The Town FilesCornelius, Oregon
City in Washington County · population 12,694 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $452,900
- Household income
- $96,273
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 35.1
Cornelius is a city of 12,694 people in Washington County, Oregon. The median home is worth $452,900, above the typical Oregon town ($394,200). It ranks better transit than 90% of Oregon towns, more vibrant than 71% of Oregon towns.
How Cornelius ranks
Percentile among Oregon towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Oregon towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Cornelius is worth $452,900, above the typical Oregon town ($394,200). Homes cost about 4.7 times the median household income of $96,273, which is more affordable than 65% of Oregon towns. Median rent is $1,573 a month. 74.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cornelius | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $452,900 | $394,200 |
| Median rent | $1,573 | $1,312 |
| Median household income | $96,273 | $76,221 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.7× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 74.3% | 71.1% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Cornelius
| People | Cornelius | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.1 | 41.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.5% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.9% | 23.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.1% | 10.8% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 23.3% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 12.2% |
| Average commute | 28.7 min | 23.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.3% | 92.4% |
Weather in Cornelius
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 32.6°F. About 46.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.7 inches of snow (typical Oregon town: 3.1 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 61 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Cornelius since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Oregon town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on October 29, 2018 about 5.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 29, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on May 25, 1998.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 9, 2024 | Fire | FM-5529: Lee Falls Fire |
| September 15, 2020 | Fire | DR-4562: Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds |
| September 10, 2020 | Fire | EM-3542: Wildfires |
| September 10, 2020 | Fire | FM-5371: Chehalem Mountain Bald Peak Fire |
| September 8, 2020 | Fire | FM-5358: Powerline Fire |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 308,680 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $90,292 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Cornelius itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in Cornelius
3 public schools with 1,152 students, about 16.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Echo Shaw Elementary School | PK-6 | 394 | 15.8 |
| Free Orchards Elementary School | K-6 | 385 | 17.5 |
| Cornelius Elementary School | PK-4 | 373 | 14.9 |
Towns near Cornelius
- Forest Grove, OR2.9 mi · 26,225 people · home $479,600
- Hillsboro, OR5.6 mi · 106,447 people · home $521,100
- North Plains, OR6.1 mi · 3,441 people · home $587,500
- Rockcreek, OR8.8 mi · 9,862 people · home $653,300
- Aloha, OR8.8 mi · 53,828 people · home $484,400
- Oak Hills, OR10.3 mi · 11,903 people · home $647,800
- Bethany, OR10.8 mi · 31,350 people · home $751,700
- Marlene Village, OR11.2 mi · 5,485 people · home $539,800
Cornelius questions
Is Cornelius, Oregon a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cornelius scores better for retirees than 5% of Oregon towns and quieter than 27%. 12.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.1).
How much does a house cost in Cornelius?
The median owner-occupied home in Cornelius is valued at $452,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $96,273, so homes cost about 4.7 times income. Median rent is $1,573 a month.
What is the weather like in Cornelius?
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 32.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.7 inches of precipitation a year and 2.7 inches of snow.
Does Cornelius get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Cornelius since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on October 29, 2018. The typical Oregon town has had 2.
- 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)