The typical owner-occupied home in Kelso is worth about $337,600, 40% below the Washington median of $564,600 and about the same as the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,945 a year in property taxes, about 0.87% of their home's value, higher than the Washington rate of 0.81%. The median household earns $66,751 a year, so the median home costs 5.1 times the median income (5.8 times for Washington). 56% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 68% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Kelso at a glance
| Kelso | Washington | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $337,600 | $564,600 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $2,945 | $4,556 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.87% | 0.81% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $66,751 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 56% | 64% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 68% | 66% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,782 | $2,445 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 24.2% | 22.2% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,220 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 29.2% | 30.0% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1963 | 1985 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 3.9% | 7.3% | 10.1% |
| Population | 12,684 | 7,816,116 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Kelso
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Kelso home of $337,600 with 20% down costs about $2,202 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,765, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $94,383 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 40% of the median Kelso household income of $66,751; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $239,000.
The median rent here is $1,220 a month, so owning the median home costs about $982 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $67,520 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $270,080 |
| Principal and interest | $1,817 |
| Property taxes (0.87% a year) | $245 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $141 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $2,202 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $11,816 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $331,485 |
| Principal and interest | $2,230 |
| Property taxes (0.87% a year) | $245 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $141 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $149 |
| Total per month | $2,765 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Kelso
What is the median home value in Kelso?
About $337,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Kelso?
Homeowners pay a median $2,945 a year, which is about 0.87% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Kelso?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,202 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $94,383 a year.
More about Kelso
- Mortgage Refinance in Kelso
- Debt Relief in Kelso
- Home Equity Loans in Kelso
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data