The typical owner-occupied home in Cowlitz County is worth about $397,500, 30% below the Washington median of $564,600 and 19% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,245 a year in property taxes, about 0.82% of their home's value, close to the Washington rate of 0.81%. The median household earns $76,531 a year, so the median home costs 5.2 times the median income (5.8 times for Washington). 68% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 65% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Cowlitz County at a glance
| Cowlitz County | Washington | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $397,500 | $564,600 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $3,245 | $4,556 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.82% | 0.81% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $76,531 | $98,141 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 68% | 64% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 65% | 66% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,949 | $2,445 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 23.9% | 22.2% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,206 | $1,760 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 29.8% | 30.0% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1976 | 1985 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 5.3% | 7.3% | 10.1% |
| Population | 112,360 | 7,816,116 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Cowlitz County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Cowlitz County home of $397,500 with 20% down costs about $2,576 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $3,239, 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 $110,420 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 40% of the median Cowlitz County household income of $76,531; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $276,000.
The median rent here is $1,206 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,370 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $79,500 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $318,000 |
| Principal and interest | $2,139 |
| Property taxes (0.82% a year) | $272 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $166 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $2,576 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $13,912 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $390,300 |
| Principal and interest | $2,626 |
| Property taxes (0.82% a year) | $272 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $166 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $176 |
| Total per month | $3,239 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Cowlitz County
What is the median home value in Cowlitz County?
About $397,500 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Cowlitz County?
Homeowners pay a median $3,245 a year, which is about 0.82% 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 Cowlitz County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,576 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $110,420 a year.
More about Cowlitz County
- Mortgage Refinance in Cowlitz County
- Debt Relief in Cowlitz County
- Home Equity Loans in Cowlitz 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