Washington state’s poorest city is Yakima, according to data compiled by 24/7 Wall St. and reported in various sources. Yakima has a median household income of $44,950, significantly lower than the state average of $73,775. The city also faces a high poverty rate of 20.4%, compared to the state average of 10.8%. Additionally, only 19% of adults in Yakima hold at least a bachelor’s degree, which is much lower than the state average of 36%.
Interestingly, while Yakima is often highlighted for its economic struggles, it ranks as the 10th poorest city in Washington when considering broader lists that include other towns. For example, Pullman has been identified as the poorest city overall in Washington due to its high poverty rate and low median income levels among its residents.
On a smaller scale, the town of Oroville has been noted as the poorest town in Washington with a median household income of just $32,083, reflecting even more severe economic challenges than Yakima.
Overall, these statistics illustrate the economic difficulties faced by Yakima and similar communities in Washington state, highlighting issues such as low incomes and high poverty rates that affect many residents.
Sources:-
- https://www.iheart.com/content/2022-12-14-this-is-washington-states-poorest-city/
- https://newstalkkit.com/yakima-on-poor-cities-list/
- https://www.iheart.com/content/2023-11-08-the-poorest-town-in-washington/