County · Washington
Columbia County, Washington
Columbia County, Washington. Columbia County had 4,141 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 4.7% since 2020, faster than Washington (+3.8%). It holds 2 places (2 cities, villages and boroughs) and 1 census tract. GEOID 53013.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
4,141
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 3,952 · ACS 2020-2024: 4,014
Median household income
$71,810
±$5,338 (90% margin)
Washington: $98,141
Median home value
$271,200
±$29,295 (90% margin)
Washington: $564,600
Median gross rent
$985
±$65 (90% margin)
Washington: $1,760
How many people live in Columbia County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 3,952 residents in Columbia County. The Census Bureau estimates 4,141 for July 1, 2025, up 4.7% since 2020, faster than Washington (+3.8%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 4,014 over 869 square miles of land.
| Measure | Columbia County | Washington | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 4,014 | 7,816,116 | +22 |
| Households | 1,862±136 | 3,064,820 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.12±0.15 | 2.50 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,217±13 | 3,306,620 | +49 |
Columbia County's population since 2000
From 4,064 in 2000 to 4,141 in 2025: up 1.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Columbia County?
Columbia County holds 2 places: 2 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Dayton with 2,538 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Dayton | 2,448 | $70,625 |
|---|---|---|
| StarbuckGEOID 5367490 | 119 | $61,250 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Columbia County?
The median resident of Columbia County is 49.6 years old; 18.0% are under 18 and 29.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 81.2%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 8.3%. 5.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Columbia County | Washington | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.6±1.8 | 38.3 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 18.0%±1.8 pts | 21.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 29.3%±1.2 pts | 16.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 8.3% | 14.4% | +0.5 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 81.2%±1.5 pts | 63.1% | −4.2 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.5%±0.8 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.9%±2.5 pts | 9.7% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.5 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.0 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 7.5%±2.9 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 5.0%±3.1 pts | 15.4% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 7.7%±3.5 pts | 21.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 11.6%±2.5 pts | 7.8% | – |
| With a disability | 18.3%±3.0 pts | 13.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.8%±2.7 pts | 6.3% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 89.7%±2.6 pts | 92.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 24.9%±4.4 pts | 39.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.9%±3.2 pts | 15.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.3%±2.4 pts | 2.9% | – |
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 Columbia County earn?
Half of Columbia County's 1,862 households earn less than $71,810 a year (±$5,338), against $98,141 in Washington. In 2015-2019 it was $65,747 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Columbia County | Washington | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $71,810±$5,338 | $98,141 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $88,239±$11,532 | $134,588 | – |
| Per capita income | $40,579±$5,222 | $53,744 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 9.3%±3.0 pts | 9.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 2.5%±3.2 pts | 11.6% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 14.1%±5.6 pts | 11.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 82.4%±5.1 pts | 93.6% | – |
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 Columbia County?
Owners occupy 77.7% of Columbia County's occupied homes and renters 22.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $271,200 by its owner (±$29,295). The median renter pays $985 a month including utilities, and 39.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Columbia County | Washington | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $271,200±$29,295 | $564,600 | +$50,414 |
| Median gross rent | $985±$65 | $1,760 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 39.2%±14.8 pts | 40.1% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,572±$144 | $2,445 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 77.7%±6.0 pts | 63.8% | +9.8 pts |
| Housing units | 2,217±13 | 3,306,620 | +49 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 3.3%±3.0 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.5%±5.4 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 82.1%±4.7 pts | 61.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 11.6%±4.1 pts | 5.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.6%±0.8 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 33.8%±6.0 pts | 9.6% | – |
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 Columbia County building?
Builders took permits for 5 new housing units across Columbia County in 2025 (5 single-family), 1.2 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Columbia County get to work?
69.5% of Columbia County's workers drive alone and 11.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.9%.
| Measure | Columbia County | Washington | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 54.9%±4.3 pts | 64.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9%±2.5 pts | 5.1% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 69.5%±7.2 pts | 63.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.4%±4.3 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.3%±0.9 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Walked | 6.7%±4.1 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 11.9%±5.3 pts | 19.8% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.0 min±3.9 | 26.6 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 are Columbia County's census tracts?
Columbia County is a single census tract.
| Tract 960253013960200 | 4,014 | $71,810 |
|---|
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Columbia County compare with Washington's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 38th of 39 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 18th of 39 |
| Residents per square mile | 37th of 39 |
| Median household income | 25th of 39 |
| Median home value | 38th of 39 |
| Median gross rent | 31st of 39 |
| Poverty rate | 30th of 39 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22nd of 39 |
| Median age | 8th of 39 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Columbia County 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' school search.