United States › Washington › Columbia County COUNTY
Columbia County Washington · 4,141 residents (2025 est.) · 869 sq mi
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The short version
Columbia County is a county of 4,014 people in Washington. The median age is 49.6, about 11 years above the US median. That puts it in the top 9% of US counties for household income. Density works out to 5 people per square mile. Owners hold 78% of the housing stock. About 25% of adults have finished a four-year degree.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 49.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
25% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 74%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 4,064 in 2000
4,141 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 5 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 42.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
4K 4K 4K 4K 4K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Columbia County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $71,810
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,500 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $17,374 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 27.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 12.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.453 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 15%
Education & health services 2.2%
Public administration 1.6%
Professional, scientific, technical 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing 0%
Arts, entertainment, food 0%
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$271,200
+74%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $85,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$985
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $467 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 69.4% in 2000
22.3% rent
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.22 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 21.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 50.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 3.3 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 90.7%(3,685)
Hispanic / Latino 6.3%(258)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 81.2%(3,261)
Hispanic / Latino 8.3%(335)
from 23 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 9 more ancestry groups with data from 17.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 82.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 5.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 15.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 72.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 7.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 10.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 52.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 73.4% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 24.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 35.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 17.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 20.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 11.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 75.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 90.5% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 88.0% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 92.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 4.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 11.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 48.9% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 15.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 30.5% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 22.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 4.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 65.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 50.0% 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) 16.3%(62)
Gulf War (1990s) 18.9%(72)
Share of the 381 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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Columbia County Head to head
Compare Columbia County to nearby counties COLUMBIA COUNTY VS
Garfield County
Income $64,884 −10%
Home value $239,200 −12%
Population 2,416 −42%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA COUNTY VS
Walla Walla County
Income $74,202 +3%
Home value $408,900 +51%
Population 62,361 +1406%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA COUNTY VS
Asotin County
Income $72,283 +1%
Home value $325,600 +20%
Population 22,545 +444%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA COUNTY VS
Whitman County
Income $55,406 −23%
Home value $359,600 +33%
Population 48,512 +1072%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Columbia County, Washington? Columbia County, Washington has about 4,014 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Columbia County, Washington? The typical household in Columbia County, Washington earns about $71,810 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Columbia County, Washington expensive? In Columbia County, Washington, the median home is worth about $271,200, and the typical rent is about $985 a month.
How educated are people in Columbia County, Washington? About 24.9% of adults age 25 and over in Columbia County, Washington hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Columbia County, Washington? About 9.3% of people in Columbia County, Washington live below the federal poverty line.
Has Columbia County, Washington grown since 1990? Yes, Columbia County, Washington has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 10 residents, a change of about -0 percent over that period.
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