The story of this market
The typical home in Columbia County, Oregon sells for about $474,000, or $265 per square foot.
Prices are up +6.5% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 67 days to sell, which is slow. Over the long run, values in this county have grown 190% since 2000. Last year 6 of 11 neighborhoods saw prices rise, so the story isn't the same street to street. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,878 a month.
HUD sets the fair market rent for a 2-bedroom at $1,878 a month. FEMA's National Risk Index rates overall hazard risk here as Relatively High.
Price climate
Every year of price change, 2000–2025
+0.3%
2025
Each stripe is one year's median price change across the area's census tracts (FHFA repeat-sales index). Deep blue is a strong gain year, red a falling year. Best: 2006 (+18.9%). Worst: 2009 (-10.6%). Hover to read a year.
Monthly price momentum
Home values since 2015
+0.3%
OR · past 12 months
Freddie Mac House Price Index, single-family homes, monthly through 2026-08. Each line starts at 100 in January 2015, so a reading of 180 means prices are up 80% since then.
Rent benchmark
Fair market rent by size
$2,550
3-bed / month
HUD Fair Market Rents, fiscal 2027, for this county. A typical rent for a modest unit, used to set housing-voucher payments.
Neighborhood price trend
Long-run price trend, 2000–2025
+0.3%
2025 change
FHFA repeat-sales index, median of 11 census tracts in this county (2000 = 100). Bars are each year's median change.
Natural hazard exposure
The area's risk shape
85
Relatively High
FEMA National Risk Index. Each spoke is a hazard ranked nationally, where 100 is the most exposed. Expected annual loss: $33,866,096.
Mortgage activity
Home lending in this county
78.5%
2018 approval rate
| Year | Applications | Loans made | Approval | Investor share | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 3469 | 1768 | 78.5% | 4.1% | $305,000 |
CFPB Home Mortgage Disclosure Act records: every mortgage application reported by lenders for homes in this county. Approval rate is approved ÷ decided (withdrawn and incomplete files excluded). Investor share and home value are the median census tract.
Columbia County, Oregon
The Columbia County housing market shows resilience with a 6.5% year-over-year price increase, supported by steady demand. While inventory remains tight, the market is balancing as days on market stabilize and price cuts become more frequent.
No ARED distress-ledger coverage for this county yet — the foreclosure ingest rotates the national county directory, and filings appear here once the county's posted notices are read. Key-figure check: median price corroborated by the published ten-year series (2024) (within 12.5%).
Select a city to expand its ZIP intel reports beneath · 7 cities · 8 ZIP reports
Median prices moved up 7.4% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 75 days on market with 0.0 months of supply — a balanced-paced market.
0% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 16.44% of asking — demand is holding steady.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 4.2% · poverty 9.5% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Deterministic aggregate of 8 researched ZIP reports — sales_count-weighted (population fallback); per point, children lacking the value or its weight are excluded. Tax rates, sentiment and context notes are tier-native and never roll.
Columbia County, Oregon — researched county-level history with a deterministic 1 / 3 / 5-year projection
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 8.1%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
No researched properties in this county yet — the property base layer populates as property research runs, and each property feeds its ZIP's roll-up.
researched Sep 16
researched Sep 16
researched Sep 16
researched Oct 1
researched Sep 20
researched Sep 16
researched Sep 18
researched Sep 19
| 97016 | Clatskanie | $407,450 | $235 | -0.5% | 84 | — | — | — | 77 | $838 | researched Sep 16 |
| 97018 | Columbia City | $484,000 | $294 | +2.7% | 65 | — | — | — | 49 | $1,365 | researched Sep 16 |
| 97048 | Rainier | $424,000 | $292 | -14.9% | 70 | — | — | — | 92 | $969 | researched Sep 16 |
| 97051 | St. Helens | $430,000 | $278 | -1.7% | 48 | 98% | — | — | 108 | $1,878 | researched Oct 1 |
| 97053 | Warren | $375,000 | $281 | +3.1% | 73 | 95% | — | — | 68 | $1,878 | researched Sep 20 |
| 97054 | Deer Island | $679,660 | $278 | +5.4% | 43 | — | — | — | 194 | $1,878 | researched Sep 16 |
| 97056 | Scappoose | $473,792 | $293 | -5.1% | 30 | — | — | — | 891 | $1,617 | researched Sep 18 |
| 97064 | Vernonia | $649,000 | $275 | +66.4% | 74 | — | — | — | 56 | $1,230 | researched Sep 19 |
Figures are each ZIP report's own latest research — the county roll-up aggregates them sales_count-weighted (population fallback); ZIPs cycle quarterly.
Crime rates in Columbia County remain generally lower than the Portland metropolitan average, with property crime being the primary concern in rural areas.
Schools in the county are primarily served by local districts like St. Helens and Scappoose, which generally maintain stable performance ratings consistent with rural Oregon standards.
The county faces moderate wildfire risks in forested areas and seasonal flood risks along the Columbia and Nehalem river corridors.
Economic momentum is driven by proximity to the Portland metro area, with ongoing infrastructure improvements and a focus on industrial development along the Columbia River.
Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. State (Oregon) — Active-Duty Military Property Tax Exemption: Allows for the exemption of a portion of the assessed value of a primary residence from local property taxes for a period of three to five years in standard zones, or up to 15 years in rural zones. State (Oregon) — Disabled Veteran or Surviving Spouse Property Tax Exemption: Provides a reduction in the assessed value of the primary residence, effectively lowering the property tax burden based on the exemption amount set by statute. State (Oregon) — Ad Valorem Property Tax: Tax is calculated on the lesser of Real Market Value (RMV) or Maximum Assessed Value (MAV). MAV is limited to a 3% annual growth rate unless physical changes occur to the property. The tax is the product of the taxable assessed value and the local taxing district's millage rate.
The economy is anchored by manufacturing, timber, and logistics, with a growing number of residents commuting to the Portland metro area.
The county is served by U.S. Route 30, which acts as the primary corridor connecting residents to the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area.
The Columbia County Assessor manages property valuations, adhering to Oregon's constitutional limits on assessed value growth.
The county includes various special districts for fire protection, water, and rural fire services that levy taxes independently.
Property insurance premiums are rising due to increased wildfire risk assessments across the Pacific Northwest.
- Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park3.628.4 mi
- Sky Zone Trampoline Park4.127.8 mi
- K1 Speed Portland4.325.5 mi
- Round1 Bowling & Arcade - Vancouver3.828.3 mi
- Kids Club Fun & Fitness4.322.1 mi
- Cascades Amphitheater4.121.6 mi
- Topgolf Hillsboro4.525.4 mi
- Portland Expo Center4.227.3 mi
- Portland International Raceway4.627.9 mi
- Golden Corral Buffet & Grill4.129.1 mi
- L.L. Stub Stewart State Park4.714.5 mi
- Spirit Of Halloweentown3.712.1 mi
- Paradise Point State Park416.2 mi
- HalloweenTown Every October4.212.1 mi
- Three Rivers Crossing3.416.5 mi
- Next Level Pinball Shop & Museum4.926.8 mi
- Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks & Minerals4.824.2 mi
- HalloweenTown Every October4.212.1 mi
- Fort Vancouver National Historic Site4.727.3 mi
- Cedar Creek Grist Mill4.821.8 mi
- L.L. Stub Stewart State Park4.714.5 mi
- Paradise Point State Park416.2 mi
- Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge4.715.2 mi
- Horning's Hideout4.717 mi
- Horseshoe Lake Park4.514.2 mi
- Portland Yacht Club4.728.8 mi
- Scappoose Bay Marine Park, Port of Columbia County4.511.3 mi
- Fred's Marina4.423.6 mi
- Tomahawk Bay Marina4.328.3 mi
- Elochoman Slough Marina4.526 mi
- Wildwood Golf Course4.618.2 mi
- Lewis River Golf Course4.217.9 mi
- Three Rivers Golf Course4.415 mi
- Mint Valley Golf Course4.417.3 mi
- Longview Country Club4.517.1 mi
- WinCo Foods4.316.2 mi
- Fred Meyer4.216.2 mi
- Safeway4.213.8 mi
- Safeway416.6 mi
- Fred Meyer4.114.4 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
The amenity base that shapes daily life and property demand in this county — what residents actually live with, and what the pipeline is adding.
A popular multi-use trail offering scenic views and outdoor recreation for residents.
Provides extensive opportunities for boating, fishing, and water-based recreation.
Data retrieved from data.census.gov
applies when — Members of the Oregon National Guard or Reserve who are deployed.
Allows for the exemption of a portion of the assessed value of a primary residence from local property taxes for a period of three to five years in standard zones, or up to 15 years in rural zones.
Business Oregon Enterprise Zone statutes
applies when — Qualified disabled veterans or their surviving spouses meeting specific disability or service-connected criteria.
Provides a reduction in the assessed value of the primary residence, effectively lowering the property tax burden based on the exemption amount set by statute.
ORS 307.250
Tax is calculated on the lesser of Real Market Value (RMV) or Maximum Assessed Value (MAV). MAV is limited to a 3% annual growth rate unless physical changes occur to the property. The tax is the product of the taxable assessed value and the local taxing district's millage rate.
Oregon Constitution; ORS Chapter 308
applies when — Delinquency of property taxes for a period of three years from the earliest date of delinquency.
The county may initiate foreclosure proceedings to seize the property to satisfy the tax lien. Owners have redemption rights prior to the judgment of foreclosure.
ORS 312.010
Governance registry — every jurisdiction re-researches on a rolling 90-day cycle. Property reports compose these inherited burdens into a per-parcel ledger with conditional determinations. Informational only — not legal advice.