Columbia County, Oregon Income Statistics
Columbia County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
C
Columbia County Below averageWealthier than 86% of counties in Oregon
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Columbia County | Oregon Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $86,781 | $83,617 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $65,490 | $63,212 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.9% | 5.7% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 11.3% | 14.2% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.7% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Columbia County is about 4% higher than in Oregon. Income has been growing faster in Columbia County (5.9%/yr) than in Oregon (5.7%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Columbia County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Oregon average of 14%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Columbia County, Oregon grew by 53.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $86,781 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Columbia County
| Metric | Columbia County | Oregon Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.525 | 0.538 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $76,123 | $71,900 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $60,809 | $60,417 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 20.1% | 16.0% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Columbia County, it is 0.525, lower than Oregon's 0.538, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 25% more than women's income in Columbia County, Oregon. Over a 35-year career, a 25% wage gap accumulates to roughly $535,990 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Columbia County, Oregon has narrowed from about 33% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 36% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,220 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Columbia County | Oregon Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1% | 5.3% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 12.2% | 19.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 31 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 1,043 people are unemployed in Columbia County, Oregon.
The average commute time in Columbia County is 31 minutes, longer than the 20 minutes in Oregon.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Columbia County, Oregon has fallen from 12.5% to 4.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 13.4% in 2012.
Columbia County, OR Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Columbia County, OR is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 53,499 residents against a local median of 112,357. Nothing separates Columbia County, OR sharply from the counties around it. Each measure below lands within 15% of the local median, close enough that the differences are within what survey sampling alone would produce.
The largest of those small differences is median household income, 13% above the local median at $86,781 against $76,590. Columbia County, OR has the 3rd highest median household income of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia County, OR | 53,499 | $86,781 #3/6 | 5.9%/yr #1/6 | 4.1% #2/6 | 0.525 #1/6 |
| Washington County, OR | 603,920 | $108,282 | 5.7%/yr | 4.5% | 0.527 |
| Cowlitz County, WA | 112,357 | $76,590 | 5.8%/yr | 5.9% | 0.542 |
| Wahkiakum County, WA | 4,646 | $62,690 | 3.7%/yr | 3.5% | 0.570 |
| Clark County, WA | 516,710 | $98,079 | 5.6%/yr | 5.3% | 0.529 |
| Clatsop County, OR | 41,354 | $71,465 | 5.4%/yr | 4.6% | 0.527 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Columbia County, Oregon has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Oregon, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Columbia County, Oregon.
How Rich Is Columbia County, Oregon?
Columbia County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $86,781, about 4% higher than the Oregon average of $83,617.
Are incomes growing in Columbia County, Oregon?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Columbia County, Oregon rose 53%, from $56,687 to $86,781. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Oregon as a whole: +53% against +71%.
What was the median household income in Columbia County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Columbia County, Oregon was $85,627, up 2% from $83,615 in 2022. The Oregon median that year was $80,917.
What was the median household income in Columbia County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Columbia County, Oregon was $68,816. By 2024 it had risen 26% to $86,781.
Is unemployment high in Columbia County, Oregon?
Unemployment in Columbia County, Oregon is only 4.1%, well below the Oregon rate of 5.3%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Columbia County, Oregon?
The Gini coefficient in Columbia County is 0.525. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Columbia County, Oregon?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Columbia County, Oregon has narrowed from about 33% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 36% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,220 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →