Kelso, WA Demographics

A map of Kelso's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	9,564	9,381	75.4%	73.8%
Hispanic	1,305	1,704	10.3%	13.4%
Multiracial	1,193	852	9.4%	6.7%
Native American/Other	287	519	2.3%	4.1%
Black	246	102	1.9%	0.8%
Asian	89	162	0.7%	1.3%

Kelso, Washington has an estimated population of 12,684, a less than 1% change from the 12,720 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 75.4% White, 10.3% Hispanic, 9.4% Multiracial, 2.3% Native American/Other, 1.9% Black, and 0.7% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Kelso, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Kelso has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Washington overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Kelso, that probability was 43.2% in 2020 and 41.1% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Kelso is ranked the 110th most populous place in Washington, out of 639 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Kelso was ranked the 105th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Kelso's White Population

9,564 residents of Kelso, or 75.4% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Kelso is considerably higher than in Washington overall, where 63.1% of the population is White. Kelso ranks 390th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 639 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kelso's White population has grown by an estimated 2.0%. White residents' share of Kelso's population has increased from 73.8% to 75.4%.

Kelso is less White than neighboring Beacon Hill (78.3% White), Rainier (88.2% White), Lexington (86.9% White), Prescott (91.2% White), and Longview (77.2% White).

Kelso's Black Population

246 residents of Kelso, or 1.9% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Kelso is comparable to the share in Washington overall, where 3.8% of the population is Black. Kelso ranks 256th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 639 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kelso's Black population has grown by an estimated 141.2%. Black residents' share of Kelso's population has increased from 0.8% to 1.9%.

Kelso is more Black than neighboring Beacon Hill (0% Black), Rainier (1% Black), Lexington (0% Black), Prescott (0% Black), and Longview (0.6% Black).

Kelso's Asian Population

89 residents of Kelso, or 0.7% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Kelso is lower than in Washington overall, where 9.7% of the population is Asian. Kelso ranks 328th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 639 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kelso's Asian population has declined by an estimated 45.1%. Asian residents' share of Kelso's population has decreased from 1.3% to 0.7%.

Kelso is more Asian than neighboring Beacon Hill (0% Asian), Rainier (0.5% Asian), and Prescott (0% Asian). Kelso is less Asian than neighboring Lexington (3.1% Asian), and Longview (1.7% Asian).

Kelso's Hispanic Population

1,305 residents of Kelso, or 10.3% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Kelso is slightly lower than in Washington overall, where 14.4% of the population is Hispanic. Kelso ranks 162nd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 639 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kelso's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 23.4%. Hispanic residents' share of Kelso's population has decreased from 13.4% to 10.3%.

Kelso is more Hispanic than neighboring Rainier (5% Hispanic), Lexington (4.4% Hispanic), and Prescott (0% Hispanic). Kelso is less Hispanic than neighboring Beacon Hill (20.1% Hispanic), and Longview (12.6% Hispanic).

Kelso's Native American/Other Population

287 residents of Kelso, or 2.3% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Kelso is comparable to the share in Washington overall, where 2.1% of the population is Native American/Other. Kelso ranks 89th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 639 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kelso's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 44.7%. Native American/Other residents' share of Kelso's population has decreased from 4.1% to 2.3%.

Kelso is more Native American/Other than neighboring Beacon Hill (0% Native American/Other), Rainier (0.7% Native American/Other), Lexington (0% Native American/Other), Prescott (0% Native American/Other), and Longview (1.1% Native American/Other).

Kelso's Multiracial Population

1,193 residents of Kelso, or 9.4% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Kelso is slightly higher than in Washington overall, where 6.8% of the population is Multiracial. Kelso ranks 272nd statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 639 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kelso's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 40.0%. Multiracial residents' share of Kelso's population has increased from 6.7% to 9.4%.

Kelso is more Multiracial than neighboring Beacon Hill (1.6% Multiracial), Rainier (4.6% Multiracial), Lexington (5.6% Multiracial), Prescott (8.8% Multiracial), and Longview (6.8% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.