Housing decision brief
Cowlitz County, WA Housing Market
Cowlitz County screens as a below-state purchase price, rent that needs comparison, a higher tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
18th lowest home value out of 39 Washington counties with data | 21st lowest rent out of 39
Median home value
$367,400
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$1,169/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$1,396/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
5.0x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
29.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$227/mo
Median rent screens below owner cost.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Lower purchase price
$367,400 median home value is 1% below Washington county median
Rent burden below pressure line
29.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
What to Check
Tax rate needs attention
0.81% effective property-tax rate is 3% above Washington county median
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Remote earners or cash buyers looking below the state price line
Poor Fit For
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Cowlitz County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $367,400 | $370,500 | $281,900 | Near state median1% below Washington county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $1,169 | $1,119 | $1,163 | Near state median4% above Washington county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $1,396 | $1,221 | $1,672 | 14% pressure14% above Washington county median |
Median household income | $72,932 | $71,528 | $74,755 | Near state median2% above Washington county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.81% | 0.79% | 1.02% | Near state median3% above Washington county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 29.00% | 29.00% | N/A | Near state median29.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$26,172
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$13,103
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Cowlitz County is affordable for renters, with a median gross rent of $1,169/month representing approximately 19.2% of median household income. The rent burden (GRAPI) stands at 29.0%.
Rent vs own
At $1,169/month rent versus $1,396/month in owner costs, renting is roughly $227/month cheaper , a 16% difference.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $46,760/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $59,829/year. With a median household income of $72,932, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 29.0% of renter households in Cowlitz County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Within Washington, Cowlitz County is more affordable than Walla Walla County by roughly 5% ($1,169/mo vs $1,113/mo).
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane County, WA | $370,500 | $1,200/mo | Same-state comparison near $370,500 home value and $1,200/mo rent. |
| Walla Walla County, WA | $375,600 | $1,113/mo | Same-state comparison near $375,600 home value and $1,113/mo rent. |
| Mason County, WA | $377,400 | $1,205/mo | Same-state comparison near $377,400 home value and $1,205/mo rent. |
| Klickitat County, WA | $388,700 | $1,119/mo | Same-state comparison near $388,700 home value and $1,119/mo rent. |
| Clallam County, WA | $385,600 | $1,110/mo | Same-state comparison near $385,600 home value and $1,110/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Cowlitz County
Is Cowlitz County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Cowlitz County?
How much income do you need for housing in Cowlitz County?
What should I double-check before moving to Cowlitz County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.