PlainZIP

Palouse, WA · standard

ZIP Code 99161

Whitman County, Washington - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

1,400
7/sq mi
$87,464
Median income
$302,600
Median home value
45.8%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Palouse pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 29%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 33%
home value, US ZIPs
7
people per sq mi
82%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 99161 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 99161 is a sparsely populated ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Palouse, Whitman County, Washington, home to just 1,400 residents across 191.8 square miles, a density of 7 people per square mile, in the Los Angeles time zone.

ZIP 99161 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $87,464 (4% below the Washington average), while per-capita income is $41,839. Local economic indicators show a 2.7% poverty rate alongside 0.4% unemployment. Median home value sits at $302,600 (41% below the state average), median rent at $922 a month, and owner-occupancy at 81.5%.

A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 45.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41.5, and the average commute is 28 minutes. We also surface 2 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Whitman County, so you can benchmark 99161 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone.

Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →

Top industries in ZIP 99161

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Palouse, WA

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 99161.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 99161, Palouse, WA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

1,400

Population

191.8

Area (sq mi)

7

People / sq mi

Los Angeles

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 99161?

41.5

Median Age

50.5%

Male

49.5%

Female

3.1%

Foreign-Born

White 84.7%
African American 0.0%
Asian 0.6%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.8%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 7.6%
Hispanic or Latino 6.6%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$87,464

Median Household Income

-4% vs state

$41,839

Per Capita Income

2.7%

Poverty Rate

0.4%

Unemployment Rate

28.1 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 99161 ranks nationally

Palouse, WA household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$87,464 Top 29% higher than 71% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 64.3%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 45.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

644

Total Housing Units

583

Occupied Units

61

Vacant Units

2.44

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 81.5%
Renter 18.5%

$302,600

Median Home Value

-41% vs state

$922

Median Rent

1944

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

-1.4%

YoY Change (2024)

356

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+256%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 99161 have decreased 1.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +256% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 -0.3% 250
2021 +16.8% 292
2022 +21.7% 356
2023 +1.6% 361
2024 -1.4% 356

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 25 business establishments in ZIP 99161, employing approximately 84 people with a combined annual payroll of $3,451,000.

25

Businesses

84

Employees

$3.5M

Annual Payroll

4

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 5 20.0%
Manufacturing 4 16.0%
Wholesale trade 3 12.0%
Other services (except public administration) 3 12.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 99161 vs 99130 →

ZIP 99161 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 99161 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 99161 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 99161 ranks the highest of 3 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
99130 Garfield, WA 828 7.3 mi
99102 Albion, WA 500 9.3 mi

More ZIP Codes in Whitman County

99163 standard
Pullman, WA
Pop: 31,404
99111 standard
Colfax, WA
Pop: 4,047
99170 standard
Rosalia, WA
Pop: 1,072
99171 standard
Saint John, WA
Pop: 959
99033 standard
Tekoa, WA
Pop: 895
99130 standard
Garfield, WA
Pop: 828

Related Areas

Whitman County Palouse, WA Washington

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 99161 in? ▼
ZIP code 99161 (Palouse) is located in Whitman County, Washington. Whitman County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/whitman-wa.
What is the population of ZIP code 99161? ▼
ZIP code 99161 in Palouse, WA has a population of 1,400 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 99161? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 99161 is $87,464, which is 15% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 99161? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 99161 is $302,600, which is 9% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 99161? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 99161 is White at 84.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 99161? ▼
ZIP code 99161 has 25 business establishments employing approximately 84 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 99161? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 99161 are: Construction (5), Manufacturing (4), Wholesale trade (3). There are 4 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 99161? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 99161 decreased by 1.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 256%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 99161? ▼
In ZIP code 99161, 64.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 45.8% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 99161? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 99161 is 28.1 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 99161? ▼
In ZIP code 99161, approximately 81.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 18.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 99161? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 99161 is 2.7% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.