1st Advantage MortgageIn Clatsop County, Oregon, the typical household earns $71,822 a year and the typical rent is $1,180. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Oregon before sharing details.
On this page
- Clatsop County, OR: the basics
- Income in Clatsop County compared with Oregon
- Employment and commuting in Clatsop County
- Clatsop County against other Oregon counties
- The Clatsop County housing market in figures
- Regional comparison for Clatsop County
- Towns and communities in Clatsop County
- What the numbers mean for Clatsop County borrowers
- Budget math at the Clatsop County median
- People and households in Clatsop County
- A Clatsop County borrower's checklist
- Checking a lender's license in Oregon
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Clatsop County, OR: the basics
Clatsop County is home to about 41,363 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 19th most populous of 36 county-level areas in Oregon. Density: about 49.9 residents per square mile across 828 square miles of land. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Clatsop County is not part of any metropolitan area. Astoria (10,109 people) heads the county's list of 10 Census places, 5 incorporated and 5 census-designated.
Income in Clatsop County compared with Oregon
Clatsop County households have a median income of $71,822 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 16th of 36 in Oregon.
| Band | Clatsop County | Compared with Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.8% | +2.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.4% | +4.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.0% | -2.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.8% | -5.0 pts |
On the low end, 23% of Clatsop County households report under $35,000; at the top, 34% report $100,000-plus. Clatsop County counts about 5,096 residents below the poverty line, 12.3% of the population. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.464 here. None of these numbers decides a Clatsop County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Employment and commuting in Clatsop County
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 15%. Relative to Oregon (9%), arts, lodging and food service is 6 points bigger in Clatsop County (15%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.7% in Clatsop County. About 70% drive to work alone and 10% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 1,387 Clatsop County households, 7.7%, have no vehicle.
| Sector | Clatsop County | Compared with Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.2% | +0.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.9% | +3.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 14.6% | +5.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.3% | -3.7 pts |
| Construction | 7.7% | +0.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 6.8% | -3.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Clatsop County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Clatsop County against other Oregon counties
Where Clatsop County lands at the extremes of Oregon's county rankings:
- On the housing vacancy rate, Clatsop County sits near the top of Oregon at 23%, 3rd highest of 36. High vacancy often reflects seasonal or second homes.
- Households without a vehicle: 7.7% in Clatsop County. Only 2 of 36 Oregon counties are higher. Without a car, transit and ride costs belong in the budget before any payment.
- Few Oregon counties match Clatsop County on the share of mobile homes: 4.9% here, 7.1% for the state, ranking 4th lowest of 36. Site-built housing dominates, which matters for equity-based credit.
- On homeownership, Clatsop County sits near the bottom of Oregon at 63%, 7th lowest of 36. In a renter-heavy county, unsecured loans and cards are the main options.
The Clatsop County housing market in figures
A typical Clatsop County rental runs $1,180 a month including utilities, which is 23% below Oregon. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 51% in Clatsop County, 52% statewide. Clatsop County homes are worth $468,300 at the median, a 6.5-to-1 ratio to income. In Clatsop County, 63% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Median construction year: 1975. Nationally, Clatsop County's $1,180 rent is 35% above the middle county.
| Measure | Clatsop County | Oregon | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,180/mo | $1,525/mo | 23% lower |
| Median home value | $468,300 | $477,600 | 2% lower |
| Owners | 63% | 63% | -0.1 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 52% | -1.7 pts |
| Burdened owners | 34% | 31% | +3.2 pts |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Regional comparison for Clatsop County
Six nearby counties, 23 to 51 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Richest neighbor: Washington County, $107,772. Poorest: Wahkiakum County, $62,653. Clatsop County: $71,822. The list crosses into Washington, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clatsop County | - | $71,822 | $1,180/mo | 63% |
| Wahkiakum County, WA | 23 mi | $62,653 | $853/mo | 83% |
| Columbia County, OR | 30 mi | $87,458 | $1,373/mo | 76% |
| Pacific County, WA | 37 mi | $67,081 | $1,005/mo | 82% |
| Tillamook County, OR | 39 mi | $69,105 | $1,246/mo | 74% |
| Washington County, OR | 44 mi | $107,772 | $1,849/mo | 61% |
| Cowlitz County, WA | 51 mi | $76,531 | $1,206/mo | 68% |
Towns and communities in Clatsop County
10 Census places fall mainly inside Clatsop County; the 10 biggest are below. They account for 29,530 residents, leaving about 29% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Knappa ($96,641) and Seaside ($47,361) mark the top and bottom of Clatsop County's income range among larger places. This guide covers each of the 10 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astoria | city | 10,109 | $68,007 | $1,239 | 12 mi |
| Seaside | city | 7,192 | $47,361 | $1,083 | 11 mi |
| Warrenton | city | 6,327 | $70,670 | $1,305 | 15 mi |
| Gearhart | city | 1,978 | $92,250 | $1,093 | 10 mi |
| Cannon Beach | city | 1,361 | $69,375 | $1,126 | 15 mi |
| Knappa | CDP | 806 | $96,641 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Svensen | CDP | 784 | $88,750 | $1,644 | 9 mi |
| River Point | CDP | 475 | n/a | $1,250 | 10 mi |
| Westport | CDP | 263 | $33,598 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Jeffers Gardens | CDP | 235 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
What the numbers mean for Clatsop County borrowers
A few patterns in the Clatsop County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Fixed incomes. Clatsop County's median age is 46.0. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Rent squeeze. 51% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Budget math at the Clatsop County median
DTI math using Clatsop County medians ($71,822 income, $1,180 rent):
- $5,985 a month: gross income for a household at the Clatsop County median
- Less median rent of $1,180, which is 20% of it
- $1,394: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Homeowners in Clatsop County should swap in their mortgage, taxes and insurance for rent.
People and households in Clatsop County
College graduates make up 29% of the adult population. About 7% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Clatsop County | +/- Oregon | +/- U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.7% | -8.1 pts | +6.6 pts |
| Median age | 46.0 | +5.6 yrs | +4.5 yrs |
| Work from home | 13.6% | -5.4 pts | +4.9 pts |
| No high school diploma | 6.8% | -1.3 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.1% | +1.2 pts | -0.8 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | -0.6 pts | +0.3 pts |
| No vehicle | 7.7% | +0.6 pts | +2.3 pts |
| Poverty rate | 12.3% | +0.4 pts | -0.9 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 44.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.1% |
| 60+ min | 6.6% |
A Clatsop County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Clatsop County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Clatsop County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Checking a lender's license in Oregon
Consumer lenders serving Clatsop County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Oregon that is the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. Nationally, Clatsop County residents can file with the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Oregon guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Oregon guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Clatsop County earn?
The median is $71,822; 34% earn $100,000 or more and 23% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What is the median rent in Clatsop County, OR?
$1,180 a month, utilities included, or $14,160 a year.
I live near Astoria. Which guide is mine?
This one. Astoria and the rest of Clatsop County have no separate city guide.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Clatsop County or elsewhere in Oregon, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Clatsop County check a lender's license?
With the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.