The Town FilesVancouver, Washington
City in Clark County · population 190,915 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $462,400
- Household income
- $81,338
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 37.9
Vancouver is a city of 190,915 people in Clark County, Washington. The median home is worth $462,400, close to the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks more vibrant than 95% of Washington towns, more walkable than 89% of Washington towns, better for young professionals than 86% of Washington towns.
How Vancouver 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 Vancouver is worth $462,400, close to the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 5.7 times the median household income of $81,338, which is more affordable than 38% of Washington towns. Median rent is $1,702 a month. 50.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Vancouver | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $462,400 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,702 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $81,338 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.7× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 50.8% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Vancouver
| People | Vancouver | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.7% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.3% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.2% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.8% | — |
| Work from home | 17.6% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.4% | 93.9% |
Weather in Vancouver
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 34.4°F. About 37.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.2 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 45 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vancouver since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Washington town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 5, 1972 about 3.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 300 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 27, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on July 31, 1991.
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 Vancouver itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Public schools in Vancouver
93 public schools with 44,208 students, about 17.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skyview High School | 9-12 | 1,780 | 22.8 |
| Mountain View High School | 9-12 | 1,636 | 21.5 |
| Heritage High School | 9-12 | 1,588 | 20.6 |
| Evergreen High School | 9-12 | 1,543 | 20.0 |
| Fort Vancouver High School | 9-12 | 1,365 | 17.7 |
| Columbia River High | 9-12 | 1,187 | 21.6 |
| Hudson's Bay High School | 9-12 | 1,169 | 20.5 |
| Covington Middle School | 6-8 | 876 | 18.6 |
| Mcloughlin Middle School | 6-8 | 865 | 18.0 |
| Pacific Middle School | 6-8 | 833 | 19.8 |
| Cascade Middle School | 6-8 | 827 | 18.8 |
| Shahala Middle School | 6-8 | 809 | 19.7 |
Towns near Vancouver
- Minnehaha, WA1.7 mi · 11,871 people · home $447,900
- Five Corners, WA3.8 mi · 20,973 people · home $459,600
- Hazel Dell, WA4.1 mi · 23,569 people · home $455,500
- Orchards, WA4.8 mi · 27,729 people · home $461,700
- Barberton, WA5.3 mi · 8,567 people · home $647,300
- Lake Shore, WA5.9 mi · 7,056 people · home $566,100
- Salmon Creek, WA6.0 mi · 21,293 people · home $530,100
- Brush Prairie, WA6.5 mi · 2,749 people · home $568,000
Vancouver questions
Is Vancouver, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Vancouver scores better for retirees than 20% of Washington towns and quieter than 8%. 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.9).
How much does a house cost in Vancouver?
The median owner-occupied home in Vancouver is valued at $462,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,338, so homes cost about 5.7 times income. Median rent is $1,702 a month.
What is the weather like in Vancouver?
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 34.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.5 inches of precipitation a year and 4.2 inches of snow.
Does Vancouver get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vancouver since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 5, 1972. 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)