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COUNTY

Columbia County

Oregon · 54,091 residents (2025 est.) · 659 sq mi
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The short version

With 53,493 people, Columbia County is a county in Oregon. Few US counties rank higher on income. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 20% of adults. The median age is 43.3, about 4 years above the US median. 76% of homes are owner-occupied. The foreign-born share is 3%.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 58%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
53,493
+23%since 2000
from 43,560 in 2000
54,091 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
81 / sq mi
+10%since 2009
from 74 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
43.3
+15%since 2000
from 37.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
659 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
36K41K46K50K55K19902000201020202024Columbia County
202453K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.9%(2,623)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.7%(3,071)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.9%(3,174)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.8%(3,079)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.8%(2,571)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.8%(6,289)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.5%(7,233)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.8%(6,855)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.7%(7,844)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.4%(6,656)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.5%(2,939)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.2%(1,159)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$87,458
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $45,797 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$39,867
+99%since 2000
from $20,078 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
58.0%
+26.4 ptssince 2009
from 31.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
8.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2000
from 9.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.386
+2%since 2010
from 0.380 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade15.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade10.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.4%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$421,600
+58%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $146,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,373
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $581 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
76.1%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 76.1% in 2000
23.9% rent
Vacancy rate
5.6%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.53 people
−4%since 2009
from 2.63 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
22.9%
−5.6 ptssince 2009
from 28.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
51.7%
+12.3 ptssince 2009
from 39.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.8
+29%since 2009
from 3.7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
53
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93.1%(40,576)
Black0.2%(97)
Hispanic / Latino2.5%(1,093)
Asian0.6%(246)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic84.3%(45,096)
Black0.6%(332)
Hispanic / Latino6.7%(3,603)
Asian0.8%(423)
Other7.6%(4,039)
Diversity Score
35
+64%since 2009
from 21 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
8
−42%since 2020
from 14 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican5.2%(2,800)
Puerto Rican0.3%(180)
Cuban0.3%(139)
Spaniard0.2%(112)
Honduran0.1%(38)
Panamanian0.1%(37)
Chilean0%(24)
Peruvian0%(18)
+ 2 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Filipino0.2%(96)
Vietnamese0.2%(96)
Japanese0.2%(91)
Cambodian0.1%(32)
Korean0%(18)
Hmong0%(12)
Burmese0%(11)
Laotian0%(3)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.2%(105)
Samoan0%(4)
Ancestry
German16.6%(8,866)
English13.3%(7,129)
Irish12.6%(6,741)
American4.3%(2,305)
Norwegian4.1%(2,198)
Italian4.1%(2,181)
Scottish3.5%(1,880)
Swedish3.2%(1,735)
French2.4%(1,302)
Dutch2.2%(1,200)
Finnish1.7%(892)
Scotch-Irish1.6%(832)
+ 35 more ancestry groups with data
Polish1.3%(690)
Welsh1.2%(643)
Swiss0.9%(482)
Danish0.8%(438)
Russian0.7%(355)
Canadian0.5%(247)
British0.4%(225)
Czech0.4%(220)
Hungarian0.4%(203)
Austrian0.4%(194)
Portuguese0.3%(146)
Armenian0.2%(104)
Belgian0.2%(102)
Arab0.2%(86)
Croatian0.1%(75)
Ukrainian0.1%(72)
Lebanese0.1%(56)
Romanian0.1%(42)
Slovak0.1%(39)
Lithuanian0.1%(38)
Latvian0.1%(36)
Nigerian0.1%(35)
Brazilian0.1%(34)
Slovene0.1%(33)
Greek0%(23)
Somali0%(18)
Bulgarian0%(11)
Iranian0%(3)
Turkish0%(3)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
19.8%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 14.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
89.7%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 85.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.7%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 4.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
31.7 min
+37%since 2000
from 23.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
70.9%
−6.6 ptssince 2009
from 77.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
13.5%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 13.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.2%
+7.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.1%
−8.4 ptssince 2011
from 12.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
57.9%
−3.8 ptssince 2011
from 61.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
66.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2020
from 66.8% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
13.9%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.2%
+4.9 ptssince 2009
from 27.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.0%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Female
49.0%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Foreign born
3.5%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
10.5%
−6.0 ptssince 2009
from 16.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.0%
+2.8 ptssince 2012
from 14.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.4%
−7.6 ptssince 2013
from 13.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
93.3%
+11.9 ptssince 2017
from 81.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
96.1%
+3.9 ptssince 2020
from 92.2% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
88.9%
+4.1 ptssince 2020
from 84.8% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
95.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 95.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2016
from 2.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married28.4%(6,393)
Married55.7%(12,527)
Widowed2.5%(570)
Divorced13.3%(2,997)
Women 15+
Never married22.7%(5,015)
Married53.3%(11,808)
Widowed10%(2,205)
Divorced14%(3,110)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
5.4%
−7.6 ptssince 2013
from 13.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
57.1%
+1.8 ptssince 2020
from 55.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
14.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2020
from 15.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
22.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2020
from 21.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
22.3%
−0.8 ptssince 2020
from 23.1% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
3.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2020
from 4.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
69.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2020
from 69.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
42.0%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 42.0% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)23.7%(1,059)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)17.3%(770)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era40%(1,786)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War1.9%(86)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 4,460 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper

Places similar to Columbia County

Boone County
Pop 53,568
La Plata County
Pop 56,898
Grundy County
Pop 54,052
Ogle County
Pop 51,399
Places similar to Columbia County
Head to head

Compare Columbia County to nearby counties

COLUMBIA COUNTY VS
Cowlitz County
Income$76,531−12%
Home value$397,500−6%
Population114,885+112%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA COUNTY VS
Washington County
Income$107,772+23%
Home value$588,000+39%
Population611,708+1031%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA COUNTY VS
Wahkiakum County
Income$62,653−28%
Home value$396,800−6%
Population4,873−91%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA COUNTY VS
Clatsop County
Income$71,822−18%
Home value$468,300+11%
Population40,926−24%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Columbia County, Oregon?

Columbia County, Oregon has about 53,493 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Columbia County, Oregon?

The typical household in Columbia County, Oregon earns about $87,458 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Columbia County, Oregon expensive?

In Columbia County, Oregon, the median home is worth about $421,600, and the typical rent is about $1,373 a month.

How educated are people in Columbia County, Oregon?

About 19.8% of adults age 25 and over in Columbia County, Oregon hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Columbia County, Oregon?

About 8.9% of people in Columbia County, Oregon live below the federal poverty line.

Has Columbia County, Oregon grown since 1990?

Yes, Columbia County, Oregon has grown since 1990. The population has added about 15,936 residents, a change of about 42 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →