Cowlitz County, Washington Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Cowlitz County is located in Washington with a total population of 111,539. It is the 12th most populous county out of 39 in Washington.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cowlitz County is 41.1 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 38.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cowlitz County is $72,932. This is 23% lower than the state median of $94,952. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 7% lower. The poverty rate stands at 13.0%. This is 31% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 5.1%. This is 3% higher than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $367,400. Housing costs are 29% lower than the state median of $519,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.0x. 66.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% higher than the state average of 63.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Cowlitz County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 80.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.2%. The Black or African American population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 9.3%.

Education

17.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 56% lower than the state rate of 38.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.9%.