Walla Walla receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Lewiston
Walla Walla
Opportunity
62 · Top 37%
vs60 · Top 42%
Growth
39 · Bottom 32%
vs55 · Top 41%
Climate
67 · Top 49%
vs68 · Top 45%
Physical resilience
42 · Bottom 31%
vs61 · Top 43%
Housing affordability
82 · Bottom 23%
vs71 · Bottom 13%
Access
34 · Bottom 4%
vs48 · Bottom 11%
Economic stability
56 · Top 44%
vs59 · Top 41%
Measured values
| Metric | Lewiston | Walla Walla | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 65,164 | 62,161 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $72,475 | $74,202 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $39,150 | $38,208 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 44/sq mi | 49/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $331,900 | $408,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,024 | $1,218 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 71.4% | 65.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.4% | 3.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.8% | -0.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.3% | 29.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.9% | 12.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 189 | 248 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.9 | 4.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -51.5% | 45.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 91°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 30°F | 31°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 12.9" | 18.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 99 mi | 77 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 17.4 min | 16.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.8 | 38.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Lewiston
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, heat wave, inland flooding.
Walla Walla
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, heat wave.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Lewiston
55
Your Score
56
Area Score
Walla Walla
60
Your Score
62
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Lewiston, ID-WA Metro Area · Walla Walla, WA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology