Small-town market profile · Washington
Ellensburg, WA area market data
How the Ellensburg area compares with other small-town markets for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 48,803
- +4.2% since 2020
- Households
- 19,993
- Median household income
- $73,804
- +31.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $497,400
- Jobs located here
- 18,312
- Highest market score
- 89
- Primary care and pediatrics, #4 of 458 scored small-town markets
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Ellensburg area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Ellensburg area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
The Ellensburg area has an estimated 48,803 people and 19,993 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of the Ellensburg area grew 4.2%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in the Ellensburg area is $73,804, 9% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 31.8%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Ellensburg area runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 124, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on clothing, shoes and related services (87).
Of the business types scored in the Ellensburg area, primary care and pediatric clinics (89), auto repair shops (88) and auto repair and car care businesses (88) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For primary care and pediatric clinics, that ranks #4 of 458 scored small-town markets.
The Ellensburg area is made up of one county, Kittitas County. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for coffee shops and cafes (2.3 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for clothing and shoe stores (63% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Ellensburg area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Ellensburg area with other small-town markets for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among small-town markets | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary care and pediatrics | 89 | #4 of 458 | 7 | 3.5 | $3.7M | 206 | 9 |
| Auto repair shops | 88 | #5 of 538 | 37 | 18.5 | $642K | 144 | 17 |
| Auto repair and car care | 88 | #7 of 538 | 63 | 31.5 | $377K | 140 | 25 |
| Insurance agencies | 85 | #31 of 537 | 13 | 6.5 | $3.3M | 261 | 12 |
| Barbershops | 84 | #18 of 377 | 7 | 3.5 | $2.8M | 151 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 83 | #16 of 536 | 12 | 6.0 | $3M | 235 | 6 |
| Child care and preschools | 82 | #12 of 454 | 10 | 5.0 | $1.3M | 133 | 10 |
| Car washes and detailing | 81 | #15 of 441 | 5 | 2.5 | $4.8M | 189 | 4 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 81 | #28 of 536 | 21 | 10.5 | $1.7M | 194 | 6 |
| Tire shops | 78 | #33 of 431 | 10 | 5.0 | $2.4M | 95 | 3 |
| Convenience stores | 77 | #36 of 529 | 12 | 6.0 | $10M | 126 | 6 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 76 | #45 of 538 | 100 | 50.0 | $257K | 169 | 45 |
| Hair salons | 74 | #35 of 538 | 36 | 18.0 | $552K | 128 | 10 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 73 | #30 of 378 | 6 | 3.0 | $3.6M | 180 | 9 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 72 | #42 of 476 | 10 | 5.0 | $5.6M | 117 | 18 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 70 | #6 of 112 | 6 | 3.0 | $3.6M | 89 | 7 |
| Property management | 70 | #21 of 180 | 5 | 2.5 | Index only | 128 | 11 |
| Pizza | 68 | #91 of 520 | 13 | 6.5 | $6M | 118 | 48 |
| Chiropractors | 67 | #79 of 426 | 11 | 5.5 | $2.3M | 98 | 5 |
| Gas stations | 67 | #102 of 536 | 33 | 16.5 | $1.8M | 77 | 24 |
| Physical therapy | 66 | #88 of 400 | 10 | 5.0 | $2.6M | 107 | 6 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 65 | #124 of 538 | 39 | 19.5 | $3.1M | 90 | 17 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 64 | #89 of 400 | 6 | 3.0 | $4.3M | 137 | 7 |
| Nail salons | 64 | #100 of 387 | 8 | 4.0 | $2.5M | 149 | 5 |
| Home repair trades | 64 | #104 of 526 | 20 | 10.0 | $2.8M | 115 | 48 |
| Veterinarians | 61 | #119 of 398 | 9 | 4.5 | $2.1M | 79 | 10 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 61 | #137 of 535 | 32 | 16.0 | $681K | 103 | 16 |
| Gyms | 61 | #139 of 506 | 20 | 10.0 | $1.1M | 84 | 7 |
| Grocery stores | 61 | #145 of 506 | 13 | 6.5 | $9.2M | 99 | 11 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 60 | #144 of 507 | 15 | 7.5 | $5.2M | 125 | 27 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 58 | #133 of 399 | 9 | 4.5 | $2.9M | 99 | 29 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 58 | #202 of 537 | 29 | 14.5 | $2.7M | 88 | 48 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 57 | #187 of 538 | 83 | 41.5 | $240K | 113 | 21 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 57 | #207 of 526 | 19 | 9.5 | $1.4M | 137 | 18 |
| Pet stores | 52 | #100 of 220 | 7 | 3.5 | $2.8M | 61 | 5 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 52 | #217 of 481 | 16 | 8.0 | $1.6M | 97 | 53 |
| House cleaning | 51 | #61 of 142 | 5 | 2.5 | $5.2M | 81 | 21 |
| Electricians | 51 | #153 of 295 | 8 | 4.0 | $7M | 58 | 25 |
| Funeral homes | 50 | #179 of 365 | 6 | 3.0 | $393K | 58 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 48 | #214 of 387 | 13 | 6.5 | $1.5M | 58 | 9 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 47 | #305 of 538 | 130 | 65.0 | $600K | 90 | 59 |
| Pet businesses | 45 | #339 of 527 | 37 | 18.5 | $521K | 59 | 24 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 44 | #115 of 177 | 11 | 5.5 | Index only | 83 | 10 |
| Spas and skin care | 42 | #352 of 504 | 31 | 15.5 | $642K | 73 | 6 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 41 | #376 of 533 | 76 | 38.0 | Index only | 86 | 34 |
| Real estate | 41 | #382 of 536 | 93 | 46.5 | Index only | 88 | 62 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 40 | #380 of 538 | 287 | 143.6 | $272K | 73 | 134 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 37 | #411 of 529 | 50 | 25.0 | $1.6M | 42 | 27 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.5 | $11.9M | 95 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | $11.9M | Too few | 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | $13M | Too few | 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | $27.9M | Too few | 5 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $35.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $23.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in the Ellensburg area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $23.8M | $1,188 | 124 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $60.3M | $3,017 | 116 |
| Food away from home | $78M | $3,900 | 96 |
| Groceries | $119.5M | $5,976 | 95 |
| Personal care products and services | $19.9M | $995 | 99 |
| Child care and other personal services | $13.4M | $668 | 115 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $21.8M | $1,090 | 111 |
| Medical and dental services | $25.7M | $1,285 | 100 |
| Pets | $19.3M | $965 | 106 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $35.8M | $1,792 | 87 |
| Vehicle insurance | $42.7M | $2,134 | 109 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $55.8M | $2,790 | 92 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $26M | $1,301 | 92 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $354.5M | $17,729 | 106 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Ellensburg area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 48,803+4.2% since 2020
- Households
- 19,993
- Median age
- 38.5
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 61%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.2
- Land area
- 2,297 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 21
- Median household income
- $73,804+31.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $102,663
- Median home value
- $497,400
- Jobs located here
- 18,312
- Daytime population
- 44,464Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Ellensburg area?
These figures cover the whole small-town market. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Ellensburg area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Ellensburg area 1
- Kittitas County, WA47,172 people
Other markets based in Washington 12
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area4,061,920 people
- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA metro area597,123 people
- Kennewick-Richland, WA metro area311,807 people
- Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area299,067 people
- Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA metro area277,881 people
- Yakima, WA metro area257,152 people
- Bellingham, WA metro area230,503 people
- Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA metro area131,328 people
- Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA metro area124,538 people
- Longview-Kelso, WA metro area112,360 people
- Walla Walla, WA metro area62,161 people
- Moses Lake, WA area101,799 people
Questions
How fast is the Ellensburg, WA area growing?
Population estimates put the Ellensburg area at 48,803 people in 2025, up 4.2% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 19,993 households. Median household income rose 31.8% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in the Ellensburg, WA area spend?
Households in the Ellensburg area spend about $354.5M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $119.5M on groceries and $78M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the Ellensburg area spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 124, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on clothing, shoes and related services (87).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Ellensburg, WA area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Ellensburg area are for primary care and pediatric clinics (89), auto repair shops (88) and auto repair and car care businesses (88). The Ellensburg area ranks #4 of 458 scored small-town markets for primary care and pediatric clinics.
How does the Ellensburg, WA area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the Ellensburg area is $73,804 a year, 9% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 4.2% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $497,400, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the Ellensburg area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for coffee shops and cafes (2.3 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for clothing and shoe stores (63% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. A small-town market is a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people and the county or counties tied to it by commuting. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 48 of the 56 business types have a score in the Ellensburg area, each ranked against other small-town markets.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Ellensburg area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Washington · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Ellensburg area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Ellensburg area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.