Odd Fellows Hall, 2006
Selah’s story
155 years in pictures
Census counts: 767 in 1930, 8,153 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2006 and 3 maps from 1958 on.
- 1871Selah is settled
Population
8,678
2025 Census estimate · +5.4% since 2020
Typical home
$435K
+0.2% in a year
Household income
$75K
median
Median age
33.0
years
Jobs based here
2,554
Balanced
TownGrade
C+
#164 of 285 in WA
Is Selah a good place to live?
Selah grades C+ overall, 164th of 285 graded towns in Washington, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. On the other side, homes are expensive, about $435K for a typical one and 6.2 times the Yakima metro’s $71K median household income. On hazard risk, just 34 of Washington’s 397 towns do better. Selah’s average trip to work is 18 minutes, below both Washington’s towns (27 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes). The biggest park or preserve is Carlon Park, at 28 acres.
WeakestDCost of living
A growing town
Selah has grown 20% since 2010
7,147 counted in 2010 and 8,153 in 2020; an estimated 8,678 in 2025.
Growth hasn’t slowed: 5.4% since 2020, after 14.1% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Selah grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Washington), ordered by how far Selah is from typical.
Cost of livingDOpen →Hazard riskavalanches tops the listB+Open →SafetyBOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 10.8 of 20; 6% of households have no car; 0.8% of workers walk, bike or ride transitBOpen →HealthAstria Toppenish Hospital 21.8 miles awayBOpen →SchoolsBOpen →Jobs & income$75K median household income; 2,554 jobs based hereB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors3 miles of trails; 3% conserved landB+Open →History1 notable person born hereCOpen →Civic life2.2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market$435K typical home, up 0.2% in a year; 17 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 33.0; 26% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Selah: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Selah, and how to reach them.
PowerPacific Power14.3¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Selah water system1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet9 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpOnce a month, ThuCurbside recyclingTown site
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 hereYakima County AuditorYakima County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2015
ZIP code9894298942 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 Selah.
Selah carries less natural-hazard risk than nearly all of Washington (mostly avalanches) and fares better on crime within Washington than nationally, but it is a long drive from an emergency room.
#142for trails in WA
| Selah | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.7 miles per square mile | 0.8 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 3.2% | 4% | 4.3% |
3.2%
conserved · 95 of 2,954 acres
3.4 mi
of trails · 0.7 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Carlon Park | 0.4 mi | 28 |
| 2. Volunteer Park | 0.3 mi | 5 |
| 3. Wixson Park | 0.2 mi | 5 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsB
Selah’s schools rank ahead of 58% of Washington districts
Its public schools are run by the Selah School District. Two of its 9 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Selah High School, with 1,159 students.
58%of WA districts it outscoresBSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selah Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 871 | – |
| Selah High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,159 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WA on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B+
Low risk in Selah, with avalanches at the top
FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk lower than 92% of Washington towns, with expected losses of about $571 per resident a year; that rating is what its B+ for hazard risk is built on.
Selah’s FEMA risk score is 25 of 100. Since 1980, 36 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Selah.
25risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
AvalanchesInland floodingEarthquakes
36
paid flood claims since 1980
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HousingCost of living grade D
Selah’s grade for cost of living is a D
59% of households own their home in Selah. The typical Selah home is worth about $435,000, about the same as a year ago, 26% below the Washington typical home. The median rent in Selah is $1,539 a month.
$435KZillow home value
| Selah | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 59% | 71% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,539 a month | $1,740 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Selah$435K
Washington$588K
Market temperature
17
days on market
106.3%
sale-to-list price
+0.2%
value change, 1 year
5
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
In Selah, expect four seasons and hot summers
January nights average 24.9°: milder than most of the country, but colder than 78% of Washington places with climate records; July afternoons average 88.4°.
Selah has chilly winters and warm summers, with very little rain. About 20 inches of snow falls in a winter.
20″snow a winter
| Selah | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 88°F | 77°F | 85°F |
| January low | 25°F | 35°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter25–41°
Spring37–63°
Summer53–85°
Fall37–63°
Oct 4
typical first frost
May 8
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
About two in five of Selah’s working residents commute to Yakima
The average commute for its 3,336 working residents takes 17.5 minutes, against 26.6 across Washington.
Most working residents leave Selah for work: only 11% work in town. 14% of Selah residents live below the poverty line. The top destinations are Yakima (42%), Union Gap (4%) and Seattle (2%).
11%work in town
| Selah | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 14% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $75,000 | $98,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 11% | 4.8% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Selah11%
Yakima42%
Union Gap4%
Seattle2%
Terrace Heights2%
5 mi
median commute distance
2,554
jobs based in Selah
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B
Walkability grade: more walkable than 59% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SafetyB
Crime per resident in Selah is lower than in 59% of U.S. towns
At 15.1 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports less crime than 82% of Washington’s graded towns. Reported crimes fell from 130 to 75 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
59%of U.S. towns report more crimeBSafety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Selah0.7
Washington2.9
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Selah7.9
Washington20.2
U.S.15.5
59th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
82nd
percentile among WA towns
6
violent crimes reported in 2025
69
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
HealthB
Selah is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns
The nearest emergency room, Astria Toppenish Hospital, is 21.8 miles away in a straight line. Within Washington it is less healthy than 76% of the 285 graded towns: Washington sets a high bar.
Selah beats the Washington average on 3 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 8.
59%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Selah | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 68% | 71% | 79% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 33% | 36% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 17% | 17% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 31% | 35% |
31 measures vs. Washington
3 better20 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | Selah | WA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 6.9% | 7.9% |
| Fewer adults sleeping under 7 hours | 28% | 31.8% |
| More uninsured adults | 11.3% | 8.4% |
Astria Toppenish Hospital
21.8 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
24th
percentile among WA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Nearby attractions
All 13 attractions →Yakima Electric Railway Museum and 4 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Selah. Close and well known come first.
4 mi MuseumYakima Electric Railway Museum
39 mi National Historical ParkManhattan Project National Historical Park56K visitors a year
33 mi State parkGinkgo Petrified Forest State Park
4 mi TheatreCapitol Theatre
5 mi GardenYakima Area ArboretumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Yakima Electric Railway Museum: Steve Morgan, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Manhattan Project National Historical Park: Unknown, Public domain · Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park: No machine-readable author provided. Justinleif~commonswiki assumed (based on co, Public domain · Capitol Theatre: User:Cacophony, CC BY 2.5 · Yakima Area Arboretum: Bobjgalindo, CC BY-SA 3.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Selah
20pages on Selah
The big questions
SchoolsBBeat 58% of WA districts · 9 schoolsSafetyB0.7 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthBBetter than WA on 3 of 31 CDC measuresCost of livingD$435K typical home · up 0.2% in a yearWork & commuteB−$75K median household income · 2,554 jobs hereNatural hazardsB+FEMA risk higher than 25% of U.S. communities · avalanches
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
3 within 15 miles of the center of Selah
Yakima Valley CollegeCommunity college · Public · Yakima4.2 mi$5,312 in-state tuitionPerry Technical InstituteCommunity college · Private nonprofit · Yakima5.1 miPacific Northwest University of Health SciencesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Yakima5.1 mi
About 7 of every 100 Selah residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Washington.
About Selah
City in Washington, United States
Selah is a city in Yakima County, Washington, United States. It is north of Yakima and part of its metropolitan area. The city's population was 8,153 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1919
- Area
- 4.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,119 ft
- ZIP code
- 98942
- Area code
- 509
Selah’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Selah.
YakimaSelah
How the neighbors grade
Questions about Selah
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Selah, WA a good place to live?
Selah grades C+ overall, better than 38% of U.S. towns and #164 of 285 in Washington. It grades B for health, B for safety and B for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Selah, 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 D.