Vernonia, Oregon Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Vernonia, Oregon had a total population of 2,786, the 138th largest city in Oregon, with a median household income of $83,411, which is about the same as the state average. The poverty rate is 10.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Vernonia Quick Facts
How Vernonia Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,716 | 2,786 | +2.6% |
| Median household income | $83,324 | $83,411 | +0.1% |
| Median home value | $321,200 | $351,900 | +9.6% |
How Vernonia Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 46 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Vernonia Rankings in Oregon
Explore Oregon Rankings
Other Cities in Columbia County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Helens | 14,258 | $82,865 | 10.0% | $394,200 |
| Scappoose | 8,179 | $97,708 | 7.2% | $455,700 |
| Clatskanie | 2,364 | $90,709 | 11.1% | $363,900 |
| Rainier | 2,130 | $66,989 | 18.3% | $344,700 |
| Columbia City | 2,006 | $96,750 | 9.4% | $460,000 |
| Warren | 1,637 | $126,838 | 1.2% | $523,400 |
| Deer Island | 199 | N/A | 9.0% | N/A |
| Prescott | 34 | $105,000 | 8.8% | $316,700 |
Cities Similar to Vernonia
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juniper Canyon | 2,666 | $84,861 | $408,500 | 17.6% | 5.7% |
| Heceta Beach | 2,651 | $79,938 | $533,500 | 32.1% | 12.9% |
| Gervais | 2,581 | $83,043 | $371,400 | 11.6% | 11.2% |
| Sublimity | 2,919 | $77,969 | $480,800 | 32.9% | 10.9% |
| Dayton | 2,675 | $91,184 | $410,800 | 19.7% | 13.7% |
Population Overview
Vernonia is a small community located in Oregon, within Columbia County. The total population is 2,786. It ranks as the 138th most populous out of 420 Census-designated places in Oregon.
Age Demographics
The median age in Vernonia is 40.1 years. This is about the same as the state median of 40.4 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Vernonia is $83,411. This is about the same as the state median of $83,011. It is also 3% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.0%. This is 16% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 6.6%. This is 23% higher than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $351,900. Housing costs are 26% lower than the state median of $477,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x. 76.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% higher than the state average of 63.3%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Vernonia is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (6.9%) is well below the state average of 14.7%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 4.4%.
Education
15.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 59% lower than the state rate of 36.8%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 84.8%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Vernonia, Oregon is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Oregon state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 420 Census-designated places in Oregon. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all Oregon city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Vernonia, Oregon?
Vernonia, Oregon has a population of 2,786 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Vernonia, OR?
The median household income in Vernonia is $83,411, which is 3% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Vernonia, OR?
The poverty rate in Vernonia is 10.0%. This means approximately 279 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Vernonia, Oregon?
Vernonia's population is 84.5% White, 1.3% Black, 6.9% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.3% Asian.
What is the median home value in Vernonia, OR?
The median home value in Vernonia is $351,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x.
How educated is Vernonia, Oregon?
15.0% of adults (25+) in Vernonia hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 5.4% hold a graduate or professional degree.