Columbia County, OR Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Columbia County | Oregon Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 53,599 | 4,237,185 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 77.9 | 43.0 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.99% | 0.88% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 41.3 | 40.3 | 37.1 |
| Households | 20,704 | 1,701,186 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Columbia County grew by 9.3% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 53,166 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Columbia County has a the economy index of C, which means it is somewhat prosperous.
| Metric | Columbia County | Oregon Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $85,627 | $80,923 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 6.52% | 6.04% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% | 5.4% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Columbia County is about 6% higher than in Oregon.
Housing
| Metric | Columbia County | Oregon Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $170,983 | $406,286 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,220 | $1,449 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.7% | 63.4% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Columbia County is about 11.7 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,220 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Columbia County spend about 65 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 270 hours, about 11.2 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Columbia County | Oregon Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 32.4 | 20.3 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 64.8 | 40.5 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 270 | 169 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $8,367 | $5,236 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 11.3% | 17.0% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 13,625 | 7,643 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,367 | 967 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Oregon:
Lake County (7.8 min), Gilliam County (8.4 min), Harney County (8.8 min).
Slowest:
Columbia County (32.4 min), Clackamas County (25.2 min), Polk County (22.8 min).
The average commute time in Columbia County is 32 minutes, longer than the 20 minutes in Oregon.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Columbia County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Columbia County | Oregon Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.9% | 32.7% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.54 | 2.44 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Oregon:
Benton County (0.4), Multnomah County (0.4), Washington County (0.4).
Lowest:
Morrow County (0.2), Malheur County (0.2), Gilliam County (0.2).
Health
Columbia County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Columbia County | Oregon Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.7 | 78.8 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 14.6% | 15.8% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 17.5% | 17.0% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Oregon:
Benton County (0.8), Washington County (0.8), Clackamas County (0.8).
Lowest:
Josephine County (0.8), Malheur County (0.8), Lake County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Columbia County, Oregon.
What is the population of Columbia County, Oregon?
The population of Columbia County, Oregon is 53,599, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Columbia County, Oregon?
The population density of Columbia County, Oregon is 77.9 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Columbia County, Oregon?
The median household income in Columbia County, Oregon is $85,627, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Columbia County, Oregon?
The median home price in Columbia County, Oregon is $170,983, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Columbia County, Oregon?
The unemployment rate in Columbia County, Oregon is 4.4%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.