Grant County’s hub for culture, recreation and industry
Moses Lake is more than a serpentine lake in Central Washington. It’s a community founded on farmland, surrounded by history and dedicated to continuing its creativity. “We’re a community that has so much sunshine, over 300 days. People love coming for our recreation options. There’s the lake, hiking trails, an off-roading area, an aquatic center... and in the winter, we have a hockey rink,” says Ann Schempp, Curator of the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center. In addition to various exhibits, the museum showcases a giant Columbian Mammoth sculpture made from farm equipment. “The Columbian Mammoth is our state fossil, and the sculpture combines art, history and agriculture, just like the city. We even dress it up for holidays sometimes,” says Schempp. There’s a technology component to Moses Lake, as well. In 1942, the area became home to the now defunct Larson Air Force Base, and aviation has been a significant part of Moses Lake ever since. Incorporated in 1938 with 302 people, the ever-growing city now has over 25,000 residents, according to the 2020 Census.
There are lots of nearby parks in Moses Lake to enjoy.
Moses Lake has several local breweries in the downtown corridor.
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The Moses Lake Water Trail, a rodeo roundup and assorted worship centers
The city’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department oversees dozens of green spaces, facilities and programs. There are community gardens, campgrounds, playgrounds, recreation centers and a dog park. Filled with water attractions and an Olympic-size pool, the city operates the Surf n’Slide Waterpark from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The Moses Lake Water Trail has eight landing sites in the 18-mile-long branching waterway. Held at the Grant County Fairgrounds each August, the Moses Lake Rodeo Roundup features bull riding, barrel racing and roping competitions. There are almost two dozen places of worship in Moses Lake, including Protestant and Catholic churches and several Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints facilities.
Moses Lake has lots of multi-purpose trails throughout the city.
There is lots of local wildlife along Moses Lake's waterways.
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Downtown Moses Lake, assorted eateries and a farmer’s market
Located along the waterfront, Downtown Moses Lake is the community’s main corridor for boutiques, eateries and pubs. The easily walkable area was designated as a creative district by the Washington State Arts Commission in 2022. The Downtown Moses Lake Association promotes the district through annual events such as Brews and Tunes each March. The one-day festival features local food vendors, live music and lots of craft beer. The city has a vibrant food scene, with a variety of international fares, upscale pub grub, wine-tasting rooms and fine dining restaurants. For local produce, the Moses Lake Farmers Market is held every Saturday from May through October in McCosh Park.
Downtown Moses Lake features great views over the lake.
Moses Lake is full of eclectic restaurants.
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Classic architecture, new construction and rising prices in Moses Lake
The city has a mix of housing from the 1940s through today. Single-family homes are most common, but manufactured homes and townhouses are available, too. Moses Lake also has large plots of land available for custom-built homes. The city is divided into several neighborhoods, each with something different to offer. Downtown has mixed-use developments near the lake, while Mae Valley has large properties adjacent to several parks. Cascade Valley has new construction, among multiple transportation options. Property prices rose by nearly 4% over 2024, and homes throughout Moses Lake sell for a median price of $385,000.
Ranch style homes are very common in Moses Lake.
More expensive homes in Moses Lake often have their own dock to the lake.
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Sports, music programs and Big Bend Community College
The Moses Lake School District operates 20 schools, enrolling over 8,300 students. The district received a C-grade from Niche, which also named it one of Washington's top 30 districts for athletes. It’s known for its award-winning music programs, early learning preschool and career and technical education in six core subjects. Big Bend Community College is a two-year institution specializing in Bachelor of Applied Science degrees.
Big Bend Community College provides continued education in Moses Lake.
The Moses Lake offers lots of recreational activities.
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Diverse industries, major employers and Samaritan Hospital
Boeing, Dell, ConAgra Foods and International Paper are some of the area’s largest employers, making agriculture, manufacturing and technology the city’s most prominent industries. Healthcare is another significant sector, with the Moses Lake Community Health Center and Confluence Health’s Moses Lake Campus serving the growing community. Samaritan Hospital is another major area medical center that operated from the same building from 1949 until 2019. A new 50-bed Samaritan Hospital is under construction and projected to be completed in late 2025.
The Samaritan hospital in Moses Lake employs lots of people in the area.
Boeing aerospace is a large economy driver in Moses Lake.
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Interstate 90, bike lanes and Grant County International Airport
Interstate 90 and State Route 17 pass through Moses Lake, leading to cities such as Ellensburg and Sprague. The Grant Transit Authority operates bus routes through town and to nearby Ephrata. There’s a network of multi-use trails, bike lanes and sharrows for pedestrians and cyclists. The Grant County International Airport is just north of the city limits.
Moses Lake locals often use I-90 to commute to work.
Moses Lake features a small airport for travelers to enjoy.
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Warm summers, varying air quality and FBI Crime Data
Thanks to its semi-arid climate, the city has warm summers, cold winters and very little rainfall. The area experiences poor air quality around 15 days each year. During these air advisories, people are advised to wear masks outdoors to avoid breathing problems.
Crime rates in the city aren’t straightforward. With only 25,000 citizens, even low occurrences of certain crimes, such as homicide, have outsized effects on the percentages. For instance, violent crime rates dropped between 2022 and 2023 in the city, and only two murders were recorded in 2023. However, according to FBI Crime Data, violent crime rates in Moses Lake are over 40 times the national average. Property crimes are 178% above the national average, despite incidents of robbery, burglary and vehicle theft all decreasing significantly from 2022 to 2023.
Lots of the land around Moses Lake is farm land.
Moses Lake provides lots of opportunity for outdoor recreation.
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Written By
K.T. Phillips
Photography Contributed By
Brandon Wong
Video By
Bob Yukich
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Daniel Mellor,
an experienced agent in this area.
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On average, homes in Moses Lake, WA sell after 46 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Moses Lake, WA over the last 12 months is $318,000, up 10% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Well-Maintained 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath Home in Central Moses Lake. This clean and move-in ready manufactured home offers 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms in a convenient central location. The home features a spacious living and dining area, kitchen with refreshed cabinets and countertops, and new flooring throughout. The primary suite includes a large tub and separate shower. The guest bath offers dual
Welcome to this 4 bedroom home with an office, built in 2023 and designed with peaceful living in mind. With 2,269 sq ft, there’s room for everyone to spread out and feel at home. The main floor features 9 foot ceilings and a charming living room complete with built-ins around the fireplace- perfect for movie nights or game days. The kitchen shines with upgraded quartz countertops, giving you
Charming 2 bedroom/2 bath home featuring an open floor plan w/vaulted ceilings, wood stove, beautifully updated kitchen & baths. Both bedrooms open to the covered back deck, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor feel. The landscaped front yard offers a park-like setting w/a water feature & dry creek bed, while the fenced backyard provides, BBQ space offering privacy & space to enjoy. Detached 900'
Sparkling, move-in ready 5BR/3BA/2 kitchens with 2,716sf of updated living space on a 1/4 acre lot in the highly desirable Montlake neighborhood. Two fully remodeled kitchens and three updated bathrooms, new flooring, fresh paint, designer lighting, updated electrical, new windows, and sleek granite countertops. The lower level features a spacious family room, a second kitchen and a private entry
Charming home in Polo Ridge! Enjoy an open living room with laminate flooring, ceiling fan, and canned lighting. The kitchen boasts quartz counters, tile backsplash, farmhouse sink, and 2021 stainless steel appliances (fridge excluded). Dining room features a pendant light and doggy door. Spacious backyard includes a covered patio, extended brick patio, fire-pit, and insulated shed with power and
Charming home just down the street from a boat launch & park! Main home square footage is 1,480 but a bonus room off the garage adds another 192sf! Features include mature landscaping, stone accents, and covered front porch. Inside you'll find LVP flooring, large windows w/ custom blinds, stylish accent walls, and kitchen with granite counters, black soft-close cabinets, wood-top island, and
The Gateway Apartments In Moses Lake, WA, where we’re taking the energy and charisma you love about our city and bringing it together under one roof.From our covered carports and easy access to Moses Lake to the luxury flooring and stainless steel appliances, we do our best to cover every angle. Bring your pup out for a day of fun and then grab your bike from our expansive bike storage
Heated/insulated warehouse space available. Metal exterior building situated on a corner lot for added access. Dividable space, 3200 sq/1600 sq/800 sq with 4 separate power connections, insulated, automatic doors. Exceptional opportunity to lease highly sought-after warehouse space in a durable metal exterior building situated on a convenient corner lot for excellent access & visibility.
Solara Apartment Homes offers stunning, pet-friendly apartments in Moses Lake, WA. Live in a 1 or 2-bedroom apartment with tall ceilings, large windows, granite countertops, energy-efficient appliances, and a stylish tile backsplash. Enjoy your homes spacious closets, in-unit laundry, and a walk-out private patio or balcony with scenic views. Unwind in the resident lounge, entertain in the
Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
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