The typical owner-occupied home in Columbia County is worth about $421,600, 12% below the Oregon median of $477,600 and 27% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,137 a year in property taxes, about 0.74% of their home's value, lower than the Oregon rate of 0.81%. The median household earns $87,458 a year, so the median home costs 4.8 times the median income (5.8 times for Oregon). 76% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 67% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Columbia County at a glance
| Columbia County | Oregon | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $421,600 | $477,600 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $3,137 | $3,876 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.74% | 0.81% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $87,458 | $83,011 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 76% | 63% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 67% | 65% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,886 | $2,157 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 21.8% | 22.4% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,373 | $1,525 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 32.1% | 31.3% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1981 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 5.6% | 7.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 53,493 | 4,254,293 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Columbia County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Columbia County home of $421,600 with 20% down costs about $2,705 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $3,407, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $115,909 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 37% of the median Columbia County household income of $87,458; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $318,000.
The median rent here is $1,373 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,332 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $84,320 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $337,280 |
| Principal and interest | $2,269 |
| Property taxes (0.74% a year) | $260 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $176 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $2,705 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $14,756 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $413,964 |
| Principal and interest | $2,785 |
| Property taxes (0.74% a year) | $260 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $176 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $186 |
| Total per month | $3,407 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Columbia County
What is the median home value in Columbia County?
About $421,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Columbia County?
Homeowners pay a median $3,137 a year, which is about 0.74% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Columbia County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,705 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $115,909 a year.
More about Columbia County
- Mortgage Refinance in Columbia County
- Debt Relief in Columbia County
- Home Equity Loans in Columbia County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data