Data / Rankings / Poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) / Cities in Washington

Cities in Washington by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)

Cheney, WA had the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 91 cities in 2022, at 33.3%. Snoqualmie, WA had the lowest, at 0.3%. The median was 8.5% and the figure for Washington was 9.9%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest33.3Cheney, WA
Lowest0.3Snoqualmie, WA
Median8.591 cities
Washington9.9History

Top 40 cities, 2022

Cheney, WA: 33.3 %Cheney, WA33.3Pullman, WA: 32.4 %Pullman, WA32.4Shelton, WA: 26.5 %Shelton, WA26.5Centralia, WA: 21.6 %Centralia, WA21.6Airway Heights, WA: 21.3 %Airway Heights, WA21.3Aberdeen, WA: 21 %Aberdeen, WA21Ellensburg, WA: 20.9 %Ellensburg, WA20.9Kelso, WA: 20 %Kelso, WA20Yakima, WA: 19.1 %Yakima, WA19.1Bellingham, WA: 18.7 %Bellingham, WA18.7Mount Vernon, WA: 17.7 %Mount Vernon, WA17.7Grandview, WA: 15.1 %Grandview, WA15.1Sedro-Woolley, WA: 15.1 %Sedro-Woolley, WA15.1Lynnwood, WA: 14.9 %Lynnwood, WA14.9Spokane, WA: 14.8 %Spokane, WA14.8Bremerton, WA: 14.3 %Bremerton, WA14.3Port Townsend, WA: 14 %Port Townsend, WA14Kennewick, WA: 13.7 %Kennewick, WA13.7Sunnyside, WA: 13.6 %Sunnyside, WA13.6Walla Walla, WA: 13.6 %Walla Walla, WA13.6Longview, WA: 13.6 %Longview, WA13.6Tukwila, WA: 13.3 %Tukwila, WA13.3Olympia, WA: 13.3 %Olympia, WA13.3Pasco, WA: 13.1 %Pasco, WA13.1Washougal, WA: 12.8 %Washougal, WA12.8Lakewood, WA: 12.7 %Lakewood, WA12.7Vancouver, WA: 12.3 %Vancouver, WA12.3Moses Lake, WA: 12.1 %Moses Lake, WA12.1Tacoma, WA: 12.1 %Tacoma, WA12.1Everett, WA: 12.1 %Everett, WA12.1Port Orchard, WA: 12.1 %Port Orchard, WA12.1Des Moines, WA: 11.8 %Des Moines, WA11.8Wenatchee, WA: 11.8 %Wenatchee, WA11.8Federal Way, WA: 11.8 %Federal Way, WA11.8Fife, WA: 11.8 %Fife, WA11.8Spokane Valley, WA: 11.5 %Spokane Valley, WA11.5Burien, WA: 11.4 %Burien, WA11.4SeaTac, WA: 11.3 %SeaTac, WA11.3Port Angeles, WA: 11 %Port Angeles, WA11Ferndale, WA: 10.9 %Ferndale, WA10.9Cheney, WA: 33.3 %Cheney, WA33.3Pullman, WA: 32.4 %Pullman, WA32.4Shelton, WA: 26.5 %Shelton, WA26.5Centralia, WA: 21.6 %Centralia, WA21.6Airway Heights, WA: 21.3 %Airway Heights, WA21.3Aberdeen, WA: 21 %Aberdeen, WA21Ellensburg, WA: 20.9 %Ellensburg, WA20.9Kelso, WA: 20 %Kelso, WA20Yakima, WA: 19.1 %Yakima, WA19.1Bellingham, WA: 18.7 %Bellingham, WA18.7Mount Vernon, WA: 17.7 %Mount Vernon, WA17.7Grandview, WA: 15.1 %Grandview, WA15.1Sedro-Woolley, WA: 15.1 %Sedro-Woolley, WA15.1Lynnwood, WA: 14.9 %Lynnwood, WA14.9Spokane, WA: 14.8 %Spokane, WA14.8Bremerton, WA: 14.3 %Bremerton, WA14.3Port Townsend, WA: 14 %Port Townsend, WA14Kennewick, WA: 13.7 %Kennewick, WA13.7Sunnyside, WA: 13.6 %Sunnyside, WA13.6Walla Walla, WA: 13.6 %Walla Walla, WA13.6Longview, WA: 13.6 %Longview, WA13.6Tukwila, WA: 13.3 %Tukwila, WA13.3Olympia, WA: 13.3 %Olympia, WA13.3Pasco, WA: 13.1 %Pasco, WA13.1Washougal, WA: 12.8 %Washougal, WA12.8Lakewood, WA: 12.7 %Lakewood, WA12.7Vancouver, WA: 12.3 %Vancouver, WA12.3Moses Lake, WA: 12.1 %Moses Lake, WA12.1Tacoma, WA: 12.1 %Tacoma, WA12.1Everett, WA: 12.1 %Everett, WA12.1Port Orchard, WA: 12.1 %Port Orchard, WA12.1Des Moines, WA: 11.8 %Des Moines, WA11.8Wenatchee, WA: 11.8 %Wenatchee, WA11.8Federal Way, WA: 11.8 %Federal Way, WA11.8Fife, WA: 11.8 %Fife, WA11.8Spokane Valley, WA: 11.5 %Spokane Valley, WA11.5Burien, WA: 11.4 %Burien, WA11.4SeaTac, WA: 11.3 %SeaTac, WA11.3Port Angeles, WA: 11 %Port Angeles, WA11Ferndale, WA: 10.9 %Ferndale, WA10.9
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCities2022 (%)Change on 2021
1Cheney, WA33.3-0.9 pts
2Pullman, WA32.4-1.3 pts
3Shelton, WA26.5+2 pts
4Centralia, WA21.6-0.5 pts
5Airway Heights, WA21.3+3.3 pts
6Aberdeen, WA21-4.2 pts
7Ellensburg, WA20.9-1.9 pts
8Kelso, WA20-1.1 pts
9Yakima, WA19.1+1.5 pts
10Bellingham, WA18.7-1 pts
11Mount Vernon, WA17.7+1.2 pts
12Grandview, WA15.1+0.9 pts
12Sedro-Woolley, WA15.1+2.5 pts
14Lynnwood, WA14.9-0.7 pts
15Spokane, WA14.8-0.8 pts
16Bremerton, WA14.3-0.3 pts
17Port Townsend, WA14-0.9 pts
18Kennewick, WA13.7-0.3 pts
19Sunnyside, WA13.6-5 pts
19Walla Walla, WA13.6+0.1 pts
21Longview, WA13.6-0.2 pts
22Tukwila, WA13.3+0.9 pts
23Olympia, WA13.3-0.7 pts
24Pasco, WA13.1-2.3 pts
25Washougal, WA12.8-1.2 pts
26Lakewood, WA12.7-1 pts
27Vancouver, WA12.3-0.4 pts
28Moses Lake, WA12.1+1.9 pts
29Tacoma, WA12.1-0.4 pts
30Everett, WA12.1+1.1 pts
31Port Orchard, WA12.1+1.9 pts
32Des Moines, WA11.8+0.5 pts
33Wenatchee, WA11.8-1.5 pts
34Federal Way, WA11.8+0.5 pts
35Fife, WA11.8-1.1 pts
36Spokane Valley, WA11.5+0.8 pts
37Burien, WA11.4-0.3 pts
38SeaTac, WA11.3+0.6 pts
39Port Angeles, WA11-0.6 pts
40Ferndale, WA10.9-0.4 pts
41Lacey, WA10.9+1.3 pts
42Kent, WA10.5-0.8 pts
43Burlington, WA10.4-3.9 pts
44Seattle, WA10.1+0.1 pts
45Poulsbo, WA8.8-2.1 pts
46Anacortes, WA8.5+0.1 pts
46Oak Harbor, WA8.5-0.2 pts
48Shoreline, WA8.2-0.2 pts
48Tumwater, WA8.2-0.3 pts
50University Place, WA8.1+0.5 pts
51Auburn, WA8-1.6 pts
52Renton, WA7.9-0 pts
53Snohomish, WA7.7+0.5 pts
54Arlington, WA7.5+0.6 pts
54Richland, WA7.5-0.7 pts
56Puyallup, WA7.4+0.7 pts
57Mountlake Terrace, WA7.3+0.9 pts
58Enumclaw, WA7.3-0.4 pts
59Bellevue, WA7.2+0.3 pts
60West Richland, WA7.1+1.3 pts
61Lynden, WA7.1+0.2 pts
62Monroe, WA7-0.6 pts
63East Wenatchee, WA6.9-4 pts
64Issaquah, WA6.7-0.8 pts
65Kirkland, WA6.6-0.2 pts
66Marysville, WA6.5+0.4 pts
67Battle Ground, WA6.4-0 pts
68Kenmore, WA6.4+0.3 pts
69Gig Harbor, WA6+1.3 pts
70Sumner, WA5.9-0.6 pts
71Redmond, WA5.9-0.1 pts
72Mukilteo, WA5.6-0 pts
73Ridgefield, WA5.4+2.3 pts
74Lake Stevens, WA5.3-0.1 pts
75Mercer Island, WA5.3+0.3 pts
76Yelm, WA5.2-0.7 pts
77Covington, WA5+0.2 pts
78Bothell, WA4.9+0.4 pts
79Maple Valley, WA4.8+0.2 pts
80Bonney Lake, WA4.8-0.3 pts
81Liberty Lake, WA4.7+1.2 pts
82Camas, WA4.4+0.5 pts
83Mill Creek, WA4.2+0.5 pts
84Edmonds, WA4.2-0.2 pts
85Sammamish, WA4.1+1 pts
86Woodinville, WA3.8+0.7 pts
87Edgewood, WA3.8-0 pts
88Newcastle, WA3.4-0.2 pts
89Lake Forest Park, WA3.2-0 pts
90Bainbridge Island, WA3+0.3 pts
91Snoqualmie, WA0.3+0.1 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

People with income in the past 12 months below the official US poverty thresholds, as a percentage of people whose poverty status is determined. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

The headline single-year rate for states and counties is poverty_rate (SAIPE). Poverty status is not determined for people in institutions, military group quarters or college dormitories, or for unrelated children under 15. Absolute thresholds set by the US government, so not comparable with the EU at_risk_of_poverty_rate.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the cities are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more) (Cities in Washington by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in Washington by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/washington-cities?period=2022. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Cities in Washington by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/washington-cities?period=2022.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in Washington by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/washington-cities?period=2022 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_cities_in_washington_by_2022,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in Washington by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/washington-cities?period=2022. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in Washington by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2022
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/washington-cities?period=2022
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/washington-cities?period=2022.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b17001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Rank Cities in Washington by poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate) using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

Which city has the highest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Cheney, WA, with 33.3% in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which city has the lowest poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Snoqualmie, WA, with 0.3% in 2022.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B17001: population with income in the past 12 months below the poverty level as a percentage of the population for whom poverty status is determined, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Poverty rate (US five-year survey estimate): other rankings

Cities in Washington: more rankings