The Town FilesVernonia, Oregon
City in Columbia County · population 2,374 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $351,900
- Household income
- $83,411
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 40.1
Vernonia is a city of 2,374 people in Columbia County, Oregon. The median home is worth $351,900, below the typical Oregon town ($394,200). It ranks better for families than 77% of Oregon towns, quieter than 73% of Oregon towns, better for first-time buyers than 70% of Oregon towns.
How Vernonia ranks
Percentile among Oregon towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Oregon towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Vernonia is worth $351,900, below the typical Oregon town ($394,200). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $83,411, which is more affordable than 81% of Oregon towns. Median rent is $1,180 a month. 76.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Vernonia | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $351,900 | $394,200 |
| Median rent | $1,180 | $1,312 |
| Median household income | $83,411 | $76,221 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 76.5% | 71.1% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Vernonia
| People | Vernonia | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.1 | 41.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.0% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.0% | 23.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.0% | 10.8% |
| Veterans | 11.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 12.2% |
| Average commute | 40.3 min | 23.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.1% | 92.4% |
Weather in Vernonia
July highs average 77.3°F and January lows 31.6°F. About 48.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.1 inches of snow (typical Oregon town: 3.1 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 99 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Vernonia since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on May 4, 2017.
Severe weather in Columbia County since 1996
Columbia County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2020 | Fire | DR-4562: Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds |
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4499: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3429: Covid-19 |
| August 8, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4328: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| February 17, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4258: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Columbia County
Columbia County had 11,981 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,228 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Vernonia itself the ACS puts it at 6.6%.
Public schools in Vernonia
3 public schools with 532 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vernonia Elementary School | K-5 | 223 | 14.9 |
| Vernonia High School | 9-12 | 176 | 14.7 |
| Vernonia Middle School | 6-8 | 133 | 16.6 |
Towns near Vernonia
- Warren, OR14.9 mi · 1,870 people · home $523,400
- Scappoose, OR16.7 mi · 8,010 people · home $455,700
- Clatskanie, OR16.7 mi · 1,716 people · home $363,900
- Banks, OR17.6 mi · 1,837 people · home $446,800
- St. Helens, OR17.6 mi · 13,817 people · home $394,200
- Columbia City, OR18.0 mi · 1,949 people · home $460,000
- Rainier, OR18.5 mi · 1,911 people · home $344,700
- Kalama, WA19.5 mi · 2,959 people · home $471,500
Vernonia questions
Is Vernonia, Oregon a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Vernonia scores better for retirees than 48% of Oregon towns and quieter than 73%. 15.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.1).
How much does a house cost in Vernonia?
The median owner-occupied home in Vernonia is valued at $351,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,411, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,180 a month.
What is the weather like in Vernonia?
July highs average 77.3°F and January lows 31.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.0 inches of precipitation a year and 1.1 inches of snow.
Does Vernonia get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Vernonia in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)