State rank#12 of 39
Smallest county112,360 residentsKing County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 53015
Cowlitz County, Washington
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population112,360
Household income$76,531
Unemployment5.3%
Life expectancy75.1 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Cowlitz County has 112,360 residents and ranks #12 by population among Washington county equivalents. Median household income is $76,531. The annual-average unemployment rate is 5.3%. Its clearest relative strength is mental health access. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Washington
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Cowlitz County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Cowlitz County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is mental health access.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $397,500 median home value and $1,206/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $76,531, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Cowlitz County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing mental health access, uninsured, and median household income. College attainment is 17.6% and life expectancy is 75.1 years.
Potential advantages
- Mental health access: 1 per 175 residents, rank #7 of 39 available Washington counties.
- Uninsured: 7.5%, rank #13 of 39 available Washington counties.
- Median household income: $76,531, rank #18 of 39 available Washington counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.6%, rank #37 of 39; investigate local variation before moving.
- Life expectancy: 75.1 years, rank #35 of 39; investigate local variation before moving.
- Primary care access: 1 per 1,799 residents, rank #25 of 37; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Washington
Rank and range use only counties in Washington with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$76,531
$76,531; above the state county median of $74,202.
State rank #18 of 39 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$397,500
$397,500; below the state county median of $408,900.
State rank #18 of 39 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,206/mo
$1,206/mo; above the state county median of $1,198/mo.
State rank #21 of 39 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
5.3%
5.3%; above the state county median of 4.9%.
State rank #25 of 39 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
17.6%
17.6%; below the state county median of 29.8%.
State rank #37 of 39 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
75.1 years
75.1 years; below the state county median of 77.8 years.
State rank #35 of 39 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
18.5%
18.5%; above the state county median of 17.4%.
State rank #26 of 39 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
7.5%
7.5%; below the state county median of 8.3%.
State rank #13 of 39 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 1,799 residents
1 per 1,799 residents; above the state county median of 1 per 1,483 residents.
State rank #25 of 37 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 175 residents
1 per 175 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 245 residents.
State rank #7 of 39 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Cowlitz County FAQ
Is Cowlitz County a good place to live?
Cowlitz County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing mental health access, uninsured, and median household income. College attainment is 17.6% and life expectancy is 75.1 years.
What should I know before moving to Cowlitz County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $397,500 median home value and $1,206/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $76,531, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Cowlitz County?
Cowlitz County has 112,360 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Cowlitz County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 53015; the parent state FIPS is 53.
What is the median household income in Cowlitz County?
The ACS median household income is $76,531.
How much does housing cost in Cowlitz County?
Housing benchmarks are $397,500 median home value and $1,206/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $76,531, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Cowlitz County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 5.3%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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