Vancouver, WA Local Data & Statistics

State: WA

Total population: 195,300 Household income: $81,338 Rent: $1,702

Overview

Total population

195,300

Rent

$1,702

Year built

1988

Household income

$81,338

Per capita income

$45,636

Poverty rate

10.2%

Unemployment rate

4.6%

Household size

2.4 persons

Rent over 30% of income

51.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Washington

Total population

195,300

Adults over 25

138,057

Total households

81,504

Household size

2.4 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$81,338

Per capita income

$45,636

Poverty rate

10.2%

Unemployment rate

4.6%

Rent over 30% of income

51.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,702

Year built

1988

Households that rent

49.2%

Households that own

50.8%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.0

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

68.7%

Black

3.2%

Asian

5.3%

Two or more races

13.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

16.8%

Not Hispanic or Latino

83.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

82.4%

Commute time to work

23 mins

Work from home

17.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

31.8%

High school graduate or GED

24.3%

Some college or associate degree

11.5%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

32.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Vancouver, WA with: Washington State United States

Vancouver, WA

Total population195,300

Rent$1,702

Year built1988

Household income$81,338

Per capita income$45,636

Poverty rate10.2%

Unemployment rate4.6%

Washington State

Total population7,816,116

Rent$1,760

Year built1985

Household income$98,141

Per capita income$53,744

Poverty rate9.9%

Unemployment rate4.5%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityVancouver, WA	StateWashington	CountryUnited States
Total population	195,300	7,816,116	334,922,499
Rent	$1,702	$1,760	$1,413
Year built	1988	1985	1980
Household income	$81,338	$98,141	$80,734
Per capita income	$45,636	$53,744	$44,673
Poverty rate	10.2%	9.9%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.6%	4.5%	4%

View the complete comparison of Vancouver, WA, Washington and United States →

Summary for Vancouver, WA

Vancouver is located in Washington.

Rent & Income

In Vancouver, the typical monthly rent is $1,702 and the typical household income is $81,338. Rent here is similar to Washington and higher than the U.S., and household income is lower than Washington and similar to the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 10.2%, which is similar to the Washington rate and lower than the national rate.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 49.2% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 51.8% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 32.3% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 4.6%, which is similar to Washington and higher than the national rate.

Vancouver, WA — Rent vs Household Income

Vancouver, WA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Vancouver, WA compares in Washington State (25 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,702	11 / 25	from lower rent	$1,117 – $2,857
Household income	$81,338	18 / 25	from higher income	$62,815 – $239,690
Poverty rate	10.2%	11 / 25	from lower poverty	4.3% – 18.6%
Unemployment rate	4.6%	19 / 25	from lower unemployment	2.8% – 6.8%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Washington State with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Vancouver, WA

Rent

Vancouver ranks 11th out of 25 large places in Washington for rent. Statewide rents range from $1,117 in Yakima, WA to $2,857 in Sammamish, WA.

Household income

For household income, Vancouver ranks 18th out of 25 large places. Across Washington, incomes range from $62,815 in Yakima, WA to $239,690 in Sammamish, WA.

Poverty rate

Looking at poverty, Vancouver ranks 11th out of 25 large places. Statewide poverty rates range from 4.3% in Sammamish, WA to 18.6% in Bellingham, WA.

Unemployment rate

For joblessness, Vancouver ranks 19th out of 25 significant areas. Across Washington, unemployment varies from 2.8% in Redmond, WA to 6.8% in Yakima, WA.

💰 Rent in Vancouver, WA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,702 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Vancouver, WA

Annual Household Income: $81,338

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Vancouver, WA

Estimated Rate: 10.2%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Vancouver, WA

In Vancouver, WA, households that rent: 40,119 (49.2%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	40,119	49.2%
Owner-Occupied	41,385	50.8%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Vancouver, WA

In Vancouver, WA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 20,788 (51.8%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	20,788	51.8%
Other renter households	19,331	48.2%
Total renter households	40,119	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Vancouver, WA

Less than High School: 43,891 people (31.8%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 33,609 people (24.3%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 15,900 people (11.5%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 44,657 people (32.3%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 138,057

📊 Unemployment Rate in Vancouver, WA

Estimated Rate: 4.6%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Huntington Beach, CA196,010 Peoria, AZ194,338 Knoxville, TN193,721 Overland Park, KS197,199 Sioux Falls, SD197,642 Grand Rapids, MI197,768 Glendale, CA192,270 Montgomery, AL198,440 Grand Prairie, TX198,564 Birmingham, AL199,322

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.