Kalama Park 01, 2012
Kalama’s story
158 years in pictures
Census counts: 129 in 1880, 2,959 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 3 maps from 1953 on.
- 1868Kalama is settled
KalamaWA
A town of 3,165, settled in 1868.
Photo: Joe Mabel · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
3,165
2025 Census estimate · +6.9% since 2020
Typical home
$537K
−0.2% in a year
Household income
$102K
median
Median age
50.6
years
Jobs based here
1,505
Balanced
TownGrade
C+
#172 of 285 in WA
Is Kalama a good place to live?
Kalama is a solid, middle-of-the-road choice. It grades C+ overall, 172nd among Washington's 285 graded towns, with no subject far below average. Its best mark is incomes: the median household earns $102K. Expect to pay for it: the typical home is worth about $537K, 7 years of the Longview metro’s $77K median household income. Kalama’s median age is 50.6 years, above both Washington’s towns (38.5 years) and U.S. towns (40.5 years). Haydu Park, at 37 acres with 1.3 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.
A growing town
Kalama has grown 35% since 2010
2,344 counted in 2010 and 2,959 in 2020; an estimated 3,165 in 2025.
Growth hasn’t slowed: 6.9% since 2020, after 26.2% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Kalama grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Washington), ordered by how far Kalama is from typical.
Hazard riskearthquakes tops the listC−Open →Cost of livingC−Open →Jobs & incomeB+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 4.9 of 20; 4% of households have no car; 3.6% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →HealthPeacehealth St. John Medical Center 9.2 miles awayBOpen →SafetyBOpen →SchoolsB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors5% conserved landAOpen →History1 notable person born hereCOpen →Civic life2.3 library visits per resident; 4.2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 81° summer afternoons, 1″ of snow–Open →Housing market$537K typical home, down 0.2% in a year; 83 days on market–Open →Who lives here19% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Kalama: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Kalama, and how to reach them.
PowerPUD No 1 of Cowlitz County9.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Kalama water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers96% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Kalama’s trash rules yet
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.govWho runs elections hereCowlitz County AuditorCowlitz County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2025
ZIP code9862598625 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 Kalama.
Kalama fares better on crime within Washington than nationally, trades workers with Longview and other neighbors and is healthy by national standards but behind most towns in Washington.
OutdoorsA
Kalama has set aside 5.3% of its land for conservation
4.0 miles of trail in 6 parks and preserves. The trail density in Kalama is 1.1 miles per square mile.
#109for trails in WA
| Kalama | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 1.1 miles per square mile | 0.8 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 5.3% | 4% | 4.3% |
5.3%
conserved · 131 of 2,449 acres
4.0 mi
of trails · 1.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Haydu Park | 1.3 mi | 37 |
| 2. Marine Park | 0.3 mi | 19 |
| 3. Vern Long Lions Park | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsB−
Public schools in Kalama beat 54% of Washington districts
Its public schools are run by the Kalama School District. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Kalama High School, with 347 students.
54%of WA districts it outscoresB−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalama Elem SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 525 | – |
| Kalama High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 347 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WA on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C−
Earthquakes leads a high hazard risk in Kalama
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 76% of U.S. communities. Since 1998, 5 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Kalama.
76risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
EarthquakesInland floodingVolcanic activity
5
paid flood claims since 1998
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Mild winters and pleasant summers in Kalama
Kalama has mild winters and pleasant summers. Kalama’s July high is 80°F.
1″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter34–47°
Spring41–62°
Summer52–78°
Fall43–63°
Nov 5
typical first frost
Apr 8
typical last frost
+1.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
Most working residents commute out of Kalama
Kalama has about as many jobs (1,505) as working residents, but only 96 people both live and work here. Jobs based here grew from 985 in 2013 to 1,505.
Most working residents leave Kalama for work: only 7% work in town. Since 2013, Kalama has added 520 jobs, to 1,505 in 2023. 13% of residents live below the poverty line in Kalama.
7%work in town
| Kalama | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 13% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $102,000 | $98,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 24 minutes | 27 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Kalama7%
Longview13%
Vancouver13%
Portland8%
Woodland5%
28 mi
median commute distance
1,505
jobs based in Kalama
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 41% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthB
Residents of Kalama are healthier than 57% of U.S. towns
Within Washington it is less healthy than 77% of the 285 graded towns: Washington sets a high bar. Against the 8,281 U.S. towns with household incomes like Kalama’s, it is less healthy than 66%: its national edge comes with its incomes.
Kalama beats the Washington average on 0 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 13. 39% of Kalama adults have obesity.
57%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Kalama | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 33% | 35% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 72% | 71% | 79% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 26% | 23% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 17% | 17% |
31 measures vs. Washington
0 better18 too close to call13 worse
| What stands out | Kalama | WA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with arthritis | 32.3% | 24.4% |
| More adults with COPD | 6.6% | 5.1% |
| More adults with obesity | 39.4% | 30.6% |
Peacehealth St. John Medical Center
9.2 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
23rd
percentile among WA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade C−
Kalama’s grade for cost of living is a C−
The typical Kalama home is worth about $537,000, about the same as a year ago, 9% below the Washington typical home.
$537KZillow home value
| Kalama | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent | 29% | 51% | 48% |
| Households that own their home | 65% | 71% | 73% |
Typical home value
Kalama$537K
Washington$588K
Market temperature
83
days on market
100.8%
sale-to-list price
−0.2%
value change, 1 year
7
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SafetyB
Kalama reports less crime per resident than 55% of U.S. towns
At 16.6 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports less crime than 76% of Washington’s graded towns. Violent crime is rare: 3 reported in 2025, 0.9 per 1,000 residents.
55%of U.S. towns report more crimeBSafety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Kalama0.9
Washington2.9
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Kalama9.1
Washington20.2
U.S.15.5
55th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
76th
percentile among WA towns
3
violent crimes reported in 2025
29
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Kalama
20pages on Kalama
The big questions
SchoolsB−Beat 54% of WA districts · 3 schoolsSafetyB0.9 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthBBetter than WA on 0 of 31 CDC measuresCost of livingC−$537K typical home · down 0.2% in a yearWork & commuteB+$102K median household income · 1,505 jobs hereNatural hazardsC−FEMA risk higher than 76% of U.S. communities · earthquakes
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Kalama
About 1 of every 100 Kalama residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Washington.
About Kalama
City in Washington, United States
Kalama (kə-LAM-mə) is a city in Cowlitz County, Washington, United States. It is part of the Longview, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,959 as of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 3.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 39 ft
- ZIP code
- 98625
- Area code
- 360
Questions about Kalama
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Kalama, WA a good place to live?
Kalama grades C+ overall, better than 35% of U.S. towns and #172 of 285 in Washington. It grades B for health, B for safety and B− for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Kalama, WA expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.