Population 1,547 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Coulee Dam
Household size in Coulee Dam
| Period | Coulee Dam | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.38 | 2.56 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.59 | 2.62 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.12 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.17 | 2.61 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.21 | +0.05 | −0.03 |
Coulee Dam is a place of small households, averaging 2.17 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.38, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Coulee Dam
| Period | Coulee Dam | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.5 | 38.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.4 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.3 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.0 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.6 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Coulee Dam skews a little older than the country: its median age is 42.0, against 40.1 nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Coulee Dam
| Period | Coulee Dam | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.6% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 16.0% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.7% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 19.5% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| Change | +7.9 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in five households in Coulee Dam (19.5%), well above the national share of 11.6%.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Coulee Dam
Renters in Coulee Dam
| Period | Coulee Dam | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.6% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 32.5% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.7% | 37.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 36.4% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +11.8 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Coulee Dam is about as common as it is nationally: 36.4% of households rent, against 34.8%. About four in ten owners (41.1%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Coulee Dam
| Period | Coulee Dam | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.2% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.3% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.8% | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.9% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −7.3 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Coulee Dam: 13.9% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Coulee Dam
| Period | Coulee Dam | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1952 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1959 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1961 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1960 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Coulee Dam is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1960, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Coulee Dam
| Period | Coulee Dam | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $649 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $655 | $1,127 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $715 | $1,390 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $911 | $1,875 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$262 | +$858 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Coulee Dam costs $911 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 21.2% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Coulee Dam
Bachelor's degrees in Coulee Dam
| Period | Coulee Dam | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.8% | 31.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.9% | 32.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.5% | 35.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.8% | 38.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.0 pts | +7.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over a quarter of adults 25 and older in Coulee Dam (25.8%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Coulee Dam
| Period | Coulee Dam | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.7% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.6% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.2% | 91.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.6% | 91.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | +2.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Coulee Dam is above the national rate: 93.6% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Coulee Dam
| Period | Coulee Dam | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.3% | 7.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 18.3% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.7% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.9% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Coulee Dam: 8.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Coulee Dam compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coulee Dam | 2.17 | 42.0 | 19.5% | 36.4% | 13.9% | 1960 | $911 | 25.8% | 93.6% | 8.9% |
| Elmer City | 2.14 | 42.4 | 18.9% | 36.1% | 12.9% | 1965 | $939 | 24.2% | 93.4% | 8.1% |
| Grand Coulee | 2.16 | 47.6 | 14.0% | 29.3% | 21.5% | 1962 | $672 | 18.8% | 89.8% | 5.9% |
| Mason City | 2.46 | 48.0 | 11.8% | 21.7% | 14.3% | 1960 | $955 | 31.3% | 93.7% | 3.7% |
| Electric City | 2.20 | 54.0 | 9.2% | 18.5% | 19.4% | 1972 | $1,054 | 29.5% | 96.7% | 6.3% |
| Nespelem | 2.42 | 43.8 | 28.2% | 35.6% | 11.4% | 1981 | $765 | 14.1% | 91.8% | 8.1% |
| Keller | 2.29 | 51.6 | 12.2% | 20.4% | 16.6% | 1976 | $437 | 14.0% | 89.6% | 10.2% |
| Almira | 2.47 | 48.6 | 11.1% | 19.7% | 16.5% | 1962 | $935 | 31.0% | 93.8% | 3.0% |
| Nespelem Community | 2.72 | 36.6 | 35.9% | 28.9% | 8.9% | 1984 | $573 | 11.7% | 91.9% | 11.1% |
| Wilbur | 2.38 | 49.2 | 9.0% | 22.4% | 17.9% | 1962 | $659 | 18.5% | 93.5% | 3.4% |
| Mold | 2.45 | 45.4 | 4.5% | 32.7% | 31.4% | 1974 | $796 | 22.6% | 87.0% | 2.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Letart, WV · Salome, AZ · Roach, MO · Riverside, GA · Readlyn, IA · Rapids City, IL · Raccoon, KY · Nectar, AL · Montezuma Creek, UT · Luna Pier, MI
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Coulee Dam. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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