1st Advantage MortgageCowlitz County households have a median income of $76,531 and median rent of $1,206 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in Cowlitz County
- How much Cowlitz County households make
- Employment and commuting in Cowlitz County
- What it costs to live in Cowlitz County
- Places inside Cowlitz County
- How Cowlitz County compares with nearby counties
- What a median Cowlitz County budget can carry
- People and households in Cowlitz County
- Reading the Cowlitz County data as a borrower
- Licensing and complaints for Cowlitz County
- A Cowlitz County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Cowlitz County
With an estimated 112,360 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Cowlitz County ranks 12th of 39 in Washington for population. It covers 1,141 square miles of land, or about 98 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Longview-Kelso, WA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 9 places in the county (4 incorporated, 5 census-designated); the largest is Longview, with about 38,069 residents, or 34% of the county.
How much Cowlitz County households make
The median household income in Cowlitz County is $76,531; statewide it is $98,141, so Cowlitz County runs 22% below Washington as a whole. In the state ranking that is 18th of 39.
| Household income | Cowlitz County | vs Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.0% | +4.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.5% | +7.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.0% | -1.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.5% | -11.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 36% of Cowlitz County households make $100,000 or more, and 21% make less than $35,000. 12.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.9%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.425 here. A household earning below the $76,531 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Employment and commuting in Cowlitz County
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Cowlitz County residents work in education and health care and 13% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 13% locally and 9% for Washington. The survey's unemployment rate for Cowlitz County averages 5.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.1%). 18% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home. 6.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Cowlitz County | Gap to Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.8% | +0.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.2% | +4.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.9% | +1.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.3% | -5.4 pts |
| Construction | 8.4% | +1.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.8% | +1.9 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 it costs to live in Cowlitz County
Renters in Cowlitz County pay a median of $1,206 a month, 31% below the Washington figure of $1,760. 49% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 25% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $397,500, about 5.2 times the median household income. Owners occupy 68% of homes.
| Cost | Cowlitz County | Washington figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,206/mo | $1,760/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $397,500 | $564,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 64% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 34% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.5% | 5.5% | n/a |
Places inside Cowlitz County
The table lists the 9 largest of 9 Census places in Cowlitz County, by population. Together all 9 hold about 67,146 people, so roughly 40% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $102,026 at the median in Kalama, $61,747 in Longview. This guide covers each of the 9 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longview | city | 38,069 | $61,747 | $1,137 | 14 mi |
| Kelso | city | 12,684 | $66,751 | $1,220 | 11 mi |
| Lexington | CDP | 4,413 | $101,389 | $1,607 | 11 mi |
| Longview Heights | CDP | 4,357 | $74,570 | $1,346 | 13 mi |
| Kalama | city | 3,050 | $102,026 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Castle Rock | city | 2,217 | $69,639 | $1,222 | 12 mi |
| Beacon Hill | CDP | 1,804 | $86,806 | $806 | 12 mi |
| Ryderwood | CDP | 401 | $42,639 | n/a | 21 mi |
| Cougar | CDP | 151 | n/a | n/a | 21 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
How Cowlitz County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Cowlitz County's, from 26 to 47 miles away. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Cowlitz County; Clark County is highest at $97,536 and Wahkiakum County lowest at $62,653. The list crosses into Oregon, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowlitz County | - | $76,531 | $1,206/mo | 68% |
| Columbia County, OR | 26 mi | $87,458 | $1,373/mo | 76% |
| Lewis County, WA | 30 mi | $74,796 | $1,097/mo | 76% |
| Clark County, WA | 31 mi | $97,536 | $1,748/mo | 66% |
| Wahkiakum County, WA | 36 mi | $62,653 | $853/mo | 83% |
| Skamania County, WA | 37 mi | $93,265 | $1,068/mo | 80% |
| Multnomah County, OR | 47 mi | $88,766 | $1,646/mo | 53% |
What a median Cowlitz County budget can carry
How much room does a median Cowlitz County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Cowlitz County: $6,378
- 19% goes to median rent ($1,206)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,090 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
People and households in Cowlitz County
18% of Cowlitz County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 6% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Cowlitz County | Washington | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 38.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.6% | 39.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.1% | 7.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.2% | 6.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.2% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 19.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.2% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.9% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.2% |
| 60+ min | 10.6% |
Reading the Cowlitz County data as a borrower
What the Cowlitz County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- 49% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Cowlitz County borrower sees (free reports).
- Consolidating cards in Cowlitz County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Licensing and complaints for Cowlitz County
Cowlitz County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Washington state guide for the statewide picture.
A Cowlitz County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Cowlitz County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Washington borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Related local guides
The Washington guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cowlitz County a high-income county?
Its $76,531 median ranks 18th of 39 Washington counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Cowlitz County rent compare with Washington?
$1,206 locally versus $1,760 for the state, 31% below.
What are the biggest places in Cowlitz County?
By population: Longview, Kelso, Lexington, Longview Heights, Kalama. The county has 9 Census places in all.
Will a Cowlitz County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Washington as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Is there a Cowlitz County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Washington it is the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions.