The Town FilesFern Prairie, Washington
Community in Clark County · population 2,061 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $628,200
- Household income
- $115,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 47.9
Fern Prairie is a community of 2,061 people in Clark County, Washington. The median home is worth $628,200, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better for families than 89% of Washington towns, more of a college town than 89% of Washington towns, more upscale than 85% of Washington towns.
How Fern Prairie ranks
Percentile among Washington towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Washington towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Fern Prairie is worth $628,200, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 5.4 times the median household income of $115,875, which is more affordable than 47% of Washington towns. 94.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fern Prairie | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $628,200 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | — | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $115,875 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.4× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 94.2% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Fern Prairie
| People | Fern Prairie | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.9 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.9% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.6% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.8% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 10.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.0% | — |
| Work from home | 21.6% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 22.2 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.8% | 93.9% |
Weather in Fern Prairie
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 35.4°F. About 48.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.4 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 40 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fern Prairie since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Washington town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 5, 1972 about 2.6 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 300 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 24, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on July 31, 1991.
Severe weather in Clark County since 1996
Clark County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Flood | DR-4906: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 28, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4775: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| October 17, 2022 | Fire | FM-5456: Nakia Creek Fire |
| March 22, 2020 | Biological | DR-4481: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3427: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Clark County
Clark County had 181,713 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $72,700 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Fern Prairie itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Towns near Fern Prairie
- Camas, WA2.9 mi · 26,065 people · home $711,700
- Washougal, WA4.5 mi · 17,039 people · home $552,300
- Fairview, OR6.5 mi · 10,424 people · home $427,700
- Troutdale, OR6.8 mi · 16,300 people · home $456,100
- Wood Village, OR7.1 mi · 4,387 people · home $311,500
- Orchards, WA7.4 mi · 27,729 people · home $461,700
- Hockinson, WA7.7 mi · 6,105 people · home $722,200
- Five Corners, WA9.2 mi · 20,973 people · home $459,600
Fern Prairie questions
Is Fern Prairie, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fern Prairie scores better for retirees than 59% of Washington towns and quieter than 41%. 21.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.9).
How much does a house cost in Fern Prairie?
The median owner-occupied home in Fern Prairie is valued at $628,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $115,875, so homes cost about 5.4 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Fern Prairie?
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 35.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.4 inches of precipitation a year and 3.4 inches of snow.
Does Fern Prairie get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fern Prairie since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 5, 1972. The typical Washington town has had 1.
- 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)