View of Mt. Hood, 1910
White Salmon’s story
174 years in pictures
Census counts: 682 in 1910, 2,485 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1910 and 2 maps from 1975 on.
- 1852White Salmon is settled
White SalmonWA
A town of 2,655, settled in 1852. 27% more nonprofits per person than the typical Washington town.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: LilGangstaBoy at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
2,655
2025 Census estimate · +5% since 2020
Typical home
$710K
+2.1% in a year
Household income
$73K
median
Median age
51.9
years
Jobs based here
1,116
Balanced
TownGrade
B+
#59 of 285 in WA
Is White Salmon a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. White Salmon grades B+ overall, 59th among Washington's 285 graded towns. Residents are healthier than 90% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. What holds it back is price: the typical home is worth about $710K, 10 years of the county’s $71K median household income. 13% of residents are under 18 in White Salmon, against 22% in Washington’s towns and 22% across U.S. towns. White Salmon is more walkable than 88% of U.S. towns. White Salmon's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) is stronger than in 92% of U.S. towns.
What makes White Salmon stand out
Where White Salmon beats most towns.
Community nonprofits per 1,000 residents
White Salmon5
Typical U.S. town3.7
Typical WA town4
Civic lifeA
27% more nonprofits per person
than the typical Washington town
Charities, civic groups and human services; churches not counted.
31 measures vs. Washington
4 better25 too close to call2 worse
| Widest gap | White Salmon | WA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 8.1% | 10.2% |
HealthA
Healthier than 91% of U.S. towns
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
WalkabilityA
More walkable than 88% of U.S. towns
6.9% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
A growing town
White Salmon has grown 17% since 2010
2,224 counted in 2010 and 2,485 in 2020; an estimated 2,655 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How White Salmon grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Washington), ordered by how far White Salmon is from typical.
HealthSkyline Hospital 0.8 miles awayAOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.5 of 20; 4.8% of households have no carAOpen →Cost of livingC−Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listCOpen →SchoolsBOpen →Jobs & incomeBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trails; 3% conserved landB+Open →History4 notable people born hereB−Open →Civic life5 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsAOpen →
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 51.9; 51% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to White Salmon: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in White Salmon, and how to reach them.
PowerPUD No 1 of Klickitat County12.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of White Salmon water system1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have White Salmon’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 hereKlickitat County AuditorKlickitat County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Apr 2026
ZIP code9867298672 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 White Salmon.
White Salmon carries less natural-hazard risk than most of Washington (mostly inland flooding) and sends many workers across the state line to Hood River, but it has homes that cost more against local pay than most of Washington.
HealthA
For health, White Salmon earns an A
The share of adults in White Salmon who sleep under 7 hours: 31%. This Washington town does better than the Washington average on 4 of 31 CDC measures and worse on 2.
91%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| White Salmon | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 71% | 71% | 79% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 18% | 25% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 33% | 36% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 31% | 35% |
31 measures vs. Washington
4 better25 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | White Salmon | WA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 8.1% | 10.2% |
| Fewer adults lacking emotional support | 22.7% | 28% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 12.2% | 9% |
Skyline Hospital
0.8 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
79th
percentile among WA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SchoolsB
White Salmon’s schools rank ahead of 64% of Washington districts
One of its 2 schools is below, with the reason it’s listed. The public schools here belong to the White Salmon Valley School District. 352 students attend the town’s public school.
64%of WA districts it outscoresBSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hulan L Whitson ElemLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–4 | Grades K–4 | 352 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WA on state tests and graduation
OutdoorsB+
In White Salmon, 2.7% of the land is conserved
The trail density for White Salmon comes to 0.9 miles per square mile. There are 1.5 miles of trail across 4 parks and preserves.
#120for trails in WA
| White Salmon | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.9 miles per square mile | 0.8 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 2.7% | 4% | 4.3% |
2.7%
conserved · 26 of 995 acres
1.5 mi
of trails · 0.9 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. SPOKES Mountain Bike Park | 0.1 mi | 7 |
| 2. White Salmon Treaty Fishing Access Site | — | 7 |
| 3. Jewett Sports Complex | — | 4 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HousingCost of living grade C−
For cost of living, White Salmon earns a C−
At 10 years of the county’s $71K median household income, the typical home (about $710K) costs more against local pay than in 95% of Washington towns; that ratio is one input to that grade.
Homes in White Salmon are typically worth about $710,000, up 2.1% in a year, 21% above the Washington typical home. The town’s median rent is $1,311 a month. Among households in the town, 75% own their home.
$710KZillow home value
| White Salmon | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,311 a month | $1,740 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 75% | 70% | 73% |
Typical home value
White Salmon$710K
Washington$588K
+2.1%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
White Salmon: four seasons and pleasant summers
Expect July afternoons of 84° and January nights of 30°, with about 17 inches of snow a winter.
17″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter30–42°
Spring39–61°
Summer53–81°
Fall41–63°
Oct 13
typical first frost
Apr 20
typical last frost
+1.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C
Natural hazards: low risk in White Salmon, mostly inland flooding
FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk lower than 89% of Washington towns, with expected losses of about $437 per resident a year; that rating is what its C for hazard risk is built on.
The risk rating from FEMA in White Salmon is 33 of 100. Expected losses in White Salmon break down as 60% from inland flooding and 14% from ice storms. Federal disaster aid has reached households in White Salmon after 2 declared disasters, most recently in 2009.
33risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingIce stormsEarthquakes
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
A job hub: White Salmon has 1.3 jobs for every working resident and draws in 1,007 commuters
31% of working residents cross a state line to work, Hood River among the top destinations.
For White Salmon, the median household income is $73,000. Employers in White Salmon added 134 jobs between 2013 and 2023, to 1,116. In White Salmon, 3.5% of residents live below the poverty line. The median commute is under 45 miles.
13%work in town
| White Salmon | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 3.5% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $73,000 | $98,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 27 minutes | 27 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In White Salmon13%
Hood River11%
Portland7%
Bingen5%
Vancouver3%
45 mi
median commute distance
1,116
jobs based in White Salmon
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 88% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Safety
Crime reported in White Salmon
White Salmon's reported crime rate is well below Washington's. For White Salmon, the level of property crime is 3.8 per 1,000 residents. Violent crime is rare: 1 reported in 2025. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts.
| White Salmon | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 3.8 per 1,000 residents | 15.1 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.4 per 1,000 residents | 1.5 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
White Salmon0.4
Washington2.9
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
White Salmon3.8
Washington20.2
U.S.15.5
1
violent crimes reported in 2025
10
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Nearby attractions
All 133 attractions →Mount Hood and 19 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around White Salmon. Close and well known come first.
Big draw27 mi MountainMount Hood
32 mi WaterfallMultnomah Falls
15 mi Canyon & gorgeColumbia River Gorge
33 mi MountainMount Adams
23 mi DamBonneville Dam
34 mi National forestGifford Pinchot National ForestSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Mount Hood: Oregon's Mt. Hood Territory., Public domain · Multnomah Falls: John Fowler from Placitas, NM, USA, CC BY 2.0 · Columbia River Gorge: Hux, Public domain · Mount Adams: USGS Photo by R. Iverson, USGS/CVO, Public domain · Bonneville Dam: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Public domain · Gifford Pinchot National Forest: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY 2.5
Keep exploring
Everything we know about White Salmon
20pages on White Salmon
The big questions
SchoolsBBeat 64% of WA districts · 2 schoolsSafety0.4 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthABetter than WA on 4 of 31 CDC measuresCost of livingC−$710K typical home · up 2.1% in a yearWork & commuteB$73K median household income · 1,116 jobs hereNatural hazardsCFEMA risk higher than 33% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of White Salmon; the nearest are
Columbia Gorge Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · The Dalles, OR17.1 mi$5,940 in-state tuitionPortland State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Portland, OR59.9 mi$11,679 in-state tuition
About 1 of every 100 White Salmon residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Washington.
Famous people from White Salmon
4 notable people were born in White Salmon.
About White Salmon
City in Washington, United States
White Salmon is a city in Klickitat County, Washington, United States. It is located in the Columbia River Gorge. The population was 2,193 at the 2000 census, increased 1.4% to 2,224 at the 2010 census, and increased 11.7% to 2,485 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 623 ft
- ZIP code
- 98672
- Area code
- 509
White Salmon’s neighbors
One town shares a border with White Salmon.
BingenWhite Salmon
How the neighbors grade
| Town | WA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Salmon | #59 | B+ | C− | — | B | A |
| Bingen | — | — | — | — | — | — |
White Salmon reports no FBI crime data of its own. Bingen isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare White Salmon with a neighbor →
Questions about White Salmon
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is White Salmon, WA a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. White Salmon grades B+ overall, better than 69% of U.S. towns and #59 of 285 in Washington. It grades A for health and B for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is White Salmon, 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−.
What is White Salmon, WA known for?
4 notable people were born here, including Vic Wild and Robert C. Bruce.