Chelan is a city in Chelan County, Washington, home to about 4,350 people across 6.7 square miles. Its ZIP code is 98816.
Homes sold for a median of $421 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a buyer’s market.
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Chelan. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Chelan’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
Are you a local agent who knows Chelan well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked
| Nearest major airport | Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)110 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Pangborn Memorial Airport (EAT)32 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Seattle, WA109 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Chelan; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Chelan had 4,222 residents in the 2020 census, up 20% since 2000.
It’s the 215th largest of 628 towns in Washington by population.
Chelan County grew from 3,931 residents in 1900 to 79,074 in 2020.
Chelan County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 87°F in summer, and winter lows average 22°F. About 11.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 21 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Chelan, WA weather station (2 miles away).
32,779 jobs at 2,782 businesses in Chelan County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
77 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Chelan.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 21 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 7 |
| Dentists | 6 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 13 |
| Mental health providers | 14 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 10 |
| Chiropractors | 6 |
| Pharmacies | 5 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Parks (11 nearby)
Grocery stores (4 nearby)
Libraries (1 nearby)
Museums (1 nearby)
Theaters and performance venues (1 nearby)
Counts are within about 2 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Established in 1902.
Source: Wikidata (wikidata.org), the free knowledge base; people are listed by place of birth.
Public schools here are run by Lake Chelan School District. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Chelan PreschoolChelan | Pre-K | 49 | Public | 0.8 mi |
| Holden Village Community SchoolChelan | K–12 | 4 | Public | 42.2 mi |
| Morgen Owings Elementary SchoolChelan | K–5 | 472 | Public | 0.9 mi |
| Chelan Middle SchoolChelan | 6–8 | 285 | Public | 1.0 mi |
| Chelan High SchoolChelan | 9–12 | 439 | Public | 1.0 mi |
| Chelan School of InnovationChelan | 9–12 | 50 | Alternative Education | 0.8 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roots Community SchoolChelan | Pre-K–9 | 69 | Nonsectarian | 0.8 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
Buying or selling around Chelan? Tell us what you need and when. No agents advertise here yet, so we’ll keep your request for up to 30 days and send it to local agents who join. No obligation, and you choose who to work with.
Loading map…
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.