City Report · WA

Kelso

Pop. 12,684·101st most expensive in Washington·Rental market data updated monthly for Kelso, WA

Median rent (all units)

$1,469/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.9%

Month-over-Month

-0.3%

vs US Median

-$463

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Kelso · $1,469

More affordable than 77% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Affordability

26% of income

AFFORDABLE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,469/mo, rent takes about 26% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$59,000/yr

Local median income

$66,751/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Kelso's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$950

1 BR

$1,170

2 BR

$1,390

3 BR

$1,950

4 BR+

$2,330

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$1,390/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,469 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Compared with the peak

Rent in Kelso is 0.7% below its high of $1,480 in July 2026, at $1,469 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Washington

Rent in Kelso changed +4.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 97 Washington cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.

Recent direction

Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 6 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($66,751) is $1,669 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,390); a 3-bedroom is $1,950.

Cheaper nearby

Longview, 14 miles away, rents for 12% less ($1,297/mo), about $2,100 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Kelso. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$17,628/yr

At $1,469/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (4.9% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.9% YoY, -0.3% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Kelso, WA is majority owner-occupied, 12.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

12,684

Median income

$66,751

Median age

39.9

Renters

43.9%

Age distribution

19.7%

26.2%

25.5%

17.3%

Under 1819.7%

18–3426.2%

35–5425.5%

55–6411.3%

65+17.3%

Gender

50.1%

49.9%

Male50.1%

Female49.9%

Race & ethnicity

80.6%

White80.6%

Black1.9%

Hispanic10.3%

Asian0.7%

Other6.5%

Education (25+)

30.4%

45.4%

12.5%

No HS diploma11.8%

HS diploma30.4%

Some college45.4%

Bachelor's+12.5%

Housing tenure

56.1%

43.9%

Owner56.1%

Renter43.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Kelso, WA has changed in 5 years

Income

$51,203 → $66,751

up 30.4%

Population

12,566 → 12,684

up 0.9%

Renter share

45.7% → 43.9%

-1.8 pts

Bachelor's+

11% → 12.5%

+1.5 pts

Median age

38.2 → 39.9

+1.7 yrs

Median household income rose from $51,203 to $66,751 between 2021 and 2024, a 30.4% shift. Renters now make up 43.9% of households, compared with 45.7% five years ago.

Community

Discussions about Kelso

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View Kelso rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Kelso on your salary?

At $1,469/mo, how Kelso rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $105,818/yr · Rent = 16.7% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $75,130/yr · Rent = 23.5% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $86,542/yr · Rent = 20.4% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $154,683/yr · Rent = 11.4% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $197,646/yr · Rent = 8.9% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $70,347/yr · Rent = 25.1% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $63,515/yr · Rent = 27.8% income

affordable

Electrician

Avg $78,288/yr · Rent = 22.5% income

affordable

By apartment size

Kelso rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Kelso. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Kelso

About renting in Kelso, WA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Kelso is $1,469/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $950/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,390/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,170/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,950/mo.

At 26% of local median household income ($66,751/yr), Kelso ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Kelso?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $59,000/year (about $28/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,469/mo in Kelso. The local median household income is $66,751/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Kelso?

Rent in Kelso has risen 4.9% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.7% below its high of $1,480 in July 2026.

How does Kelso rent compare to other cities in Washington?

Kelso is one of the more affordable among Washington cities for rent, ranking #101 of 109 tracked cities at $1,469/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Kelso changed +4.9%, against a typical +2.6% across the 97 Washington cities Zillow tracks.