Columbia County, Washington 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 average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Columbia County | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $69,757 | $98,224 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $58,770 | $73,370 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.7% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.1% | 19.3% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.4% | 18.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Columbia County is about 29% lower than in Washington. Income has been growing faster in Columbia County (6.7%/yr) than in Washington (5.6%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Columbia County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Washington average of 19%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Columbia County, Washington grew by 70.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $69,757 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Columbia County
| Metric | Columbia County | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.505 | 0.534 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $71,092 | $86,137 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $55,434 | $68,506 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 22.0% | 20.5% | 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 0.505, lower than Washington's 0.534, 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 28% more than women's income in Columbia County, Washington. Over a 35-year career, a 28% wage gap accumulates to roughly $548,030 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, Washington has narrowed from about 30% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2022, and was narrowest at 16% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,632 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Columbia County | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9% | 5.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.9% | 19.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 13 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 71 people are unemployed in Columbia County, Washington.
The average commute time in Columbia County is 13 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Washington.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Columbia County, Washington has fallen from 10.3% to 3.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.4% in 2015 and fell as low as 1.7% in 2020.
Columbia County, WA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Columbia County, WA is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 4,012 residents against a local median of 22,455. The measure that sets Columbia County, WA apart most is income growth: 6.7%/yr, 43% above the local median of 4.7%/yr. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 3.9% against a local median of 6.2%, 38% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Columbia County, WA is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 2.4%/yr on income growth, so Columbia County, WA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Columbia County, WA has the highest income growth 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, WA | 4,012 | $69,757 #3/6 | 6.7%/yr #1/6 | 3.9% #2/6 | 0.505 #1/6 |
| Garfield County, WA | 2,351 | $67,898 | 3.7%/yr | 6.3% | 0.529 |
| Walla Walla County, WA | 62,160 | $74,258 | 5.4%/yr | 6.2% | 0.560 |
| Asotin County, WA | 22,455 | $72,889 | 6.1%/yr | 5.0% | 0.532 |
| Whitman County, WA | 47,000 | $55,150 | 4.7%/yr | 6.9% | 0.609 |
| Adams County, WA | 20,799 | $66,281 | 4.5%/yr | 3.6% | 0.578 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Columbia County, Washington has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it somewhat worse than Washington, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Columbia County, Washington.
How Rich Is Columbia County, Washington?
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 $69,757, about 29% lower than the Washington average of $98,224.
How fast is household income rising in Columbia County, Washington?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Columbia County, Washington rose 70%, from $40,931 to $69,757. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Washington as a whole: +70% against +73%.
What was the median household income in Columbia County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Columbia County, Washington was $69,999, up 2% from $68,802 in 2022. The Washington median that year was $95,216.
What was the median household income in Columbia County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Columbia County, Washington was $61,914. By 2024 it had risen 13% to $69,757.
How strong is the job market in Columbia County, Washington?
Unemployment in Columbia County, Washington is only 3.9%, well below the Washington rate of 5.0%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Columbia County, Washington?
The Gini coefficient in Columbia County is 0.505. 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, Washington?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Columbia County, Washington has narrowed from about 30% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2022, and was narrowest at 16% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,632 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 →