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Centralia, WA
City in Lewis County, Washington.
Population
18,830
Land area
7.8sq mi
People per sq mi
2,411
ZIP codes
0
Centralia and its ZIP codes
Centralia at a glance
- Centralia is about 20 times as dense as Washington as a whole.
- It is the 78th most populous of 628 cities and towns in Washington.
- Households here earn a median of $56,219 a year, 43% less than the Washington figure of $98,141.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $318,200 (44% below Washington) and median rent is $1,084 a month.
Local data for Centralia, WA
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes3
- Schools9
- Colleges2
- Libraries1
- Banks3
- Post Offices2
- Parks12
- Grocery Stores10
- Restaurants80
- Affordable Housing6
- Home Health Agencies1
- Hospice Care1
- Dialysis Centers1
- Community Health Centers3
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment5
- Private Schools1
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools1
- Superfund Sites1
- Historic Places9
Housing and community stats
Centralia, WA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$56,219
Poverty rate
19.6%
Median home value
$318,200
Median rent
$1,084/mo
Homeownership
60.0%
Bachelor's or higher
19.4%
Median age
39.0
Average commute
25.6 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (2,865), Mexican Americans (2,631), Irish Americans (1,874).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Lewis County. PPP loans are for Centralia.
Unemployment rate
5.6%
Aug 2026, +0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$60,885
27,423 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$58,706
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$675M
FY 2026, $8,214 per person
How people get to work
Centralia, WA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone73.3%
- Carpooled14.6%
- Public transit1.6%
- Walked2.1%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.3%
- Worked from home7.2%
Average one-way commute: 25.6 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Centralia, WA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: earthquake
Storm events since 1996
18
Countywide, mostly flood
Flood insurance policies
1,035
2.9% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
78° / 34°F
41.6 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone9 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Centralia, WA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
39.7%
U.S. 33.3% +6.4 pts
Diabetes
12.0%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
15.0%
U.S. 12.8% +2.2 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
11.5%
U.S. 11.1% about the same
Cities near Centralia
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Fords PrairieCensus-designated place | 2.6 mi | 3.7 |
| ChehalisCity | 4.3 mi | 5.8 |
| Grand MoundCensus-designated place | 5.4 mi | 4.1 |
| BucodaTown | 6.6 mi | 0.6 |
| RochesterCensus-designated place | 8.3 mi | 8.5 |
| NapavineCity | 9.8 mi | 2.9 |
| TeninoCity | 10 mi | 1.5 |
| OakvilleCity | 15 mi | 0.6 |
| OnalaskaCensus-designated place | 16 mi | 1.6 |
| WinlockCity | 16 mi | 3.4 |
| RainierCity | 17 mi | 1.7 |
| TumwaterCity | 18 mi | 17.7 |
| Pe EllTown | 19 mi | 0.6 |
| ToledoCity | 20 mi | 0.4 |
| PorterCensus-designated place | 21 mi | 8.9 |
| OlympiaCity | 22 mi | 18.2 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Centralia, WA in?
- Centralia is in Lewis County, Washington.
- What is the population of Centralia, WA?
- About 18,830 people live in Centralia, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Centralia?
- Nearby places include Fords Prairie (2.6 mi), Chehalis (4.3 mi), Grand Mound (5.4 mi), Bucoda (6.6 mi), Rochester (8.3 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023