The Town FilesOthello, Washington
City in Adams County · population 8,549 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $290,700
- Household income
- $65,849
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 90°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 23.2
Othello is a city of 8,549 people in Adams County, Washington. The median home is worth $290,700, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 89% of Washington towns, more vibrant than 70% of Washington towns.
How Othello 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 Othello is worth $290,700, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $65,849, which is more affordable than 78% of Washington towns. Median rent is $882 a month. 54.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Othello | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $290,700 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $882 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $65,849 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 54.8% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Othello
| People | Othello | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 23.2 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 8.3% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 40.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.8% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.1% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 2.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 26.1% | — |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 16.9 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.4% | 93.9% |
Weather in Othello
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 26.6°F. About 8.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 115 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Othello since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Washington town. The strongest, an F0, struck on April 23, 1983 about 6.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 23, 1983.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on April 23, 1998.
Severe weather in Adams County since 1996
Adams County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 4, 2022 | Fire | FM-5447: Lind Fire |
| March 22, 2020 | Biological | DR-4481: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3427: Covid-19 |
| April 21, 2017 | Flood | DR-4309: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides |
| March 2, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1825: Severe Winter Storm And Record And Near Record Snow |
Jobs and pay in Adams County
Adams County had 9,436 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,291 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Othello itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Public schools in Othello
9 public schools with 4,712 students, about 18.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Othello High School | 9-12 | 1,348 | 22.1 |
| McFarland Middle School | 6-8 | 737 | 18.9 |
| Wahitis Elementary School | K-6 | 586 | 15.8 |
| Hiawatha Elementary School | K-6 | 574 | 15.9 |
| Scootney Springs Elementary | K-6 | 574 | 15.9 |
| Lutacaga Elementary | K-6 | 552 | 14.5 |
| Early Childhood Center | PK-PK | 214 | 71.3 |
| Desert Oasis High School | 9-12 | 109 | 15.6 |
| Open Door Re-Engagement | 9-12 | 18 | — |
Towns near Othello
- Connell, WA19.0 mi · 5,441 people · home $313,600
- Moses Lake, WA21.7 mi · 25,146 people · home $310,000
- Cascade Valley, WA23.3 mi · 4,332 people · home —
- Moses Lake North, WA26.7 mi · 4,050 people · home $242,200
Othello questions
Is Othello, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Othello scores better for retirees than 5% of Washington towns and quieter than 8%. 8.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 23.2).
How much does a house cost in Othello?
The median owner-occupied home in Othello is valued at $290,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,849, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $882 a month.
What is the weather like in Othello?
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 26.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 8.8 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Othello get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Othello since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on April 23, 1983. 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)