Walla Walla-College Place
RANK #678 / 996 NAT · #16 / 21 WA · POP 62,150
1YR FORECAST: -0.8%
5YR OUTLOOK: +19%
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.
Above national median (4.7x)
Below national median
Above national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 5.8x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| 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.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
At 31/100, Walla Walla County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 996 counties we track. Median income of $66,635 combined with job growth of +0.3% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Walla Walla County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $331,600 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.20 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,044/month on average.
Population and employment in Walla Walla County are both close to flat — population -0.0% YoY and jobs +0.3%. Home values shifted +1.4% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
In significant numbers — 5.37% of Walla Walla County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.