City · Oregon
Vernonia, Oregon
Vernonia, city, in Columbia County, Oregon. Vernonia had 2,412 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 2,374 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 2,786 (±480). GEOID 4177250.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
2,412
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,374 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,786 ±480
Median household income
$83,411
±$5,362 (90% margin)
Oregon: $83,011
Median home value
$351,900
±$18,812 (90% margin)
Oregon: $477,600
Median gross rent
$1,180
±$162 (90% margin)
Oregon: $1,525
Where is Vernonia and what county is it in?
Vernonia is a city in Columbia County, Oregon. It covers 1.6 square miles of land, 1,445 residents per square mile in 2020.
Vernonia is in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 7 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Vernonia, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 2,412 people lived in Vernonia on July 1, 2025, up 2.0% since 2020, faster than Oregon (+0.9%). The 2020 Census counted 2,374 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 2,786 (±480).
| Measure | Vernonia | Columbia County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 2,786 ±480 | 53,493 | +930 |
| Households | 1,087 ±161 | 20,928 | +350 |
| Average household size | 2.56 ±0.29 | 2.53 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,182 ±153 | 22,167 | +288 |
Vernonia's population since 2000
From 2,228 in 2000 to 2,412 in 2025: up 8.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Vernonia as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Vernonia?
The median resident of Vernonia is 40.1 years old; 23.8% are under 18 and 15.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 84.5%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 6.9%.
| Measure | Vernonia | Columbia County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.1 ±4.4 | 43.3 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 23.8% ±4.9 pts | 20.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.0% ±4.2 pts | 20.1% | – |
| Male | 52.1% ±4.2 pts | 51.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.9% ±4.2 pts | 6.7% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 84.5% ±5.2 pts | 84.3% | −10.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.3% ±1.9 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 0.8% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 1.4% ±1.5 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.4 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.6% ±2.5 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.0% ±1.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.5% ±2.4 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 5.3% ±3.7 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 11.8% ±3.8 pts | 10.5% | – |
| With a disability | 16.2% ±3.7 pts | 17.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.1% ±2.7 pts | 5.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 84.8% ±5.1 pts | 89.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 15.0% ±4.5 pts | 19.8% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.4% ±2.6 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 89.5% ±5.2 pts | 88.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.3% ±3.1 pts | 2.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Vernonia earn?
Half of Vernonia's 1,087 households earn less than $83,411 a year (±$5,362), against $87,458 in Columbia County and $83,011 in Oregon. In 2015-2019 the median was $65,831 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $17,580 after inflation. 10.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Vernonia | Columbia County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $83,411 ±$5,362 | $87,458 | +$17,580 |
| Mean household income | $91,047 ±$10,725 | $100,740 | – |
| Per capita income | $36,227 ±$4,049 | $39,867 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 10.0% ±5.3 pts | 8.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 15.4% ±14.5 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 26.7% ±8.3 pts | 15.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.0% ±3.3 pts | 96.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.1% ±4.1 pts | 93.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Vernonia?
Owners occupy 76.5% of Vernonia's occupied homes and renters 23.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $351,900 by its owner (±$18,812). The median renter pays $1,180 a month including utilities, and 57.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Vernonia | Columbia County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $351,900 ±$18,812 | $421,600 | +$120,653 |
| Median gross rent | $1,180 ±$162 | $1,373 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 57.2% ±24.5 pts | 45.0% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,121 ±$173 | $1,886 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 76.5% ±9.1 pts | 76.1% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 23.5% ±9.1 pts | 23.9% | – |
| Housing units | 1,182 ±153 | 22,167 | +288 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 4.1% ±4.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±14.5 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 75.0% ±6.6 pts | 74.1% | – |
| Mobile homes | 14.0% ±6.1 pts | 13.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±3.3 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 9.6% ±5.4 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 22.1% ±6.9 pts | 15.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.5% ±3.6 pts | 4.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Vernonia building?
Builders took permits for 1 new housing units in Vernonia in 2025 (1 in single-family houses), 0.4 per 1,000 residents against 3.5 across Oregon.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Vernonia work and get to work?
67.1% of Vernonia's workers drive alone and 10.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 40.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.6%.
| Measure | Vernonia | Columbia County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 69.6% ±6.2 pts | 57.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.6% ±3.4 pts | 4.1% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 67.1% ±9.9 pts | 70.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 15.7% ±9.5 pts | 13.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.1% ±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 5.6% ±4.2 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.0% ±4.1 pts | 12.2% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 40.3 min ±4.6 | 31.7 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Vernonia?
No census tract lies mostly in Vernonia; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9711Columbia County | 3,832 | $66,768 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Vernonia) · Census block assignment files
How does Vernonia compare with other places in Oregon?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Vernonia is the 7,020th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 110th-most populous of 240 in Oregon.
Vernonia ranks 94th of 223 places in Oregon with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 110th | 240 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 50th | 162 |
| Residents per square mile | 144th | 224 |
| Median household income | 94th | 223 |
| Per capita income | 127th | 224 |
| Median home value | 147th | 224 |
| Median gross rent | 133rd | 207 |
| Poverty rate | 111th | 175 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 184th | 219 |
| Median age | 122nd | 224 |
| Owner-occupied share | 79th | 224 |
| Work from home | 132nd | 169 |
| Travel time to work | 3rd | 221 |
Vernonia's figures with every place in Oregon (CSV)
Every place in Oregon, sortable · Compare Vernonia with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Vernonia?
15 of the 57 figures for Vernonia on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Vernonia are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Vernonia.