Yakima County, WA

County

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2024 Population

257,152

US Senator

Patty Murray

Democratic Party

US Senator

Maria Cantwell

Democratic Party

2024 Median Age

33.3

0.301% 1-year increase

2024 Poverty Rate

15.5%

0.242% 1-year increase

2024 Median Household Income

$70,656

3.88% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$310,100

10.3% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

110,078

0.0763% 1-year decline

About

None of the households in Yakima County, WA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

87.8% of the residents in Yakima County, WA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Yakima County, WA are Yakima Valley College (897 degrees awarded in 2023), Perry Technical Institute (444 degrees), and Heritage University (249 degrees).

In 2024, the median property value in Yakima County, WA was $310,100, and the homeownership rate was 61.8%.

Most people in Yakima County, WA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 20.3 minutes. The average car ownership in Yakima County, WA was 2 cars per household.

Yakima County, WA borders Benton County, WA, Grant County, WA, King County, WA, Kittitas County, WA, Klickitat County, WA, Lewis County, WA, Pierce County, WA, and Skamania County, WA.

United States Washington Yakima, WA

Population & Diversity

Yakima County, WA is home to a population of 257k people, from which 87.8% are citizens. As of 2024, 18.2% of Yakima County, WA residents were born outside of the country (46.8k people).

In 2024, there were 1.8 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (101k people) in Yakima County, WA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 56.2k Two Races Including Other (Hispanic) and 52.8k Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

87.8%

2024 Citizenship

87.4%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 87.8% of Yakima County, WA residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Yakima County, WA was 87.4%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Yakima County, WA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Yakima County, WA

White (Non-Hispanic)
101k ± 651
Two Races Including Other (Hispanic)
56.2k ± 3.44k
Other (Hispanic)
52.8k ± 3.02k

52.4%

Hispanic Population

135k people

52.4% of the people in Yakima County, WA are hispanic (135k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Yakima County, WA as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Washington.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
248,556 ± 12,042 people
India
107,324 ± 7,987 people
China
89,838 ± 7,316 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Washington was Mexico, the natal country of 248,556 Washington residents, followed by India with 107,324 and China with 89,838.

Foreign-Born Population

18.2%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

46.8k people

18.5%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

47.6k people

As of 2024, 18.2% of Yakima County, WA residents (46.8k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Yakima County, WA was 18.5%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Yakima County, WA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
3,649 ± 443
Gulf War (2001-)
1,809 ± 355
Gulf War (1990s)
1,346 ± 339

Yakima County, WA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.02 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Yakima County, WA.

Economy

The economy of Yakima County, WA employs 110k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Yakima County, WA were Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting (14,910 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (14,756 people), and Retail Trade (12,279 people), and the highest paying industries were Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($73,009), Public Administration ($71,050), and Utilities ($70,605).

Employment

Occupations

110k

2024 Value

± 2,733

−0.0763%

1 Year decline

± 3.56%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Yakima County, WA declined at a rate of −0.0763%, from 110k employees to 110k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Yakima County, WA, are Farming, Fishing, & Forestry Occupations (11,595 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (10,407 people), and Management Occupations (9,330 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Yakima County, WA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Washington.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Washington (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

110k

2024 Value

± 2,733

−0.0763%

1 Year decline

± 3.56%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Yakima County, WA declined at a rate of −0.0763%, from 110k employees to 110k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Yakima County, WA, are Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting (14,910 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (14,756 people), and Retail Trade (12,279 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Yakima County, WA, though some of these residents may live in Yakima County, WA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$47,025

Median earning men ± $1,527

$35,695

Median earning women ± $809

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Public Administration ($91,406), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($88,199), and Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($68,279).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Public Administration ($57,420), Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($42,039), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($41,338).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Washington.

Y-Axis

3.62%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 3.58M people employed in Washington. This represents a 3.62% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 10.3%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Washington.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

441
Construction
279
Other Services (except Public Administration)
252
Retail Trade

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$800k
Health Care and Social Assistance
$509k
Manufacturing
$401k
Retail Trade

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Washington went to Kamala Harris with 57.2% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (39%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1.4%).

Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell are the senators currently representing the state of Washington. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Washington is currently represented by 10 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Yakima County, WA. Showing the available data for Washington.

2024 Election Results

Kamala Harris (57.2%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (39%)
Republican Party
Robert Kennedy (1.4%)
Independent Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Washington went to Kamala Harris with 57.2% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (39%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1.4%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Washington for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Washington

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Washington.

Patty Murray

Senator from Washington

Assumed office on January 3, 1993

Maria Cantwell

Senator from Washington

Assumed office on January 3, 2001

Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell are the senators currently representing Washington.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Washington over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

Education

In 2023, universities in Yakima County, WA awarded 1,838 degrees. The student population of Yakima County, WA in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 2,441 male students and 3,594 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Yakima County, WA are Hispanic or Latino (1,056 and 57.7%), White (556 and 30.4%), Asian (64 and 3.5%), and Two or More Races (61 and 3.34%).

The largest universities in Yakima County, WA by number of degrees awarded are Yakima Valley College (897 and 48.8%), Perry Technical Institute (444 and 24.2%), and Heritage University (249 and 13.5%).

The most popular majors in Yakima County, WA are Liberal Arts & Sciences (355 and 19.3%), Early Childhood Education & Teaching (178 and 9.68%), and Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy (126 and 6.86%).

The median tuition costs in Yakima County, WA are $19,920 for private four year colleges, and $4,623 and $5,157 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2023 there were 6,035 students enrolled in Yakima County, WA, 40.4% men and 59.6% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in Hispanic or Latino with 3,390 records, of which 63.4% were women and 36.6% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Business
47 degrees awarded
Registered Nursing
43 degrees awarded
Liberal Arts & Sciences
355 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Yakima County, WA was General Business with 47 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Associates Degree from schools in Yakima County, WA according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Yakima Valley College
897 degrees awarded
Perry Technical Institute
444 degrees awarded
Heritage University
249 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Yakima Valley College with 897 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2023, 705 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Yakima County, WA, which is 0.622 times less than the 1,133 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was Hispanic or Latino students. These 1,056 degrees mean that there were 1.9 times more degrees awarded to Hispanic or Latino students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, White, with 556 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($19,920) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Public, 4-year or above ($540) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($942) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Yakima County, WA was $310,100 in 2024, which is 0.932 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $281,100 to $310,100, a 10.3% increase. The homeownership rate in Yakima County, WA is 61.8%, which is lower than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Yakima County, WA have an average commute time of 20.3 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Yakima County, WA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2025, 19.9% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Yakima County, WA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator grew 0.156%.

Housing

Property

$310,100

Median Property Value 2024

±$7,523

$54,244

Median Property Taxes

±$1,833

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Yakima County, WA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Yakima County, WA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

61.8%

Homeownership

2024

67.5%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 61.8% of the housing units in Yakima County, WA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 62.4%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Yakima County, WA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$70,656

Median Household Income

± $2,480

87.7k

Number of Households

± 2,511

In 2024, the median household income of the 87.7k households in Yakima County, WA grew to $70,656 from the previous year's value of $68,015.

The following chart displays the households in Yakima County, WA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Yakima County, WA is from Washington.

0.468

2023 Wage GINI in Washington

0.47

2022 Wage GINI in Washington

In 2023, the income inequality in Washington was 0.468 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.276% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Washington was lower than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Washington in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Washington across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (78.8%)
Carpooled (11.4%)
Worked At Home (7.32%)

In 2024, 78.8% of workers in Yakima County, WA drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (11.4%) and those who worked at home (7.32%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

20.3 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Yakima County, WA have a shorter commute time (20.3 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 1.48% of the workforce in Yakima County, WA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Yakima County, WA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Yakima County, WA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Yakima County, WA have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 19.9% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Yakima County, WA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator grew 0.156%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

15.5% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Yakima County, WA (39.2k out of 254k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Males 6 - 11 and then Females 18 - 24.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Yakima County, WA is Hispanic, followed by White and Two Or More.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2025, 21.1% of the children was living in poverty in Yakima County, WA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 11.2%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 273 in Yakima County, WA. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 59.6 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

Health

87.3% of the population of Yakima County, WA has health coverage, with 33.6% on employee plans, 32.9% on Medicaid, 10.2% on Medicare, 9.73% on non-group plans, and 0.812% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Yakima County, WA see 1,620 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,620 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1404 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 245 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 50% were men and 50% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,620 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Yakima County, WA

Primary care physicians in Yakima County, WA see an average of 1,620 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,620 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Yakima County, WA in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 30.7% under 18 years, 21.7% between 18 and 34 years, 33.4% between 35 and 64 years, and 14.3% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 50% were men and 50% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

12.7%

Uninsured

33.6%

Employer Coverage

32.9%

Medicaid

10.2%

Medicare

9.73%

Non-Group

0.812%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Yakima County, WA declined by 1.99% from 13% to 12.7%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Yakima County, WA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2025, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 50.4 in Yakima County, WA.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Yakima County, WA.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2025, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 42% in Yakima County, WA.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Yakima County, WA.