The Town FilesLa Center, Washington
City in Clark County · population 3,424 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $584,600
- Household income
- $101,708
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 37.2
La Center is a city of 3,424 people in Clark County, Washington. The median home is worth $584,600, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better for families than 82% of Washington towns, easier by car than 80% of Washington towns.
How La Center 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 La Center is worth $584,600, above the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 5.7 times the median household income of $101,708, which is more affordable than 38% of Washington towns. Median rent is $1,876 a month. 75.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | La Center | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $584,600 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,876 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $101,708 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.7× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 75.1% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1998 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.6% | — |
Who lives in La Center
| People | La Center | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.2 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.2% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.0% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.7% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.8% | — |
| Work from home | 18.9% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 32.3 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.6% | 93.9% |
Weather in La Center
July highs average 78.6°F and January lows 31.9°F. About 52.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.0 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 70 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of La Center since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Washington town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on December 10, 2015 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 11, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on May 1, 1976.
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 La Center itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in La Center
4 public schools with 1,826 students, about 18.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Center Elementary | PK-5 | 820 | 16.4 |
| La Center High School | 9-12 | 556 | 21.4 |
| La Center Middle School | 6-8 | 413 | 18.8 |
| La Center Academy | K-12 | 37 | — |
Towns near La Center
- Ridgefield, WA3.0 mi · 10,319 people · home $613,500
- Woodland, WA5.5 mi · 6,531 people · home $438,800
- St. Helens, OR6.8 mi · 13,817 people · home $394,200
- Battle Ground, WA8.7 mi · 20,743 people · home $485,100
- Mount Vista, WA8.8 mi · 10,051 people · home $586,600
- Meadow Glade, WA9.3 mi · 2,758 people · home $650,300
- Felida, WA10.3 mi · 9,526 people · home $674,000
- Salmon Creek, WA10.4 mi · 21,293 people · home $530,100
La Center questions
Is La Center, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, La Center scores better for retirees than 50% of Washington towns and quieter than 51%. 14.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.2).
How much does a house cost in La Center?
The median owner-occupied home in La Center is valued at $584,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $101,708, so homes cost about 5.7 times income. Median rent is $1,876 a month.
What is the weather like in La Center?
July highs average 78.6°F and January lows 31.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.4 inches of precipitation a year and 3.0 inches of snow.
Does La Center get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of La Center since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on December 10, 2015. 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)