The Town Files

Columbia County, Washington

4,014 people. The median home is worth $271,200 (typical Washington town: $475,000) and the median household earns $71,810.

Towns in Columbia County

Towns in Columbia County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Dayton2,448$243,600$70,62545.3

People and housing

Columbia CountyTypical Washington town
Median home value$271,200$475,000
Median rent$985$1,597
Median household income$71,810$90,625
Median age49.640.1
Bachelor's degree or higher24.9%27.6%
Below the poverty line9.3%8.5%

Jobs and pay

1,495 jobs in 2024, average pay $67,059 a year.

Largest industries in Columbia CountyConstruction127 jobs · $108,944Agriculture, forestry & fishi…125 jobs · $42,328Retail97 jobs · $29,024Manufacturing38 jobs · $48,719Other services22 jobs · $44,603Finance & insurance16 jobs · $35,933
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Columbia County0%2%4%6%8%10%12%2000200420082012201620202023 4.4%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 283 storm events in Columbia County from 1996 to 2026, with 1 deaths.

Storm events in Columbia County by type since 1996Hail9Heat5Flood4Wildfire9High Wind51Dust Storm4Heavy Snow142Frost/Freeze11Winter Storm9Excessive Heat8
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Columbia County has been included in 16 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
April 8, 2021Severe StormDR-4593: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides
April 23, 2020FloodDR-4539: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides
March 22, 2020BiologicalDR-4481: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3427: Covid-19
April 21, 2017FloodDR-4309: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides
March 2, 2009Severe StormDR-1825: Severe Winter Storm And Record And Near Record Snow
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).