Cost of Living in Columbia County, Oregon
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Columbia County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Columbia County ranks #2,823 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 10%)
Sourced county brief
Columbia County Median Monthly Owner Costs Reach 1,463 Dollars
In Columbia County, median selected monthly owner costs are $1,463, which is $248 above the Oregon unweighted county mean of $1,215. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 32.1%, as recorded in ACS table B25071. This figure is 2.7 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean of 29.4%. Renter households in the county reported a median income of $55,375, while the median gross rent was estimated at $1,373 per month. This monthly rent figure exceeds the Oregon unweighted county mean of $1,191. For owner-occupied housing, the median home value is $421,600, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $386,692. These metrics describe housing cost conditions based on the 2020-2024 5-year estimates. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Columbia County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 32.1% of renter household income in Columbia County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,373 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,463. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $54,920 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Oregon unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,191 per month. Columbia County's $1,373 median is 15.3% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Columbia County
Rent Burden
18.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,041
per month
Owner Cost Burden
20.1%
of gross income
The median home in Columbia County may be a stretch
Median home value is $421,600. Estimated monthly cost: $3,366 vs. your max of $2,041.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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