Cowlitz County, Washington Income Statistics
Cowlitz 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.
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C
Cowlitz County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Cowlitz County | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $76,590 | $98,224 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $60,001 | $73,370 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.8% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 11.6% | 19.3% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.5% | 18.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Cowlitz County is about 22% lower than in Washington. Income has been growing faster in Cowlitz County (5.8%/yr) than in Washington (5.6%/yr).
About 12% of adults in Cowlitz 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 Cowlitz County, Washington grew by 65.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $76,590 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Cowlitz County
| Metric | Cowlitz County | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.542 | 0.534 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $74,940 | $86,137 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $53,704 | $68,506 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 28.3% | 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 Cowlitz County, it is 0.542, higher than Washington's 0.534, so income is less 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 40% more than women's income in Cowlitz County, Washington. Over a 35-year career, a 40% wage gap accumulates to roughly $743,260 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Cowlitz County, Washington has narrowed from about 32% to 28% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2021, and was narrowest at 25% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,773 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Cowlitz County | Washington Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9% | 5.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.2% | 19.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 3,017 people are unemployed in Cowlitz County, Washington.
The average commute time in Cowlitz County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Washington.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Cowlitz County, Washington has fallen from 11.5% to 5.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 13.5% in 2014 and fell as low as 5.1% in 2023.
Cowlitz County, WA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Cowlitz County, WA is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 112,357 residents against a local median of 299,046. Nothing separates Cowlitz County, WA 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, 14% below the local median at $76,590 against $89,512. Cowlitz County, WA has the 5th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowlitz County, WA | 112,357 | $76,590 #5/6 | 5.8%/yr #3/6 | 5.9% #6/6 | 0.542 #6/6 |
| Clark County, WA | 516,710 | $98,079 | 5.6%/yr | 5.3% | 0.529 |
| Columbia County, OR | 53,499 | $86,781 | 5.9%/yr | 4.1% | 0.525 |
| Lewis County, WA | 85,146 | $74,810 | 6.7%/yr | 5.3% | 0.540 |
| Multnomah County, OR | 801,042 | $89,512 | 5.6%/yr | 5.7% | 0.521 |
| Thurston County, WA | 299,046 | $96,312 | 5.4%/yr | 4.9% | 0.517 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Cowlitz 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 Cowlitz County, Washington.
How Rich Is Cowlitz County, Washington?
Cowlitz 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 $76,590, about 22% lower than the Washington average of $98,224.
How fast is household income rising in Cowlitz County, Washington?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Cowlitz County, Washington rose 65%, from $46,368 to $76,590. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Washington as a whole: +65% against +73%.
What was the median household income in Cowlitz County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Cowlitz County, Washington was $73,098, up 3% from $71,085 in 2022. The Washington median that year was $95,216.
What was the median household income in Cowlitz County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Cowlitz County, Washington was $58,922. By 2024 it had risen 30% to $76,590.
What is the Gini coefficient in Cowlitz County, Washington?
The Gini coefficient in Cowlitz County is 0.542. 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 Cowlitz County, Washington?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Cowlitz County, Washington has narrowed from about 32% to 28% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2021, and was narrowest at 25% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,773 since 2009.
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