HomeWashingtonKittitas County
Kittitas County, Washington: commercial real estate data.
Kittitas County, Washington had an estimated 48,172 residents on July 1, 2024, up 3.5 percent since the 2020 census base of 46,535, across 2,297 square miles. County output reached $2.64 bn in 2024, 1,500 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 71 7(a) approvals worth $53.9 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Kittitas County
How many people live in Kittitas County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202447,172
- Households19,993
- Average household size2.36
- Median household income$73,804
- Median age35.8
- Median gross rent$1,341 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$497,400
- Home value to household income6.7 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income21.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher37.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree13.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over29,857
- Population under 187,872
- Share under 1816.7 percent
- Population 65 and over8,040
- Share 65 and over17.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6431,260
- Civilian labor force24,568
- Unemployment rate6.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over62.5 percent
- Rank by population among Washington counties23rd of 39
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1056th of 3,222
Kittitas County is the 23rd largest of 39 Washington counties by population. A median home costs 6.7 times median household income, which is severely unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 17.0 percent against 16.7 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Kittitas County
Is Kittitas County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202448,172
- Census 2020 base population46,535
- Population change since the 2020 census base3.52 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024327
- Births, 2024419
- Deaths, 2024388
- Natural change, 202431
- Net domestic migration, 2024228
- Net international migration, 202465
- Total net migration, 2024293
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,063
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents774th of 3,144
The county has grown 3.52 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Kittitas County
Where are people moving to Kittitas County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,699
- People arriving, from those returns2,762
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,642
- Net household movement57
- Adjusted gross income arriving$165.1 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$54.0 m
- Average income of an arriving household$97,154
- Average income of a leaving household$67,639
- Largest single originKing County (484 households)
- Largest single destinationKing County (270 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| King County | 484 | 860 | $78.5 m |
| Pierce County | 147 | 258 | $12.1 m |
| Snohomish County | 125 | 211 | $15.3 m |
| Yakima County | 110 | 168 | $4.7 m |
| Grant County | 44 | 70 | $2.4 m |
| Chelan County | 43 | 66 | $2.4 m |
| Clark County | 41 | 66 | $3.8 m |
| Thurston County | 34 | 46 | $2.6 m |
Households arriving report $29,515 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is King County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Kittitas County
What is the Kittitas County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.64 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.54 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20243.9 percent
- GDP change over five years34.1 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Washington areas BEA publishes23rd of 39
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1067th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$55,991
Output grew 3.9 percent in the latest year and 34.1 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Kittitas County
Employment by industry in Kittitas County
- Covered employment, annual average16,775
- Establishments reporting1,424
- Average annual pay$54,172
- Average weekly wage$1,042
- Accommodation and food services, employment2,541
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$31,269
- Retail trade, employment1,831
- Retail trade, average annual pay$36,340
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,414
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$47,659
- Construction, employment1,378
- Construction, average annual pay$73,252
- Manufacturing, employment636
- Arts, entertainment and recreation, employment618
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 2,541 | 154 | $31,269 |
| Retail trade | 1,831 | 143 | $36,340 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,414 | 96 | $47,659 |
| Construction | 1,378 | 223 | $73,252 |
| Manufacturing | 636 | 46 | $55,555 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 618 | 27 | $32,067 |
| Wholesale trade | 548 | 52 | $71,647 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 458 | 80 | $44,997 |
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 2,541 jobs, 15.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Kittitas County
How many businesses are in Kittitas County?
- Establishments, all industries1,500
- Employment at those establishments13,283
- Annual payroll$630.1 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents31.8
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Kittitas County
Building permits in Kittitas County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024434
- Declared construction value permitted$139.7 m
- Single family units authorized399
- Multifamily units authorized35
- Multifamily share of units8.1 percent
- Average declared value per unit$321,983
- Units authorized per 1,000 households21.7
Single-family homes are 91.9 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Kittitas County
SBA loans in Kittitas County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded71
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$53.9 m
- Average 7(a) approval$759,549
- Median 7(a) approval$224,000
- 10th percentile approval$39,500
- 90th percentile approval$2,218,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)565
- Jobs per approval8.0
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active34
- Distinct industries receiving approvals50
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer26.8 percent
- Loans on real estate terms19
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter50
- Franchise loans11
- Franchise share of approvals15.5 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (5)
- Most active lenderColumbia Bank (12)
- 504 approvals recorded12
- 504 gross approval dollars$8.0 m
- Average 504 approval$668,667
- Median 504 approval$703,500
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval4.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved6.7
- Most active CDCEvergreen Business Capital (6)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$62.0 m
The average approval of $759,549 sits well above the median of $224,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 26.8 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Kittitas County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Kittitas County
Do SBA loans in Kittitas County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded9
- Paid in full9
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full9
- Status: Exempt from disclosure54
- Status: Cancelled2
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed6
Only 9 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Kittitas County
SBA lending by place in Kittitas County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending8
- Ellensburg, approvals37
- Cle Elum, approvals20
- Roslyn, approvals5
- Easton, approvals3
- Ronald, approvals2
- South Cle Elum, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Ellensburg | 37 | $29,973,000 |
| Cle Elum | 20 | $10,608,400 |
| Roslyn | 5 | $1,884,900 |
| Easton | 3 | $5,600,000 |
| Ronald | 2 | $1,262,700 |
| South Cle Elum | 2 | $649,000 |
| Kittitas | 1 | $3,900,000 |
| Snoqualmie Pass | 1 | $50,000 |
Ellensburg accounts for 37 approvals against 20 in Cle Elum. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Kittitas County
How large is Kittitas County?
- Land area2,297 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Washington counties8th of 39
- Width, east to west70.8 mi
- Height, north to south59.4 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land21
- Establishments per square mile0.65
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Kittitas County
Flood risk in Kittitas County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Kittitas County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 530095
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 6
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book6
- Of those, participating in the NFIP6
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 6
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Kittitas County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Kittitas County (community 530095), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 6, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Kittitas County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 6, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Kittitas County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Kittitas County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202447,172
- Households19,993
- Average household size2.36
- Median household income$73,804
- Median age35.8
Common questions
Kittitas County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Kittitas County, Washington?
The Census Bureau estimates 48,172 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 47,172, in 19,993 households, ranking 23rd of 39 Washington counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Kittitas County's population growing?
The population has grown 3.52 percent since the 2020 census base of 46,535, to 48,172 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 419 births against 388 deaths, with net migration of 293. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Kittitas County?
$73,804. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $497,400, which is 6.7 times income, and median gross rent is $1,341 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Kittitas County?
1,500 establishments, employing 13,283 people with an annual payroll of $630.1 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Kittitas County?
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 2,541 jobs, 15.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 16,775 jobs at an average annual pay of $54,172, or $1,042 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Kittitas County?
71 7(a) approvals totaling $53.9 m since FY2020, across 34 lenders, with a median approval of $224,000, plus 12 504 approvals worth $8.0 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Kittitas County?
434 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $139.7 m. Multifamily was 8.1 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Kittitas County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Kittitas County come from?
The largest single origin is King County, with 484 households. Arriving households report an average income of $97,154 against $67,639 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Kittitas County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Kittitas County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Kittitas County
Cities and places in Kittitas.
10 Census places lie wholly or partly in Kittitas County. 9 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked. The rest are named here and not linked, because the American Community Survey and the SBA record between them do not carry enough about them to write an honest page. A place existing is itself worth knowing, so nothing in the county is left out.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellensburg | city | 20,874 | 37 | Wholly in this county |
| Cle Elum | city | 1,905 | 20 | Wholly in this county |
| Kittitas | city | 1,221 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Roslyn | city | 1,076 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Easton | CDP | 647 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| South Cle Elum | town | 579 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Snoqualmie Pass | CDP | 428 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Thorp | CDP | 230 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ronald | CDP | 119 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Vantage | CDP | 0 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby