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Columbia River with Chelan Falls and Chelan Lake
Washington›Chelan County

Chelan FallsWA

A town of 233, settled in 1891.

Photo of Chelan Falls

Chelan Falls, WA · Photo: Doc Searls from Santa Barbara, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Source ↗

Is Chelan Falls a good place to live?

Chelan Falls’ median age is 24.8 years, below both the Washington town median (38.5 years) and the median of U.S. towns (40.5 years). Only 3 of the 286 Washington towns we compare have a lower January low than Chelan Falls. Chelan Falls has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

Small town

233 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Nearby towns
Getting set up

Moving to Chelan Falls: who provides what

Chelan Falls is unincorporated, so Chelan County and regional agencies provide most services.

PowerPUD No 1 of Chelan County3.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterChelan Falls Water DistrictNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesChelan CountyChelan County provides services here
SchoolsLake Chelan School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Washington you can register online until 8 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received 8 days before).vote.gov
Who runs elections hereChelan County AuditorChelan County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2022
ZIP code9881798817 100%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Chelan Falls.

Natural hazards

Avalanches leads a very high hazard risk in Chelan Falls

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 89% of U.S. communities.

89risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
89Very high riskLowerHigher
AvalanchesInland floodingWildfire

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Work & commute

Chelan Falls has 0.2 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out

Most working residents leave Chelan Falls for work: only 2% work in town. The top destinations are Chelan (36%), Wenatchee (5%) and Kent (4%). Half commute less than 11 miles.

2%work in town

Where working residents work

In Chelan Falls2%
Chelan36%
Wenatchee5%
Kent4%
Bellevue2%
11 mi
median commute distance
33
jobs based in Chelan Falls
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Outdoors

20% of Chelan Falls is conserved land

0.5 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves.

20%conserved
20%
conserved · 35 of 177 acres
0.5 mi
of trails · 1.7 per sq mi
Biggest places to walkTrailsAcres
1. Chelan Falls Park0.5 mi20
2. Chelan Falls Powerhouse Park—3

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Climate

In Chelan Falls, expect four seasons and hot summers

Chelan Falls has chilly winters and warm summers, with very little rain. Chelan Falls’ July high is 89°F.

21″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter24–37°
Spring39–63°
Summer56–86°
Fall39–62°
Oct 22
typical first frost
Apr 17
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Health

How healthy Chelan Falls is

Chelan Falls beats the Washington average on 1 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 18. 21% of Chelan Falls adults 18 to 64 have no health insurance.

Chelan FallsWashington townsU.S. towns
No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES)21%7.8%8.1%
Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES)67%71%79%
Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES)25%17%19%
Food insecurity (CDC PLACES)19%10%14%
31 measures vs. Washington
1 better12 too close to call18 worse
What stands outChelan FallsWA
Fewer adults who have had cancer6.4%7.9%
More uninsured adults21.4%8.4%
Lake Chelan Community Hospital
2.5 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Chelan Falls

15pages on Chelan Falls
After high school

Colleges nearby

None within 15 miles of Chelan Falls; the nearest are

A commuter town

98% of working residents leave Chelan Falls for work

Where Chelan Falls’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.

36% → Chelan Chelan 36% 5% → Wenatchee Wenatchee 5% 4% → Kent Kent 4% 2% → Bellevue Bellevue 2% 2% → Yakima Yakima 2% 2% → Omak Omak 2% Chelan Falls · 2% stay
33jobs based in Chelan Falls
2%of working residents work in town
11 mimedian commute distance

Census LEHD 2023

About Chelan Falls

Unincorporated community in Washington, United States

Chelan Falls is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in Chelan County, Washington, United States. The population was 340 at the 2020 census. Chelan Falls is located on the Columbia River at the mouth of the Chelan River, 5 miles (8 km) south-southeast of Chelan. Chelan Falls has a post office with ZIP code 98817.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Area
0.3 sq mi
Elevation
732 ft
ZIP code
98817
Area code
509

Questions about Chelan Falls

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Chelan Falls, WA a good place to live?

Chelan Falls has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.