Columbia County, Oregon Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Columbia County is located in Oregon with a total population of 53,178. It is the 17th most populous county out of 36 in Oregon.

Age Demographics

The median age in Columbia County is 43.2 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Columbia County is $86,359. This is 7% higher than the state median of $80,426. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 10% higher. The poverty rate stands at 8.7%. This is 27% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 4.4%. This is 17% lower than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $390,600. Housing costs are 14% lower than the state median of $454,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.5x. 75.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% higher than the state average of 63.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Columbia County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 85.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.4%. The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 1.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (6.4%) is well below the state average of 14.3%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 4.4%.

Education

19.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 47% lower than the state rate of 36.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.4%.