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 2023, at 34.6%. Snoqualmie, WA had the lowest, at 0.4%. The median was 9.5% and the figure for Washington was 9.9%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest34.6Cheney, WA
Lowest0.4Snoqualmie, WA
Median9.591 cities
Washington9.9History

Top 40 cities, 2023

Cheney, WA: 34.6 %Cheney, WA34.6Pullman, WA: 32.1 %Pullman, WA32.1Shelton, WA: 23.4 %Shelton, WA23.4Aberdeen, WA: 22.2 %Aberdeen, WA22.2Airway Heights, WA: 21.9 %Airway Heights, WA21.9Ellensburg, WA: 21 %Ellensburg, WA21Centralia, WA: 19.9 %Centralia, WA19.9Kelso, WA: 19.5 %Kelso, WA19.5Grandview, WA: 19 %Grandview, WA19Bellingham, WA: 18.3 %Bellingham, WA18.3Sunnyside, WA: 17.4 %Sunnyside, WA17.4Yakima, WA: 17 %Yakima, WA17Mount Vernon, WA: 16.7 %Mount Vernon, WA16.7Moses Lake, WA: 15.4 %Moses Lake, WA15.4Longview, WA: 15.1 %Longview, WA15.1Olympia, WA: 14.8 %Olympia, WA14.8Sedro-Woolley, WA: 14.7 %Sedro-Woolley, WA14.7Spokane, WA: 14.6 %Spokane, WA14.6Walla Walla, WA: 14.4 %Walla Walla, WA14.4Port Townsend, WA: 14.2 %Port Townsend, WA14.2Lynnwood, WA: 14.2 %Lynnwood, WA14.2Kennewick, WA: 13.9 %Kennewick, WA13.9Port Orchard, WA: 13.8 %Port Orchard, WA13.8Lakewood, WA: 13.6 %Lakewood, WA13.6Bremerton, WA: 13.5 %Bremerton, WA13.5Spokane Valley, WA: 12.9 %Spokane Valley, WA12.9Federal Way, WA: 12.7 %Federal Way, WA12.7Washougal, WA: 12.7 %Washougal, WA12.7Pasco, WA: 12.6 %Pasco, WA12.6Tukwila, WA: 12.3 %Tukwila, WA12.3Everett, WA: 12.1 %Everett, WA12.1Tacoma, WA: 12 %Tacoma, WA12Wenatchee, WA: 11.7 %Wenatchee, WA11.7Burlington, WA: 11.5 %Burlington, WA11.5Fife, WA: 11.5 %Fife, WA11.5Vancouver, WA: 11.1 %Vancouver, WA11.1Lacey, WA: 11 %Lacey, WA11Arlington, WA: 11 %Arlington, WA11Port Angeles, WA: 10.9 %Port Angeles, WA10.9Des Moines, WA: 10.7 %Des Moines, WA10.7Cheney, WA: 34.6 %Cheney, WA34.6Pullman, WA: 32.1 %Pullman, WA32.1Shelton, WA: 23.4 %Shelton, WA23.4Aberdeen, WA: 22.2 %Aberdeen, WA22.2Airway Heights, WA: 21.9 %Airway Heights, WA21.9Ellensburg, WA: 21 %Ellensburg, WA21Centralia, WA: 19.9 %Centralia, WA19.9Kelso, WA: 19.5 %Kelso, WA19.5Grandview, WA: 19 %Grandview, WA19Bellingham, WA: 18.3 %Bellingham, WA18.3Sunnyside, WA: 17.4 %Sunnyside, WA17.4Yakima, WA: 17 %Yakima, WA17Mount Vernon, WA: 16.7 %Mount Vernon, WA16.7Moses Lake, WA: 15.4 %Moses Lake, WA15.4Longview, WA: 15.1 %Longview, WA15.1Olympia, WA: 14.8 %Olympia, WA14.8Sedro-Woolley, WA: 14.7 %Sedro-Woolley, WA14.7Spokane, WA: 14.6 %Spokane, WA14.6Walla Walla, WA: 14.4 %Walla Walla, WA14.4Port Townsend, WA: 14.2 %Port Townsend, WA14.2Lynnwood, WA: 14.2 %Lynnwood, WA14.2Kennewick, WA: 13.9 %Kennewick, WA13.9Port Orchard, WA: 13.8 %Port Orchard, WA13.8Lakewood, WA: 13.6 %Lakewood, WA13.6Bremerton, WA: 13.5 %Bremerton, WA13.5Spokane Valley, WA: 12.9 %Spokane Valley, WA12.9Federal Way, WA: 12.7 %Federal Way, WA12.7Washougal, WA: 12.7 %Washougal, WA12.7Pasco, WA: 12.6 %Pasco, WA12.6Tukwila, WA: 12.3 %Tukwila, WA12.3Everett, WA: 12.1 %Everett, WA12.1Tacoma, WA: 12 %Tacoma, WA12Wenatchee, WA: 11.7 %Wenatchee, WA11.7Burlington, WA: 11.5 %Burlington, WA11.5Fife, WA: 11.5 %Fife, WA11.5Vancouver, WA: 11.1 %Vancouver, WA11.1Lacey, WA: 11 %Lacey, WA11Arlington, WA: 11 %Arlington, WA11Port Angeles, WA: 10.9 %Port Angeles, WA10.9Des Moines, WA: 10.7 %Des Moines, WA10.7
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCities2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Cheney, WA34.6+1.3 pts
2Pullman, WA32.1-0.3 pts
3Shelton, WA23.4-3.2 pts
4Aberdeen, WA22.2+1.2 pts
5Airway Heights, WA21.9+0.6 pts
6Ellensburg, WA21+0.1 pts
7Centralia, WA19.9-1.7 pts
8Kelso, WA19.5-0.5 pts
9Grandview, WA19+3.9 pts
10Bellingham, WA18.3-0.4 pts
11Sunnyside, WA17.4+3.8 pts
12Yakima, WA17-2.1 pts
13Mount Vernon, WA16.7-1 pts
14Moses Lake, WA15.4+3.2 pts
15Longview, WA15.1+1.6 pts
16Olympia, WA14.8+1.5 pts
17Sedro-Woolley, WA14.7-0.5 pts
18Spokane, WA14.6-0.2 pts
19Walla Walla, WA14.4+0.8 pts
20Port Townsend, WA14.2+0.3 pts
21Lynnwood, WA14.2-0.7 pts
22Kennewick, WA13.9+0.2 pts
23Port Orchard, WA13.8+1.7 pts
24Lakewood, WA13.6+0.9 pts
25Bremerton, WA13.5-0.8 pts
26Spokane Valley, WA12.9+1.5 pts
27Federal Way, WA12.7+0.9 pts
28Washougal, WA12.7-0.1 pts
29Pasco, WA12.6-0.5 pts
30Tukwila, WA12.3-1 pts
31Everett, WA12.10 pts
32Tacoma, WA12-0.1 pts
33Wenatchee, WA11.7-0.1 pts
34Burlington, WA11.5+1.1 pts
35Fife, WA11.5-0.3 pts
36Vancouver, WA11.1-1.2 pts
37Lacey, WA11+0.1 pts
38Arlington, WA11+3.5 pts
39Port Angeles, WA10.9-0 pts
40Des Moines, WA10.7-1.1 pts
41Kent, WA10.6+0.1 pts
42Ferndale, WA10.5-0.4 pts
43Burien, WA10.4-0.9 pts
44SeaTac, WA10.4-0.9 pts
45Seattle, WA9.9-0.2 pts
46Poulsbo, WA9.5+0.7 pts
47Richland, WA9.3+1.8 pts
48Lynden, WA8.7+1.6 pts
49University Place, WA8.6+0.5 pts
50Shoreline, WA8.4+0.2 pts
51Snohomish, WA8.3+0.6 pts
52Oak Harbor, WA8.3-0.1 pts
53Enumclaw, WA8.3+0.9 pts
54Mountlake Terrace, WA8+0.7 pts
55Anacortes, WA7.9-0.6 pts
56Tumwater, WA7.8-0.4 pts
57Renton, WA7.8-0.1 pts
58Auburn, WA7.6-0.4 pts
59Puyallup, WA7.5+0.1 pts
60Marysville, WA7.5+1 pts
61Bellevue, WA7.30 pts
62West Richland, WA7.2+0.1 pts
63East Wenatchee, WA7.1+0.2 pts
64Sumner, WA7.1+1.2 pts
65Monroe, WA70 pts
66Battle Ground, WA6.7+0.3 pts
67Kenmore, WA6-0.3 pts
68Kirkland, WA6-0.6 pts
69Ridgefield, WA6+0.6 pts
70Issaquah, WA5.9-0.8 pts
71Redmond, WA5.8-0.1 pts
72Gig Harbor, WA5.8-0.2 pts
73Bothell, WA5.8+0.9 pts
73Mukilteo, WA5.8+0.2 pts
75Yelm, WA5.4+0.2 pts
76Liberty Lake, WA5.2+0.5 pts
77Maple Valley, WA5.1+0.3 pts
78Camas, WA5.1+0.7 pts
79Lake Stevens, WA5-0.3 pts
80Mill Creek, WA4.9+0.7 pts
81Bonney Lake, WA4.90 pts
82Edgewood, WA4.7+0.9 pts
83Covington, WA4.7-0.3 pts
84Mercer Island, WA4.6-0.6 pts
85Sammamish, WA4.4+0.3 pts
86Lake Forest Park, WA3.6+0.4 pts
87Edmonds, WA3.5-0.7 pts
88Newcastle, WA3.1-0.2 pts
89Woodinville, WA2.9-0.9 pts
90Bainbridge Island, WA2.7-0.2 pts
91Snoqualmie, WA0.4+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/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-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), 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-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), 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/washington-cities?period=2023. 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), 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/washington-cities?period=2023.

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), 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/washington-cities?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_cities_in_washington_by_2023,
  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), 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/washington-cities?period=2023. 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/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-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), 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b17001.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/washington-cities?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/poverty-rate-acs/washington-cities?period=2023.
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/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-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 34.6% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Snoqualmie, WA, with 0.4% in 2023.

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