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 Low-density area
- $87,464
- Median income Above-median income area
- $302,600
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 45.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 99161 (Palouse, WA) fell -1.4% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 361.4 in 2023 to 356.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
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 average Washington ZIP), while per-capita income is $41,839. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 2.7% and unemployment is 0.4%. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $302,600 (41% below the average Washington ZIP), and median rent is $922; owner occupancy is 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. The page also surfaces 2 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Whitman County, so 99161 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
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.
- Construction
Construction
5 establishments
- Manufacturing
Manufacturing
4 establishments
- Wholesale trade
Wholesale trade
3 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
3 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, 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
Who lives in ZIP 99161?
41.5
Median Age
50.5%
Male
49.5%
Female
3.1%
Foreign-Born
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 ZIP avg
$41,839
Per Capita Income
2.7%
Poverty Rate
0.4%
Unemployment Rate
28.1 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 99161 ranks among Washington ZIPs
Palouse, WA household income vs. every Washington ZIP code
Median household income among 547 reporting Washington ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$87,464 Top 48% higher than 52% of 547 Washington ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Washington 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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
644housing units
644
Total Housing Units
583
Occupied Units
61
Vacant Units
2.44
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$302,600
Median Home Value
-41% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 99161
Palouse (99161)
1,400 residents
- 99130
Garfield (99130)
828 residents
- 99102 500
Albion (99102)
500 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 99161 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 99161 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 99161
Palouse (99161)
$87,464 median income
- 99130
Garfield (99130)
$82,000 median income
- 99102
Albion (99102)
$56,833 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.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 99161, both outside WA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (1,400 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Whitman County
Related Areas
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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 99161's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 99161 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Palouse, WA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.