The Town FilesCentralia, Washington
City in Lewis County · population 18,183 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $318,200
- Household income
- $56,219
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 39.0
Centralia is a city of 18,183 people in Lewis County, Washington. The median home is worth $318,200, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks hipper than 95% of Washington towns, better for first-time buyers than 89% of Washington towns, more walkable than 74% of Washington towns.
How Centralia ranks
Percentile among Washington towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Washington towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Centralia is worth $318,200, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 5.7 times the median household income of $56,219, which is more affordable than 38% of Washington towns. Median rent is $1,084 a month. 60.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Centralia | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $318,200 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,084 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $56,219 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.7× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 60.0% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Centralia
| People | Centralia | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.7% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.4% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.6% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.8% | — |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 25.6 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.3% | 93.9% |
Weather in Centralia
July highs average 77.5°F and January lows 34.2°F. About 41.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.7 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 48 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Centralia since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Washington town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on November 10, 1965 about 3.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 4, 2019.
Severe weather in Lewis County since 1996
Lewis County has been included in 37 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, biological, earthquake.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Flood | DR-4906: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| December 12, 2025 | Flood | EM-3629: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 28, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4775: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 12, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4682: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 29, 2022 | Flood | DR-4650: Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lewis County
Lewis County had 27,148 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,706 a year. Unemployment was 5.4% in 2023; in Centralia itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Public schools in Centralia
9 public schools with 3,374 students, about 16.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centralia High School | 9-12 | 993 | 20.3 |
| Centralia Middle School | 7-8 | 528 | 17.6 |
| Fords Prairie Elementary | K-6 | 444 | 14.8 |
| Jefferson Lincoln Elementary | K-6 | 392 | 13.1 |
| Oakview Elementary School | K-6 | 343 | 14.3 |
| Edison Elementary | K-6 | 289 | 14.5 |
| Washington Elementary School | K-6 | 286 | 15.1 |
| Futurus High School | 9-12 | 53 | 53.0 |
| Centralia School District SpEd Pre-school | PK-PK | 46 | — |
Towns near Centralia
- Chehalis, WA4.0 mi · 7,439 people · home $372,900
- Grand Mound, WA5.7 mi · 3,301 people · home $411,400
- Rochester, WA8.1 mi · 6,064 people · home $445,300
- Tumwater, WA18.6 mi · 25,350 people · home $472,200
- Yelm, WA21.7 mi · 10,617 people · home $455,300
- Olympia, WA22.3 mi · 55,605 people · home $486,200
- Lacey, WA23.6 mi · 53,526 people · home $457,100
- North Yelm, WA23.9 mi · 3,140 people · home $384,500
Centralia questions
Is Centralia, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Centralia scores better for retirees than 30% of Washington towns and quieter than 31%. 20.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.0).
How much does a house cost in Centralia?
The median owner-occupied home in Centralia is valued at $318,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,219, so homes cost about 5.7 times income. Median rent is $1,084 a month.
What is the weather like in Centralia?
July highs average 77.5°F and January lows 34.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.6 inches of precipitation a year and 3.7 inches of snow.
Does Centralia get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Centralia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on November 10, 1965. The typical Washington town has had 1.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)