St. John: Demographics & People
Census counts 607 people in St. John, in 275 households. Population shrank 11.4% from 685 (2022) to 607 (2024). Median age 57.3 years. (30.9y older than Whitman County; 18.8y older than Washington). Children under 18 are 13% of the population. Population is 89% White (non-Hispanic) and 4% Asian. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.17). 48% of households are family-led. County is losing 535 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 31% adult obesity, 15% smoke.
- 2.2 people per household.
- 52% non-family households (singles, roommates).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 11.4% from 685 (2022) to 607 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~539 (extrapolated at -5.7%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 457.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 47,973 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -11.4% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 685 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 607 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | shrinking |
| Population | 607 people |
| Population Estimate | 457 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 57.3y is 18.4 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 13% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 57.3 years (vs Washington 38.5y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 12.7% |
| Age Summary · Character | retirement community |
| Population under 18 | 77 |
| Median age | 57.3 years (vs Washington 38.5y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 607 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.17 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 601 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 51 |
| Asian residents | 3 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 7 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 17.0% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 90.8% |
| Asian population | 4.4% |
| Black population | 0.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 1.6% |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 89.3% |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 1.2% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 5% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 355 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 216 |
| Share born in this state | 58.5% |
| Share born in another state | 41.5% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 35.6% |
| Foreign-born residents | 1.2% |
| Naturalized citizens | 4.8% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 15 |
| From Africa | 4 |
Households & Family Composition
275 households. Averaging 2.4 people each — matches the U.S. average of 2.5. 48% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 157 families, 23% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 132 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 157 |
| Married couples with children | 36 |
| Single-parent households | 3 |
| Average household size | 2.41 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 29.6% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 166 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 59 |
| Family households | 132 households |
| Households that are families | 48.0% |
| Total households | 275 households |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 6.3% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 535 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 6.3% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 36,276 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 36,811 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -535 |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 65 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 10.7% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 45 residents live in group quarters (7.4% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 45 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 5 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | WA-05 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 53,075 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 53 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 75 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Whitman |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 2.2% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 1.60 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 3.00 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 53,075 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Whitman County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Micropolitan |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,036 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 53,075 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Whitman County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 62.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 50.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 56.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 50,104 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 20 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 12.7% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 607, shrinking, retirement community, working-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 607 people |
| Town Summary · County | Whitman County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade