Morton, Washington 1910, 1910
Morton’s story
155 years in pictures
Census counts: 522 in 1920, 1,036 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1910 and 3 maps from 1957 on.
- 1871Morton is settled
MortonWA
A town of 1,102, settled in 1871.
Photo: SounderBruce · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
1,102
2025 Census estimate · +6.6% since 2020
Typical home
$346K
+0.6% in a year
Household income
$58K
median
Median age
42.9
years
Jobs based here
748
A job hub
Is Morton a good place to live?
Morton’s best subject grades are an A− for walkability and civic life; its weakest is a D− for hazard risk. Only 9 of Washington’s 397 towns score lower on health. The median household income is $58K, and 14% of residents live below the poverty line. Only 21 of Washington’s 397 towns score lower on hazard risk. Morton has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Morton stand out
Where Morton beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here748
Residents who work362
Work
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 94% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023.
WalkabilityA−
More walkable than 82% of U.S. towns
20.4% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
Worth knowing · Natural hazardsD−
Inland flooding and avalanches at the top
FEMA National Risk Index.
Small town
1,102 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
How Morton grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Washington), ordered by how far Morton is from typical.
Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listD−Open →Jobs & incomeDOpen →HealthLess healthy than 82% of U.S. towns; Arbor Health Morton Hospital 0.1 miles awayC−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7 of 20; 5.3% of households have no carA−Open →Cost of livingC+Open →SchoolsB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsB+Open →History4 notable people born hereB−Open →Civic life6.3 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 42.9; 12% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Morton: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Morton, and how to reach them.
PowerPUD No 1 of Lewis County10.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Morton water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Morton’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 hereLewis County AuditorLewis County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Apr 2024
ZIP code9835698356 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 Morton.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D
Morton has 2.1 jobs for every working resident, and 686 people commute in
Most working residents leave Morton for work: only 17% work in town. Morton’s median household income is $58,000, where Washington’s towns sit at $98,000 and U.S. towns at $80,000. Jobs based in Morton fell to 748 in 2023, 187 fewer than in 2013.
17%work in town
| Morton | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 17% | 4.9% | 8% |
| Median household income | $58,000 | $98,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 24 minutes | 27 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Morton17%
Seattle5%
Tacoma5%
Chehalis4%
Kent2%
42 mi
median commute distance
748
jobs based in Morton
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 82% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SchoolsB−
Morton’s schools rank behind 52% of Washington districts
Its public schools are run by the Morton School District. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
48%of WA districts it outscoresB−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morton Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–4 | Grades PK–4 | 194 | – |
| Morton Junior-Senior HighLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 205 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WA on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D−
Morton faces a very high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 93% of U.S. communities.
93risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingAvalanchesEarthquakes
7
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthC−
More of Morton’s adults report frequent physical distress than in the typical Washington or U.S. town
19% of Morton adults report frequent physical distress, above both the Washington town median (13%) and the median of U.S. towns (14%). 25% of adults say their health is fair or poor in Morton. Morton beats the Washington average on 2 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 19.
18%healthier than U.S. townsC−Health Grade
| Morton | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 13% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 42% | 31% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 9.8% | 12% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 25% | 17% | 19% |
31 measures vs. Washington
2 better10 too close to call19 worse
| What stands out | Morton | WA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 13.9% | 16.6% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 77.4% | 70.7% |
| More adults with COPD | 10% | 5.1% |
Arbor Health Morton Hospital
0.1 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade C+
A typical Morton home is worth about $346K
The typical Morton home is worth about $346,000, up 0.6% in a year, 41% below the Washington typical home. The median rent in Morton is $930 a month.
$346KZillow home value
| Morton | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $930 a month | $1,739 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 76% | 71% | 73% |
Typical home value
Morton$346K
Washington$588K
+0.6%
value change, 1 year
3
homes sold in April
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Mild winters and pleasant summers in Morton
Morton has mild winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. Morton’s July high is 78°F.
3″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter33–46°
Spring38–58°
Summer49–75°
Fall40–60°
Oct 15
typical first frost
Apr 24
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Safety
Crime reported in Morton
Morton's reported crime rate is well below Washington's. 5 violent crimes were reported in 2025.
| Morton | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 5.8 per 1,000 residents | 15 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 2.6 per 1,000 residents | 1.5 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Morton2.6
Washington2.9
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Morton5.8
Washington20.2
U.S.15.5
5
violent crimes reported in 2025
11
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
6%conserved
6%
conserved · 32 of 530 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Gust Backstrom City Park | — | 14 |
| 2. Jubilee Park | — | 13 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Morton
20pages on Morton
The big questions
SchoolsB−Behind 52% of WA districts · 3 schoolsSafety2.6 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthC−Better than WA on 2 of 31 CDC measuresCost of livingC+$346K typical home · up 0.6% in a yearWork & commuteD$58K median household income · 748 jobs hereNatural hazardsD−FEMA risk higher than 93% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Morton; the nearest are
Centralia CollegeUniversity or college · Public · Centralia34 mi$5,266 in-state tuitionClatsop Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Astoria, OR77.9 mi$5,110 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Morton residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Washington.
A job hub
Every workday, about 686 people come to Morton for work
Where Morton’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
748jobs based in Morton
17%of working residents work in town
42 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Famous people from Morton
4 notable people were born in Morton.
About Morton
City in Washington, United States
Morton is a city in Lewis County, Washington, United States. The population was 1,036 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 948 ft
- ZIP code
- 98356
- Area code
- 360
Questions about Morton
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Morton, WA expensive?
That is 4.6 years of the area's median household income ($74,796 across the Centralia, WA area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.
What is Morton, WA known for?
4 notable people were born here, including Buzz Osborne and Brandy Clark.