College Place, WA Properties | Real Property Associates, Inc.

Back

College Place is a city in Walla Walla County, in southeastern Washington, situated immediately west of the city of Walla Walla near the Oregon state line. With a population of 9,958 at the 2020 census, it is a compact city whose identity is inseparable from its namesake institution: Walla Walla University, a Seventh-day Adventist university founded in 1892 as Walla Walla College. The university is the community's defining feature. It draws students from across the country, employs faculty and staff, and anchors a network of Adventist institutions, churches, and community organizations in the area. That academic presence gives College Place a distinct small-college-town character that sets it apart from its larger neighbor while sharing Walla Walla's economy and amenities. The city sits in the heart of the Walla Walla Valley, one of the Pacific Northwest's premier wine regions. Downtown Walla Walla's concentration of tasting rooms, restaurants, and shops lies only minutes away, and the surrounding countryside is framed by the Blue Mountains to the east. Recreation is close at hand, from Bennington Lake's trails and fishing to Fort Walla Walla Park's open space and historical exhibits. Housing is predominantly single-family and modest in scale, with a steady rental market tied to the university. Public education is provided by the College Place School District, and Walla Walla Community College, with its well-regarded enology program, serves the broader area. For people seeking an affordable, small-city lifestyle with a university presence, wine-country recreation, and access to Walla Walla's services, College Place offers a quiet alternative in one of Washington's most distinctive regions.

Population 9,958

County Walla Walla

Active Listings 100

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is College Place, Washington in?

College Place is in Walla Walla County, in southeastern Washington. The city sits immediately west of Walla Walla, near the Oregon state line and the foothills of the Blue Mountains.

What university is in College Place, Washington?

Walla Walla University, a Seventh-day Adventist institution of higher education, is located in College Place. Founded in 1892 as Walla Walla College, it is the city's defining institution and a major local employer and cultural presence.

What school district serves College Place, Washington?

College Place is served by the College Place School District, which operates the city's public elementary, middle, and high schools. Walla Walla University provides higher education in town, and Walla Walla Community College is nearby.

What is the population of College Place, Washington?

College Place had a population of 9,958 at the 2020 census. The city's identity is shaped by Walla Walla University and by its location in the Walla Walla Valley wine region of southeastern Washington.

How far is College Place from Walla Walla and the Tri-Cities?

College Place is immediately west of Walla Walla, sharing much of the larger city's economy and amenities. The Tri-Cities of Pasco, Kennewick, and Richland are roughly 45 minutes away by highway, and Walla Walla Regional Airport serves the area.

City Guide

About College Place

Real Estate & Housing

College Place's housing stock is predominantly single-family, with a mix of established homes, newer residential construction, townhomes, and some manufactured housing. The presence of Walla Walla University supports a steady rental market of apartments and smaller homes for students, faculty, and staff, while detached houses on traditional lots serve the broader community. Homes tend to be modest in scale and practical, reflecting the area's small-city character. Buyers are often drawn by the town's lower cost of living relative to larger Washington metros and its immediate access to Walla Walla's amenities.

Neighborhoods

Lifestyle in College Place

College Place blends the rhythm of a university town with the pleasures of Walla Walla Valley wine country. Walla Walla University brings students, faculty, and cultural programming to the community, while the tasting rooms, restaurants, and events of nearby downtown Walla Walla are only minutes away. Residents enjoy a small-city, four-season lifestyle, with farmers markets, winery visits, and outdoor recreation woven into the weekly routine. The city's character is quiet and family-oriented, with a student and academic presence that adds energy and a steady stream of newcomers to the community.

Schools & Education

College Place is served by the College Place School District, which operates the city's public elementary, middle, and high schools. Walla Walla University, a Seventh-day Adventist institution founded in 1892, anchors higher education in town and shapes the community's character. Nearby, Walla Walla Community College offers two-year and technical programs, including a nationally recognized enology and viticulture program, while Walla Walla itself adds additional private and alternative school options. The combination of a local K-12 district, a private university, and a strong community college makes education a central part of life in the area.

Getting Around

College Place is directly adjacent to Walla Walla and shares its transportation network, with U.S. Route 12 running through the area and connecting the region to the Tri-Cities roughly 45 minutes to the west. Walla Walla Regional Airport provides regional air service. Daily life is car-based, and residents benefit from the short drive to Walla Walla's jobs, healthcare, shopping, and cultural venues. The rural highways of southeastern Washington remain relatively uncongested, and the Blue Mountains and Columbia River corridor offer scenic routes for regional travel.

Parks & Recreation

Outdoor and wine-country recreation define leisure time in College Place. Bennington Lake offers hiking, fishing, and birdwatching within minutes of town, while Fort Walla Walla Park combines open space with historical exhibits and a museum complex. Cyclists ride the rolling country roads that connect College Place to the surrounding valley, and the Blue Mountains provide hiking and snow sports to the east. Wine tasting is a year-round pursuit, from downtown Walla Walla's tasting rooms to the region's vineyards, and Walla Walla Community College's teaching winery, College Cellars, adds an educational dimension to the local wine scene.

MARKET SNAPSHOT