.3°F in January and 90.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 7.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 20.4 inches.

Is Wapato, WA a Good Place to Live?

Wapato is a small town of 4,600 in Washington, with a median household income of $48,877 and a 8.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Wapato is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Wapato 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: 97.2

Wapato's overall cost of living index is 97.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Wapato costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric	Wapato, WA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$140,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$827	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	52.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$48,877	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Wapato's violent crime rate is 340.8 per 100,000 residents — 10% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

340.8 /100k

Property Crime

1988.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

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

Metric	Wapato, WA	National Avg
School District	Wapato School District	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	6.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	51.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Wapato sees average highs of 39.3°F in January and 90.2°F in July, with 7.8 inches of annual precipitation and 20.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Wapato, WA
Average High — January	39.3°F
Average High — July	90.2°F
Annual Precipitation	7.8"
Annual Snowfall	20.4"

Demographics

Metric	Wapato, WA	National Avg
Population	4,600	—
Median Age	25.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	37.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	51.8%	18.9%
Asian	2.4%	6.3%
Under 18	36.4%	22.2%
65 and over	7.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Donald, WA 3 mi Parker, WA 5 mi Buena, WA 5 mi Harrah, WA 6 mi Toppenish, WA 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Wapato

Wapato, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

98951

Wapato vs Other Cities

Wapato, WA vs Donald, WA Wapato, WA vs Parker, WA Wapato, WA vs Buena, WA Wapato, WA vs Harrah, WA Wapato, WA vs Toppenish, WA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wapato, WA affordable or expensive?

Wapato's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Wapato roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $140,700 and median rent is $827/month.

What is the crime rate in Wapato, WA?

Wapato's violent crime rate is 340.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1988.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Wapato?

Public schools in Wapato are operated by Wapato School District. The district has 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.9:1. 6.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Wapato, WA a good place to live?

Wapato, WA has a population of 4,600, a median household income of $48,877, and an unemployment rate of 8.4%. 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 Wapato?

Wapato averages 39.3°F in January and 90.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 7.8 inches with about 20.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Wapato?

Wapato, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 98951.

What is the population of Wapato?

The population of Wapato, Washington is 4,600 with a median age of 25.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Wapato?

Key numbers for living in Wapato: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $140,700, median household income $48,877, crime index 92 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wapato side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.