Population 4,014 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Columbia County
Household size in Columbia County
| Period | Columbia County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.28 | 2.56 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.29 | 2.62 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.21 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.11 | 2.61 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.17 | +0.05 | −0.03 |
Columbia County is a place of small households, averaging 2.11 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.28, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next. Few Washington counties have smaller households: only two of 39.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Columbia County
| Period | Columbia County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.7 | 38.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 48.6 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.5 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 49.5 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.8 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Columbia County skews older: half of its residents are older than 49.5, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Columbia County is older than at least four in five Washington counties.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Columbia County
| Period | Columbia County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.7% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.0% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.6% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Columbia County than nationally: 9.6%, against 11.6%. The picture is much the same across Washington.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Columbia County
Renters in Columbia County
| Period | Columbia County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.7% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.0% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.1% | 37.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.3% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.4 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Columbia County is largely a place of homeowners: only 22.3% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Just over half of owners (52.1%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Columbia County
| Period | Columbia County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.1% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.0% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.2% | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.8% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 15.8% of the housing in Columbia County, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Columbia County has a higher vacancy rate than at least four in five Washington counties.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Columbia County
| Period | Columbia County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1958 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1951 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1960 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1956 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | −2 | +6 | +6 |
Columbia County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1956, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. No other Washington county has older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Columbia County
| Period | Columbia County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $545 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $707 | $1,127 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $750 | $1,390 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,020 | $1,875 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$475 | +$858 | +$606 |
Rent in Columbia County runs $1,020 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent takes 31.4% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Columbia County
Bachelor's degrees in Columbia County
| Period | Columbia County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.0% | 31.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.4% | 32.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.7% | 35.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.9% | 38.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | +7.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Columbia County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 23.9%, against 35.6% nationally.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Columbia County
| Period | Columbia County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.3% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.6% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.8% | 91.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.1% | 91.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | +2.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Columbia County have finished high school as nationally: 89.1%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Washington overall (91.9%).
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Columbia County
| Period | Columbia County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.0% | 7.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.5% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.4% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.2% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.8 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Columbia County runs below the national rate: 4.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Columbia County has lower unemployment than the great majority of Washington counties. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Columbia County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia County | 2.11 | 49.5 | 9.6% | 22.3% | 15.8% | 1956 | $1,020 | 23.9% | 89.1% | 4.2% |
| Garfield County | 2.29 | 47.4 | 2.4% | 23.1% | 15.7% | 1961 | $810 | 31.1% | 94.1% | 5.9% |
| Asotin County | 2.40 | 46.4 | 10.4% | 26.8% | 9.1% | 1976 | $1,133 | 23.9% | 92.2% | 4.8% |
| Nez Perce County | 2.45 | 42.2 | 13.1% | 29.6% | 8.5% | 1971 | $1,070 | 26.8% | 93.3% | 2.7% |
| Franklin County | 3.30 | 32.1 | 18.2% | 29.0% | 5.6% | 1991 | $1,562 | 21.7% | 77.4% | 5.0% |
| Benton County | 2.79 | 37.2 | 12.6% | 32.4% | 7.2% | 1986 | $1,478 | 33.2% | 89.0% | 5.2% |
| Lewis County | 2.30 | 48.4 | 7.5% | 23.6% | 14.0% | 1964 | $757 | 21.2% | 91.4% | 2.2% |
| Clearwater County | 2.31 | 51.4 | 7.2% | 17.1% | 18.0% | 1977 | $897 | 17.1% | 91.5% | 4.4% |
| Ravalli County | 2.56 | 48.6 | 6.0% | 20.6% | 12.3% | 1988 | $1,131 | 29.0% | 93.4% | 3.0% |
| Granite County | 2.25 | 52.4 | 6.0% | 22.1% | 36.5% | 1981 | $678 | 33.6% | 93.9% | 3.7% |
| Powell County | 2.24 | 45.9 | 5.6% | 27.5% | 16.5% | 1965 | $840 | 20.0% | 93.6% | 2.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Decatur County, IA · Dewey County, OK · Terrell County, TX · Deuel County, NE · Desha County, AR · Denali Borough, AK · Delta County, TX · Terry County, TX · Deer Lodge County, MT · Teton County, ID
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Columbia County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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