1st Advantage MortgageColumbia County households have a median income of $87,458 and median rent of $1,373 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Columbia County, OR: the basics
- Work, industries and travel time in Columbia County
- What Columbia County households earn
- Housing costs in Columbia County
- Places inside Columbia County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Room for a loan payment in Columbia County
- What the numbers mean for Columbia County borrowers
- Columbia County households compared
- Before you sign
- Who licenses lenders for Columbia County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Columbia County, OR: the basics
Columbia County is home to about 53,493 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 17th most populous of 36 county-level areas in Oregon. It covers 659 square miles of land, or about 81 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metropolitan area. St. Helens is the biggest of its 9 Census places, at roughly 14,258 people (27% of the county total).
Work, industries and travel time in Columbia County
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Columbia County residents work in education and health care and 16% in manufacturing. Compared with Oregon, the county leans toward manufacturing (16% against 11%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.1% in Columbia County. About 71% drive to work alone and 33% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Where residents work | Columbia County | Difference from Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.8% | -3.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.8% | +5.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.4% | -0.4 pts |
| Construction | 10.2% | +3.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.0% | +3.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -4.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What Columbia County households earn
Columbia County households have a median income of $87,458 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 7th of 36 in Oregon.
| Yearly household income | Columbia County | Gap to Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.0% | -3.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.0% | +3.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 33.4% | +4.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.7% | -5.0 pts |
About 17% of households earn under $35,000, while 41% clear $100,000. 8.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.9%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.386 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Columbia County median.
Housing costs in Columbia County
A typical Columbia County rental runs $1,373 a month including utilities, which is 10% below Oregon. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 54% of renter households here. With a median value of $421,600, a typical Columbia County house costs 4.8 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 76%.
| Home costs | Columbia County | Oregon | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,373/mo | $1,525/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $421,600 | $477,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 31% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 13.8% | 7.1% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 6% | 8% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Places inside Columbia County
The table lists the 9 largest of 9 Census places in Columbia County, by population. Together all 9 hold about 33,593 people, so roughly 37% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $66,989 in Rainier to $126,838 in Warren. Rent is cheapest in Rainier ($942) and steepest in Scappoose ($1,750). Live in one of these Columbia County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Helens | city | 14,258 | $82,865 | $1,413 | 14 mi |
| Scappoose | city | 8,179 | $97,708 | $1,750 | 16 mi |
| Vernonia | city | 2,786 | $83,411 | $1,180 | 7 mi |
| Clatskanie | city | 2,364 | $90,709 | $1,017 | 13 mi |
| Rainier | city | 2,130 | $66,989 | $942 | 11 mi |
| Columbia City | city | 2,006 | $96,750 | $1,365 | 13 mi |
| Warren | CDP | 1,637 | $126,838 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Deer Island | CDP | 199 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Prescott | city | 34 | $105,000 | n/a | 12 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Cowlitz County is closest, 26 miles from center to center; the sixth, Multnomah County, is 42 miles off. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Columbia County; Washington County is highest at $107,772 and Wahkiakum County lowest at $62,653. Some neighbors are in Washington. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Columbia County resident follows Oregon rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia County | - | $87,458 | $1,373/mo | 76% |
| Cowlitz County, WA | 26 mi | $76,531 | $1,206/mo | 68% |
| Washington County, OR | 27 mi | $107,772 | $1,849/mo | 61% |
| Wahkiakum County, WA | 29 mi | $62,653 | $853/mo | 83% |
| Clatsop County, OR | 30 mi | $71,822 | $1,180/mo | 63% |
| Clark County, WA | 31 mi | $97,536 | $1,748/mo | 66% |
| Multnomah County, OR | 42 mi | $88,766 | $1,646/mo | 53% |
Room for a loan payment in Columbia County
Columbia County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $87,458 a year is $7,288 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $1,373, takes 19% of that
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,251 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- $1,761: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
What the numbers mean for Columbia County borrowers
A few patterns in the Columbia County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Vehicle repairs. 33% of Columbia County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- 14% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 41% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- 54% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Columbia County households compared
20% of Columbia County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 5.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Columbia County | Oregon | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.3 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.8% | 36.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.3% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.4% | 5.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.4% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.2% | 19.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.9% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Columbia County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 27.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 18.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 18.5% |
| 60+ min | 15.0% |
Before you sign
A short checklist for Columbia County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Who licenses lenders for Columbia County residents
Consumer lenders serving Columbia County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Oregon that is the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Oregon guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Oregon guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Columbia County household make?
About $87,458 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 5% above the Oregon median.
How does Columbia County rent compare with Oregon?
$1,373 locally versus $1,525 for the state, 10% below.
I own my home in Columbia County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 76% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover St. Helens?
Yes, along with the other 8 Census places in Columbia County, such as Scappoose, Vernonia, Clatskanie.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Columbia County or elsewhere in Oregon, the same rules apply.