Moving to Omak, Washington

by btobers · Published July 2, 2019 · Updated November 18, 2024

Omak is a city located in Okanogan County, Washington. It has a population of around 4,700 people as of the 2020 census. The city is situated in the north-central part of the state and is bordered by the Columbia River to the south, and Omak Lake to the east. The terrain around Omak is mostly flat with rolling hills along the river, and it experiences a semi-arid climate with hot summers and cold winters.

The city was first settled by European-Americans in 1894 who were drawn to its location on the Columbia River for trading purposes. In its early days, it was mainly known for its timber industry which provided employment for many people in the area. It later became an important agricultural center due to its proximity to other towns in Okanogan County.

Today, Omak has an economy that relies on agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing industries such as aerospace parts manufacturing and food processing plants. It also serves as a hub for educational institutions including Omak High School, Wenatchee Valley College’s Omak Campus, and Central Washington University’s Omak Learning Center.

Omak has several landmarks that draw visitors from all over including the Chief Joseph Dam on the Columbia River; numerous parks such as Anderson Park; and historical sites like Old Town Hall Museum which showcases artifacts from early settlers of Omak. It also has various cultural attractions like art galleries, theaters, restaurants serving local cuisine, and other attractions such as golf courses or wineries located just outside of town.

Population: 4,721. Estimated population in July 2024: 4,755 (+0.7% change)
Males: 2,281 (48.3%), Females: 2,440 (51.7%)

Okanogan County

Zip code: 98841

Demographics

Median resident age: 35.0 years
Median household income: $24,089
Median house value: $78,600

Population by Race

Races in Omak:

White Non-Hispanic (67.7%)
American Indian (17.8%)
Hispanic (13.0%)
Other race (10.0%)
Two or more races (4.0%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Ancestries: German (15.3%), English (9.4%), Irish (8.4%), United States (5.8%), French (3.6%), Norwegian (3.4%).

Elevation: 837 feet

Land area: 2.9 square miles

Population by Education

Omak, Washington is a small town located in Okanogan County, Washington. It has a population of about 4,700 people and is the county seat of Okanogan County. The population is diverse and includes Native Americans, Latinos, Caucasians, Asians and African-Americans. The median household income for Omak is $37,115.

The cost of living in Omak is relatively low compared to other cities in the state. Housing costs are some of the lowest in the state with median house prices at $165,000 and median rent prices at $830 per month. Utilities are also relatively affordable with an average monthly cost of $182 for electricity and gas combined. Transportation costs are also low with an average commute time of 24 minutes and an average gas price per gallon at $2.75. Groceries are also reasonably priced with many items costing less than their national averages. Overall, Omak provides residents an affordable alternative to larger cities in Washington State while still providing access to amenities such as local parks, libraries and grocery stores.

For population 25 years and over in Omak

High school or higher: 75.6%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.2%
Graduate or professional degree: 7.2%
Unemployed: 17.0%
Mean travel time to work: 13.9 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Omak city

Never married: 26.2%
Now married: 51.6%
Separated: 1.7%
Widowed: 8.8%
Divorced: 11.8%

7.9% Foreign born (5.5% Latin America, 1.1% Asia).

Population change in the 1990s: +556 (+13.3%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Omak:

MID-VALLEY HOSPITAL (810 JASMINE STREET, P O BOX 873)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Omak:

NORTH VALLEY HOSPITAL (about 24 miles; TONASKET, WA)
OKANOGAN-DOUGLAS DISTRICT HOSPITAL (about 26 miles; BREWSTER, WA)
COULEE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (about 48 miles; GRAND COULEE, WA)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Omak:

GRANT CO INTL (about 85 miles; MOSES LAKE, WA; Abbreviation: MWH)
PANGBORN MEMORIAL (about 85 miles; WENATCHEE, WA; Abbreviation: EAT)
FAIRCHILD AFB (about 142 miles; SPOKANE, WA; Abbreviation: SKA)

Other public-use airports nearest to Omak:

OMAK (about 3 miles; OMAK, WA; Abbreviation: OMK)
OKANOGAN LEGION (about 6 miles; OKANOGAN, WA; Abbreviation: S35)
TONASKET MUNICIPAL (about 22 miles; TONASKET, WA; Abbreviation: W01)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Omak:

WENATCHEE VALLEY COLLEGE (about 88 miles; WENATCHEE, WA; Full-time enrollment: 2,074)
CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (about 119 miles; ELLENSBURG, WA; Full-time enrollment: 7,420)
YAKIMA VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 143 miles; YAKIMA, WA; Full-time enrollment: 2,906)
EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (about 148 miles; CHENEY, WA; Full-time enrollment: 7,852)
COLUMBIA BASIN COLLEGE (about 151 miles; PASCO, WA; Full-time enrollment: 3,529)
SPOKANE FALLS COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 151 miles; SPOKANE, WA; Full-time enrollment: 6,284)
GONZAGA UNIVERSITY (about 154 miles; SPOKANE, WA; Full-time enrollment: 3,860)

Schools

Public high schools in Omak:

OMAK HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 506; Location: 20 SOUTH CEDAR; Grades: 09 – 12)
OMAK ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 88; Location: 600 W 6TH AVE; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Omak:

N OMAK ELEMENTARY (Students: 454; Location: 615 OAK STREET; Grades: PK – 02)
OMAK MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 445; Location: 14 S CEDAR; Grades: 06 – 08)
E OMAK ELEMENTARY (Students: 368; Location: 715 OMAK AVE; Grades: 03 – 05)
PASCHAL SHERMAN INDIAN SCHOOL (Students: 151; Location: 25 OMAK LAKE ROAD; Grades: KG – 09)

Private primary/middle schools in Omak:

BETHEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (Students: 25; Location: PO BOX 1704; Grades: UG – UG)
OMAK ADVENTIST CHRISTIAN SCHOO (Students: 16; Location: PO BOX 3294; Grades: 1 – 8)