Population 112,360 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Cowlitz County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Cowlitz County
Household size in Cowlitz County
| Period | Cowlitz County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.56 | 2.56 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.59 | 2.62 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.57 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.62 | 2.61 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.06 | +0.05 | −0.03 |
At 2.62 people per household, Cowlitz County sits close to the national average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.56, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the southeast and smallest in the northwest.
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 Cowlitz County
| Period | Cowlitz County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.3 | 38.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.4 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.3 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.2 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.0 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Cowlitz County is 42.2 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 40.3, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the southwest, the oldest in the northwest.
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 Cowlitz County
| Period | Cowlitz County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.0% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.9% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.8% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.5% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in eight households in Cowlitz County (11.5%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in Washington as a whole (10.1%). Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 1.5 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Cowlitz County
Renters in Cowlitz County
| Period | Cowlitz County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.7% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 33.9% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.9% | 37.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 32.0% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Cowlitz County is about as common as it is nationally: 32.0% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in Washington as a whole (36.2%). Among owners, 35.3% have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 0.7 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Cowlitz County
| Period | Cowlitz County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.3% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.5% | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.5% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Cowlitz County than nationally: 6.5%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.8 points, as it has nationally. Cowlitz County has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of 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 Cowlitz County
| Period | Cowlitz County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1972 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1974 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1974 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1977 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Cowlitz County are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1977, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are older than in Washington as a whole, where the median home dates to 1984. The median year built has moved up from 1972 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the southwest.
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 Cowlitz County
| Period | Cowlitz County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $803 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $849 | $1,127 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $940 | $1,390 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,445 | $1,875 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$642 | +$858 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Cowlitz County costs $1,445 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $642 a month since 2006–10, up 80%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 30.8% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southwest; the highest are in the southeast.
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 Cowlitz County
Bachelor's degrees in Cowlitz County
| Period | Cowlitz County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.1% | 31.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.7% | 32.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.0% | 35.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.8% | 38.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | +7.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Cowlitz County: 17.8% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 2.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only three of Washington's 39 counties have a lower share of college graduates.
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 Cowlitz County
| Period | Cowlitz County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.1% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.1% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.2% | 91.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.8% | 91.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.7 pts | +2.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Cowlitz County is close to the national rate: 89.8% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Washington as a whole (91.9%). The share with a diploma has risen 3.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Cowlitz County
| Period | Cowlitz County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.1% | 7.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.3% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.7% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.7% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.4 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Cowlitz County is close to the national rate: 5.7% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 5.4 points, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Cowlitz 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowlitz County | 2.62 | 42.2 | 11.5% | 32.0% | 6.5% | 1977 | $1,445 | 17.8% | 89.8% | 5.7% |
| Columbia County | 2.56 | 43.5 | 12.2% | 23.9% | 6.3% | 1982 | $1,433 | 20.0% | 89.8% | 4.0% |
| Wahkiakum County | 2.23 | 54.6 | 3.1% | 16.8% | 8.3% | 1981 | $997 | 20.9% | 92.6% | 2.8% |
| Lewis County | 2.63 | 42.9 | 10.7% | 24.2% | 7.5% | 1979 | $1,132 | 21.7% | 91.0% | 5.3% |
| Clark County | 2.69 | 39.7 | 10.5% | 33.6% | 5.3% | 1992 | $1,937 | 33.0% | 92.4% | 5.1% |
| Clatsop County | 2.30 | 46.1 | 9.4% | 36.8% | 17.2% | 1973 | $1,237 | 27.9% | 92.4% | 4.2% |
| Pacific County | 2.18 | 52.8 | 9.7% | 18.2% | 28.9% | 1973 | $1,160 | 24.8% | 90.9% | 5.0% |
| Skamania County | 2.50 | 48.8 | 7.9% | 20.0% | 10.0% | 1985 | $1,067 | 29.9% | 93.6% | 5.5% |
| Hood River County | 2.65 | 41.7 | 9.7% | 30.6% | 14.8% | 1983 | $1,545 | 41.8% | 87.1% | 3.5% |
| Klickitat County | 2.36 | 47.0 | 8.1% | 23.3% | 9.5% | 1984 | $1,191 | 31.0% | 89.4% | 5.8% |
| Yakima County | 3.01 | 34.2 | 18.2% | 38.2% | 6.1% | 1977 | $1,212 | 18.5% | 75.7% | 7.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Yamhill County, OR · Madison County, MS · Macon County, IL · Mercer County, PA · Adams County, PA · LaSalle County, IL · Navajo County, AZ · Rockwall County, TX · St. Lawrence County, NY · Sumter County, SC
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 Cowlitz 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.