The Town FilesGoldendale, Washington
City in Klickitat County · population 3,453 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $199,300
- Household income
- $39,783
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 39.6
Goldendale is a city of 3,453 people in Klickitat County, Washington. The median home is worth $199,300, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better for retirees than 86% of Washington towns, quieter than 81% of Washington towns, better for first-time buyers than 81% of Washington towns.
How Goldendale 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 Goldendale is worth $199,300, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $39,783, which is more affordable than 61% of Washington towns. Median rent is $890 a month. 51.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Goldendale | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $199,300 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $890 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $39,783 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 51.8% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Goldendale
| People | Goldendale | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.5% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.1% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.7% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.7% | — |
| Work from home | 3.6% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.0% | 93.9% |
Weather in Goldendale
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 23.9°F. About 16.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.6 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Goldendale since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on August 9, 2019.
Severe weather in Klickitat County since 1996
Klickitat County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Flood | DR-4906: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 19, 2025 | Fire | FM-5601: Burdoin Fire |
| April 28, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4775: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 23, 2023 | Fire | FM-5470: Newell Road Fire |
| March 29, 2022 | Flood | DR-4650: Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Klickitat County
Klickitat County had 7,194 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,979 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in 2023; in Goldendale itself the ACS puts it at 14%.
Public schools in Goldendale
4 public schools with 883 students, about 19.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goldendale High School | 9-12 | 313 | 22.4 |
| Goldendale Primary School | K-4 | 300 | 17.6 |
| Goldendale Middle School | 5-8 | 262 | 18.7 |
| Goldendale Support Service Center | PK-PK | 8 | — |
Towns near Goldendale
- The Dalles, OR22.0 mi · 16,010 people · home $360,800
Goldendale questions
Is Goldendale, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Goldendale scores better for retirees than 86% of Washington towns and quieter than 81%. 24.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.6).
How much does a house cost in Goldendale?
The median owner-occupied home in Goldendale is valued at $199,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,783, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is $890 a month.
What is the weather like in Goldendale?
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 23.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 16.5 inches of precipitation a year and 26.6 inches of snow.
Does Goldendale get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Goldendale in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)