When the Grand Coulee Dam was being built in the early 1930s, the town of Nespelem went from being an undeveloped wilderness to a thriving center for mining and supplies. The town's streets were paved, waterworks were completed, and electricity was introduced in 1942. The Indian Department built a primitive road, and the town's population jumped from a few hundred to about five hundred.
Crime rates per 1,000 residents may be higher in areas near major airports and parks than in areas with less traffic. While some crime may occur in these areas, the overall rate of theft per 1,000 residents is not likely to be any higher than in safer neighborhoods. This means that red areas are not necessarily dangerous for the population of a town. The red areas in the vehicle theft crime map do not necessarily represent a high risk to residents.
The unemployment rate in Nespelem is 11.3%, based on figures for sixteen-year-olds. Nearly seventy-four percent of Nespelem residents are employed by the government. The median household income is $37,500. Most homes in the city are owner-occupied, but a few are rented. Interestingly, 40.9% of homes in the city were built before 1940, which means that many residents are older.
The median property value in Nespelem, WA is $80,000. The median homeownership rate in the town is 59.1%, which is lower than the national average of 64.0%. The median home value per household in Nespelem is $80,000. There are 196 residents in Nespelem. Seventy-nine percent of residents are U.S. citizens and three percent are foreign-born.