City profile · Washington · Census ACS 2023

Vancouver, WA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Vancouver - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

192,696
Residents
$78,156
Median income
$440,300
Median home
$1,922
Median rent (state)

Vancouver - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Vancouver lands in the 60th percentile for household income and the 7th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

60th
percentile, household income
81st
percentile, home value
80th
percentile, median rent
7th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Vancouver, WA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 192,696 residents in Vancouver, a mid-sized U.S. city within Washington. The typical household in Vancouver brings in $78,156 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 7.5%. Typical homes in Vancouver are valued around $440,300, and the median resident age is 37.5 years. 31.5% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 61.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 1,205 residential building permits were authorized in Vancouver (Slowing), down 12% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Vancouver's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 3989.6 in FBI UCR data, above the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 51.0°F with 42.3 inches of precipitation per year and 0.8 inches of snowfall.

Washington carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Washington scores 107.0 (Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,922 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $188 across Washington, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 92.2 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

192,696 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Washington

Median Household Income

$78,156 /yr

Poverty 7.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.0 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Washington average

How does Vancouver compare to other US cities?

Where Vancouver sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 60% higher than other cities
Home value 81% pricier than other cities
Median rent 80% pricier than other cities
Safety 7% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Washington, Vancouver ranks #134 of 156 Washington cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Vancouver's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Washington, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

60thIncome percentile
7thSafety percentile

60th percentile nationally for median household income · 7th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Vancouver's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Vancouver's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 29 Avg. percentile National median
Vancouver's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Vancouver's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$440,300 19th percentile more affordable than 19% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Vancouver $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Vancouver, WA Vancouver, WA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Vancouver, WA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Vancouver, WA median $78,156/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Vancouver, WA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Vancouver, WA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 31.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 61.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
192,696
Median Income
$78,156
Median Home Value
$440,300
Median Age
37.5
Poverty Rate
7.5%
Labor force participation
61.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
31.5%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3989.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
582.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
3407.3
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
51.0°F
Annual Precipitation
42.3"
Annual Snowfall
0.8"

Schools

Total Schools
88
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
190,000 residents195,000 residents200,000 residents205,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 191,267 residents 199,698 residents ▲ +4.4%
Vancouver's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
1,205
housing units authorized
Single-Family
152
detached homes
Multifamily
1,053
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
6.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1,372
2020 1,573
2021 2,403
2022 1,882
2023 1,359
2024 1,205

Permit volume decreased 12% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
69.7%
Carpool
9.5%
Public Transit
1.8%
Walk
2.0%
Work from Home
15.2%
Other
1.8%

Based on 94,165 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Washington - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$85
avg/month
Natural Gas
$48
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$188
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Washington state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Washington state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Vancouver sits in

Cost of Living Index
107.0
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,922/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
92.2 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Washington

Tacoma
220,482 people
Spokane
229,228 people
Bellevue
151,199 people
Kent
135,015 people
Everett
111,083 people
Spokane Valley
105,460 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Vancouver's 192,696 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Glendale, CA
192,270 people
Knoxville, TN
193,721 people
Peoria, AZ
194,338 people
Providence, RI
190,214 people
Akron, OH
189,526 people
Huntington Beach, CA
196,010 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Vancouver's $78,156 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

South Barre, VT
$78,162 median income
Battle Mountain, NV
$78,149 median income
Aldan, PA
$78,147 median income
La Vista, NE
$78,145 median income
Naylor, GA
$78,141 median income
Lafourche Crossing, LA
$78,173 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Vancouver, WA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Vancouver, WA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 70.6% 6.1% 12.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 17.2% White 70.6% Black or African American 3.1% Asian 5.3% American Indian 0.7% Native Hawaiian 1.8% Some other race 6.1% Two or more races 12.3% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Vancouver compares to nearby Washington cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Vancouver (this city) 192,696 $78,156
Tacoma 220,482 $83,857
Spokane 229,228 $65,745
Bellevue 151,199 $161,300
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WA FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Vancouver, WA?

What is the population of Vancouver, WA? +

192,696 people live in Vancouver, WA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Vancouver, WA? +

Median annual household income in Vancouver runs $78,156, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Vancouver? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Vancouver; the closest available measure is the Washington state average, a cost of living index of 107.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Washington vary by metro area.

Is Vancouver, WA safe? +

Vancouver has a total crime rate of 3989.6 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Vancouver, WA? +

A typical home in Vancouver is worth $440,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Vancouver? +

Vancouver has an average annual temperature of 51.0°F, 42.3 inches of precipitation, and 0.8 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.