{"id":941,"date":"2026-05-13T18:54:39","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T18:54:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yakimavalleytrends.org\/blog\/?page_id=941"},"modified":"2026-05-13T18:54:39","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T18:54:39","slug":"nov2025_blog","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/yakimavalleytrends.org\/blog\/nov2025_blog\/","title":{"rendered":"Yakima Valley Trends Blog – November 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Did you know there are nearly 140 different community indicators on Yakima Valley Trends - each updated throughout the year? But which ones, and when?<\/p>

This issue of the Yakima Valley Trends blog lists some of the most recently updated indicators on the Yakima Valley Trends website.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>

This page will be updated and email alerts sent on a quarterly basis. Don't miss an update - subscribe today<\/a>!<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Recent Updates<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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In PEOPLE<\/strong>:

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Net Migration to the County slowed in 2024.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>

An area\u2019s population grows in two fundamental ways: the natural increase (births minus deaths) and more in migrants than out-bound residents. In-migration fell substantially last year, from 1,108 in 2023 to 263. The Tri Cities also experienced a strong decline, although the largest metro in Eastern Washington, Spokane, did not. Changes in the agricultural labor force have probably played a role in all three counties. \u00a0<\/p>

On the plus side, net migration in 2024 posted the sixth straight year of growth. For 15 years prior to 2020, more people left the county than moved here.\u00a0

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In AGRICULTURE<\/strong>:<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Number of dairy cows continues to decline.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>

Yakima County holds the largest dairy herd among all Washington state counties. Yet the headcount in 2025, at about 100,000, continued its decline from 2021, where it stood at 110,0009. Given the outsized role of Yakima County in the state\u2019s inventory (38%) of dairy cows, the state headcount has declined at well. The same holds for milk production.\u00a0

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In ECONOMIC VITALITY<\/strong>:

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Labor force and its participation rate continue to fall in the county.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>

The labor force is the sum of residents who are working or looking for work. The participation rate, as measured in the Trends, is the ratio of labor force to the county population 16 years and over.\u00a0<\/p>

The county labor force in 2024 was about 125,000. This represents a decline of nearly 6,000 since the peak in 2020. The participation rate last year also fell from 2020 \u2013 to 62% from 68%. For years, the participation rate here was higher than the state average. But since 2023, no longer.\u00a0<\/p>

Labor force and its participation rate continue to fall in the county.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>

One way to understand the structure of a local economy is to examine the shares of the workforce taken by each of the 20 sectors. This indicator approaches the task by tracking the five largest over time, listed in order: agriculture, government, healthcare & social assistance, retail trade and manufacturing.\u00a0<\/p>

In the past decade, the size of these shares has moved very little. In 2024, the share in agriculture was slightly smaller, in healthcare & social assistance slightly larger, and in the other three within one percentage of points of their 2015 values. \u00a0<\/p>

One can also use this indicator as a high-level measure of the local economy\u2019s state of diversification. If one adds the shares up, one has an proxy for concentration of economic activity. In 2024, the top five sectors claimed 73% of the county workforce: in 2015, 72%. So, little change by this yardstick as well.\u00a0

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In EDUCATION<\/strong>:

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The number of English Language Learners (ELL) in K-12 districts is recovering from the pandemic.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>

Students whose native tongue is not English bring special considerations to public school districts. At the minimum, different instruction, and therefore more resources are offered and expended in Spanish than otherwise would be the case. In school year 2023-2024, about 15,000 K-12 students in the county were classified as ELL students. This represents a gain of nearly 1,000 from pandemic year 2020-2021. \u00a0<\/p>

As a share of the county\u2019s K-12 population, ELL students made up 28% in 2024. This is the highest year on record, and far above the statewide share of 14%.\u00a0<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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In EDUCATION <\/strong>cont.:<\/p>

Extended graduation rates for English Language Learner (ELL) students in the county continue to climb.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>

Sometimes students need more than four years to receive their high school diploma. This is especially true for those whose language spoken at home is not English, or ELL students. This measure tracks the ratio of students receiving a diploma after four or five years to the number in the cohort at 9th graders. (Transfers in and out of each district is accounted for.)<\/p>

For those county ELL students graduating in 2024 or earlier, the share of their 9th grade cohort was 78%. This represents the highest rate ever achieved in the county. It is up from 63% a decade prior. Note, also that county rate is higher than the state ELL average of 75%. As indicator 4.2.4 shows, the all-population extended graduation rate in the same year was 83%.<\/p>

In ENVIRONMENT<\/strong>:<\/p>

Air quality days by severity level have recently shown strong improvement.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>

In 2024, Yakima County could point to the best year in at least 15 years for the number of \u201cgood\u201d air quality days. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency bases this scored on its Air Quality Index (AQI). The AQU is composed of 5 parts: ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter.<\/p>

In 2024, the number of good air quality days was 248 while the number of the second-best category, \u201cmoderate,\u201d was 211. While best in recent history, these numbers are still below those of Benton and Grant Counties.<\/p>

To simplify the graph, click off those items in the legend you would like to hide.<\/em><\/p>

In HEALTH<\/strong>:<\/p>

Youth marijuana use plummeted during the height of the pandemic. Now rebounding?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>

Among other things, the Washington\u00a0Healthy Youth Survey<\/em>\u00a0asks public school students whether they have consumed marijuana in the past 30 days. For Yakima County, three grade levels are reported.<\/p>

In 2023, the most year of the survey, 12% of 12th graders, 7% of 10th graders and 5% of 8th graders replied affirmatively. These shares represent much lower rates than those in the few years leading up to the pandemic. But they are slightly higher than those registered in 2021. The county share of 12th graders is much lower than the state average; the shares of 10th and 8th graders, however, are likely the same statistically.<\/p>

In HOUSING<\/strong>:<\/p>

All-Buyers housing affordability index in the county is declining after a recent boost.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>

A housing affordability index (HAI), generally, is a ratio of income to mortgage costs. In this version, from the Real Estate Research Center at the University of Washington, median household income is the numerator. Specifically, it uses 25% of this measure of income, as that percentage provides the upper threshold of a household\u2019s expenses for the dwelling to be \u201caffordable.\u201d The denominator reflects both current housing prices and interest rates for a 30-year mortgage. The analysis covers only re-sale, not new, homes.<\/p>

A value of 100 implies a household has just enough income to meet the 25% threshold. A value above 100 indicates that it has more than enough income to afford current mortgage costs.<\/p>

Unfortunately, the HAI for Yakima County has been below 100 since Q2 of 222. The current (July) value is 82. The lowest value recorded came last year in the 3rd quarter, at 71. Note that for the first part of the period shown, Yakima County sported very affordable index numbers, with a peak in the 4th quarter of 2015 of 176. However, a long decline started thereafter. Note further that the HAI here is higher, but not by much, than the state value. Yet, the county currently boasts the 2nd-best affordability among Eastern Washington metros, trailing only Grant County.<\/p>

In SAFETY, RISKY BEHAVIORS<\/strong>:

<\/p>

Property crimes continued to decline in the county in 2024.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>

Property crimes reported to county police departments and the sheriff\u2019s office in 2024 fell to the lowest number on record: 4,850. This represents a long, continuing decline since the peak in 2006. As in all years, larceny theft was the most common type of property crime. Coming in a distant second last year was burglary, at 894, and third, motor vehicle thefts, at 711.\u00a0<\/p>

While the county rates placed much higher during the first 12 years of this century, since 2013 they have almost always been lower than the state rate. And for 2024 property crimes in the county occurred at the same rate as in the U.S. \u2013 a first. The rate in the City of Yakima last year, at 20.7 incidents per 1,000 residents, came very close to the county rate, at 18.5 incidents per 1,000. \u00a0<\/p>

last updated 11.13.25<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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New Intern Features<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\"\"<\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Mason Moore<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Hometown:<\/strong>\u00a0Wenatchee, Washington

Major:<\/strong>\u00a0Information Systems & Business Analytics, Finance

Expected Graduation Date:\u00a0<\/strong>Fall 2025

Post-graduations plans:\u00a0<\/strong>Attend graduate school and get a good job!

After a few months of working on the Trends project, my favorite thing so far:\u00a0<\/strong>
I really enjoy the process of troubleshooting and working through the puzzles that come with data analysis, no two indicators are ever the same, and that keeps things interesting and engaging. I\u2019ve also really appreciated the opportunity to work with such a thoughtful and collaborative team. The people I get to work with make the experience even more rewarding.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\"\"<\/div><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Matthew Sandell<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Hometown:\u00a0<\/strong>Bremerton, WA

Major:\u00a0<\/strong>Double-majoring in Economics and Data Analytics

Expected Graduation Date<\/strong>: Spring 2026

Post-graduation plans:\u00a0<\/strong>Get a job involved with economic development and\/or public policy, either local or international.\u00a0

After a few months of working on the Trends project, my favorite thing so far:<\/strong>
There are so many different puzzles to solve. My favorite part of the Trends project is rebuilding or creating new datasets. Often, we have to make judgement calls on what data is important and how to present that data. Fundamentally, we're here to tell a story, and I love finding the most efficient way to achieve that through thoughtful and creative data organization.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The complete list of Yakima Valley Trends can be found here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Did you know there are nearly 140 different community indicators on Yakima Valley Trends – each updated throughout the year? But which ones, and when?This issue of the Yakima Valley… Read more »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/yakimavalleytrends.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/941"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/yakimavalleytrends.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/yakimavalleytrends.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yakimavalleytrends.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yakimavalleytrends.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=941"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/yakimavalleytrends.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/941\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":942,"href":"https:\/\/yakimavalleytrends.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/941\/revisions\/942"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/yakimavalleytrends.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=941"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}