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Walla Walla County, WA

RANK #840 / 996  ·  POP 62,150  ·  WA

PROJECTED GROWTH: -0.9%

Walla Walla County ranks in the bottom tier of U.S. counties on economic momentum.

[01] Why Walla Walla County?

Walla Walla County, in southeastern Washington, is known for its distinctive wine country, boasting over 120 wineries that have earned national and international recognition. The county seat, Walla Walla, is approximately a four-hour drive from Seattle, Portland, or Boise. The community maintains a small-town atmosphere, with a revitalized downtown featuring shops, restaurants, and art galleries. The landscape includes rolling wheat fields, vineyards, and the nearby Blue Mountains, offering opportunities for outdoor recreation like hiking, biking, and fishing in rivers and lakes. Bennington Lake, near town, provides trails for various cycling levels.

Life in Walla Walla County offers a blend of small-town charm and access to educational institutions, including Whitman College, Walla Walla University, and Walla Walla Community College. The public school system is considered above average. Commute times within the main city of Walla Walla are generally short. While agriculture, particularly wheat, sweet onions, and wine grapes, remains a significant part of the economy, the county has seen growth in tourism and service industries. Economic development efforts also focus on retaining and creating jobs, with some investment flowing into sectors like renewable energy.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
5.8x

Above national median (4.7x)

GDP Growth
+2.2%

Below national median

Home Prices
+1.4%

Above national median

Climate & Terrain
1.1

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
18x

Above national median (13x)

Housing is fairly valued at 5.8x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Walla Walla County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
62,150
-0.03% YoY
Median Household Income
$66,635
Median Home Value
$331,600
+1.4% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,044
Average Annual Pay
$55,812
+4.0% YoY
Employment
29,090
+0.3% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.2009
Near national average
Migration Inflow
5.37%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$415,000
Days on Market
74
Slower market
Months of Supply
3.7
Balanced market
Sale-to-List Ratio
97.4%
Negotiation room for buyers
Sold Above List
12.8%
Listings w/ Price Drops
19.2%
Building Permits (2024)
205
Single-Family Permits
143

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Capital Investment

$5,700M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Wallula Gap Data Center Campus
Amazon Data Services, Inc. (formerly Advance Phase LLC)
$5,000M Proposed
Walla Walla Solar Farm (Australia)
Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) Australia
$300M Completed
Stateline Wind Project
Florida Power & Light (NextEra Energy)
$300M Operating
Walla Walla County Bridge Replacements & Road Improvements
Walla Walla County
$50M Planned
Hayden Homes Residential Developments (Harvey Ranch Estates, Iron Gate Estates, The Equinox)
Hayden Homes
$50M Under Construction

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +2.2% 39 percentile
Population Growth -0.0% 28 percentile
Income Growth +4.6% 3 percentile
Vacancy Rate 1.4% 26 percentile
Home Price Change +1.4% 51 percentile
Rent Growth +1.9% 33 percentile
Price/Rent 18x 16 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Walla Walla County, WA a good place to move to?

Walla Walla County has a Boom Town Index score of 16/100, ranking #840 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +0.3% and a median household income of $66,635, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.

Is Walla Walla County affordable?

The median home value in Walla Walla County is $331,600 with median rent at $1,044/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.2009, which is less affordable than the national average.

Is Walla Walla County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: -0.0% year-over-year. Job growth: +0.3%. Home values changed +1.4% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Walla Walla County?

Yes — 5.37% of Walla Walla County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

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