Pasayten's Methow Valley Bulletin Board

Summary of Key Findings

Over a thousand homes were built in the Methow watershed between 2005 and 2020, the majority of which lay outside incorporated towns.
Today, there are 2,650 full-time residential homes and 1,966 part-time homes, with an estimated population of 6,400 full-time residents and 4,380 part-time residents. This growth has been fueled primarily by amenity migration, particularly during Covid-19.

Economic Study Graphic - 61% of residents are full-time

Today, the Methow’s population is characterized by retirees, remote workers and long-time residents. Nearly 40 percent of the population is over 60 years old, with 20 percent under 18. Altogether, 60 percent of the population is not of working age. These demographics contribute to a shortage of workers and shrinking labor force.

The median household income for families who live and work in the Methow Valley is $57,779, with nearly 60 percent of working families making less than $55,000 a year.

Economic Study Graphic - 60% working families make less than $55,000 a year

The overall demographic trends in the Methow Valley suggest that not only is the population aging as more retirees move to the Methow, but also that poverty is increasing among families with children and among working families in general. Working families face limited mobility and service wage jobs that have not kept pace with the rising cost of homes and property. In other words, wealth is concentrated in the incoming residents, while long term residents and local families face increasing economic disparity.