Kelso, Washington
City in Cowlitz County, Washington · ZIP 98626, 98632
- Cowlitz County
- Census data · ACS 2019-2023
- 10 public schools
- 12,737 (2024 estimate)Population
- 5,289Households
- $59,462Median household income
- $302,300Median home value
- 10Public schools
- 2ZIP codes
About Kelso
This page shows only what has been published about Kelso: Census facts with their sources first, then its businesses, jobs, events, people in public roles, housing and questions as they are added. Nothing here is written by the town government.
Town intelligenceOfficial sources, refreshed yearly
| Census | Population |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 11,895 |
| 2010 | 11,925 |
| 2020 | 12,720 |
As counted at each census, within the boundaries the area had then; the current estimate is in the glance card.
Sources: Census 2000 Summary File 1: total population, place level, state 53, retrieved November 14, 2026; Census 2010 Summary File 1: total population, place level, state 53, retrieved November 14, 2026; Census 2020 Redistricting Data (P.L. 94-171): total population, place level, state 53, retrieved November 14, 2026.
Median household income $59,462 · Share of households by income, American Community Survey 5-year 2019-2023, table S1901.
Source: American Community Survey 5-year subject table S1901 (household income) 2019–2023, place level, state 53, retrieved November 14, 2026.
- Owner occupied
- 2,899 units
- Renter occupied
- 2,390 units
- Vacancy rate
- 4.1%
Occupied housing units by tenure and the share of all units vacant, American Community Survey 5-year 2019-2023, table DP04.
Source: American Community Survey 5-year data profile 2019–2023, place level, state 53, retrieved November 14, 2026.
| Measure | Kelso | Cowlitz County | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,697 | 111,539 | 7,740,984 |
| Median household income | $59,462 | $72,932 | $94,952 |
| Median age | 38.4 | 41.1 | 38.2 |
| Median home value | $302,300 | $367,400 | $519,800 |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 11.8% | 17.0% | 38.8% |
| Foreign-born residents | 4.7% | 4.1% | 15.1% |
| Owner-occupied homes | 54.8% | 66.2% | 63.9% |
| Mean commute to work | 21.3 minutes | 26.5 minutes | 27.0 minutes |
Source: American Community Survey 5-year data profile 2019–2023, place level, state 53, retrieved November 14, 2026.
CommunityRules and moderation
Events in KelsoAll events
No upcoming event is listed in Kelso yet. Members and businesses add events from the Events page; each is screened before it shows.
Schools
| School | Type | Grades | District |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnes Elementary | Public | K–5 | Kelso School District |
| Butler Acres Elementary | Public | K–5 | Kelso School District |
| Wallace Elementary | Public | Pre-K–5 | Kelso School District |
| Coweeman Middle School | Public | 6–8 | Kelso School District |
| Huntington Middle School | Public | 6–8 | Kelso School District |
| Kelso Goal Oriented Learning Design | Alternative | 9–12 | Kelso School District |
| Kelso High School | Public | 9–12 | Kelso School District |
| Loowit High School | Alternative | 6–12 | Kelso School District |
| Kelso Virtual Academy | Public | K–12 | Kelso School District |
| Special Education | Special education | Pre-K–12 | Kelso School District |
Open public schools in the NCES directory for 2023–2024, placed by their listed location; private schools are not in the source. Enrollment and ratings are not shown.
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data, public school directory 2023–2024, retrieved November 14, 2026; NCES EDGE public school geocodes 2024–2025, retrieved November 14, 2026.
Frequently asked about KelsoPromoted from questions people asked
No question about Kelso has been asked often enough to publish an answer yet. Ask Kelso and the answer, once a person checks it, appears here.
Nearby towns
- Beacon HillCensus designated place
- LongviewCity
- LexingtonCensus designated place
- Longview HeightsCensus designated place
- KalamaCity
- Castle RockCity
- WoodlandCity
- RyderwoodCensus designated place
- VaderCity
- La CenterCity
Other towns in Cowlitz County
- Beacon HillCensus designated place
- Castle RockCity
- CougarCensus designated place
- KalamaCity
- LexingtonCensus designated place
- LongviewCity
- Longview HeightsCensus designated place
- RyderwoodCensus designated place
- WoodlandCity