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COUNTY

Columbia County

Washington · 4,141 residents (2025 est.) · 868.585 sq mi
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The short version

Columbia County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $71,810. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $271,200. With a median age of 49.6, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. It sits in the top 10% of US counties for household income. Households here earn about 27% less than the Washington median.

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

Total population
4,014
−1%since 2000
from 4,064 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
5 / sq mi
+1%since 2009
from 5 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
49.6
+17%since 2000
from 42.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:4,141 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
4K4K4K4K4K1990201020202024Columbia County
20244K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54%(162)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.3%(212)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.5%(259)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 192.6%(103)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.5%(220)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.4%(377)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.2%(528)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 549.2%(369)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6415.1%(607)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7416.7%(670)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 8410.4%(418)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.2%(89)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$71,810
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,500 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$40,579
+134%since 2000
from $17,374 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
46.1%
+18.3 ptssince 2009
from 27.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
9.3%
−3.3 ptssince 2000
from 12.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.432
−5%since 2010
from 0.453 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing15%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction14.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Information12.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade7.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade4%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services3.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3%
US avg: 5.9%
Education & health services2.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Public administration1.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical0.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Manufacturing0.8%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$271,200
+74%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $85,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$985
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $467 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
77.7%
+8.3 ptssince 2000
from 69.4% in 2000
22.3% rent
Vacancy rate
16.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
18.2%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 21.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
33.7%
−17.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.8
+14%since 2009
from 3.3 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
63
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Columbia County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic90.7%(3,685)
Black0.2%(9)
Hispanic / Latino6.3%(258)
Asian0.4%(16)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic81.2%(3,261)
Black0.5%(22)
Hispanic / Latino8.3%(335)
Asian1.9%(75)
Other8%(321)
Diversity Score
41
+78%since 2009
from 23 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican6.4%(258)
Colombian1.4%(55)
Asian origin
Vietnamese1.9%(75)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(1)
Ancestry
German19.8%(793)
English16.3%(653)
Irish11.2%(450)
American7.3%(294)
Scottish4.2%(170)
Dutch3.3%(134)
Polish3.1%(125)
Norwegian3%(119)
Swedish2.8%(112)
British2.4%(97)
French1.8%(74)
Italian1.7%(70)
+ 9 more ancestry groups with data
Danish1.3%(51)
Swiss0.9%(37)
Czech0.4%(16)
Russian0.1%(6)
Croatian0.1%(5)
Serbian0.1%(3)
Welsh0.1%(3)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest Mexican population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.9%
+7.4 ptssince 2000
from 17.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
89.7%
+7.0 ptssince 2000
from 82.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.9%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 5.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.0 min
+52%since 2000
from 15.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
69.5%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 72.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.3%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.9%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
6.7%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 7.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.3%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.9%
−6.4 ptssince 2011
from 10.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
54.9%
+2.0 ptssince 2011
from 52.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
23.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 24.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
34.9%
−33.5 ptssince 2009
from 68.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.8%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Female
50.2%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Foreign born
5.0%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
11.6%
−38.7 ptssince 2009
from 50.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
18.3%
−1.9 ptssince 2012
from 20.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.8%
−80.9 ptssince 2013
from 88.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
82.4%
+6.6 ptssince 2017
from 75.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
92.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 92.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.9%
+0.2 ptssince 2016
from 4.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married27.4%(444)
Married58.5%(950)
Widowed3.1%(50)
Divorced11%(179)
Women 15+
Never married23.6%(415)
Married53.1%(933)
Widowed13%(228)
Divorced10.4%(182)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Pop 3,852
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Pop 3,617
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Pop 4,642
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Pop 4,636
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%
Population2,416−42%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA COUNTY VS
Walla Walla County
Income$74,202+3%
Home value$408,900+51%
Population62,361+1406%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA COUNTY VS
Asotin County
Income$72,283+1%
Home value$325,600+20%
Population22,545+444%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
COLUMBIA COUNTY VS
Whitman County
Income$55,406−23%
Home value$359,600+33%
Population48,512+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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Explore from here

1 census tract
Census Tract 9602
2 ZIP codes
ZIP 99328ZIP 99359
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →