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Cowlitz County, WA
10 cities and towns and 10 ZIP codes in Cowlitz County, Washington.
Population
112,360
Land area
1,141sq mi
People per sq mi
98
ZIP codes
10
Cities and towns in Cowlitz County
Cowlitz County at a glance
- The median household income is $76,531, 22% below the Washington median of $98,141.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $397,500 (30% below Washington) and median rent is $1,206 a month.
- Its largest cities are Longview (38,069), Kelso (12,684) and Woodland (6,487).
Local data for Cowlitz County, WA
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes4
- Schools52
- Colleges2
- Libraries6
- Banks8
- Post Offices11
- Parks58
- Grocery Stores30
- Restaurants244
- Affordable Housing3
- Dialysis Centers3
- Community Health Centers10
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment20
- Private Schools5
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools1
- Toxic Release Facilities17
- Historic Places27
Housing and community stats
Cowlitz County, WA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$76,531
Poverty rate
12.2%
Median home value
$397,500
Prices +3.7% in a year
Median rent
$1,206/mo
Homeownership
68.0%
Bachelor's or higher
17.6%
Median age
41.5
Average commute
26.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (18,826), Irish Americans (12,400), Mexican Americans (8,991).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
5.2%
Aug 2026, -0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$70,057
41,077 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$59,669
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$946M
FY 2026, $8,540 per person
PPP loans
$190M
1,798 loans, 19,391 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$513K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Cowlitz County, WA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone81.5%
- Carpooled8.1%
- Public transit0.4%
- Walked0.9%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.8%
- Worked from home8.2%
Average one-way commute: 26.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Cowlitz County, WA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: volcanic activity
Storm events since 1996
80
Most often flood
Flood insurance policies
839
2.0% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
79° / 35°F
48.1 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone27 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Cowlitz County, WA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
40.5%
U.S. 33.3% +7.2 pts
Diabetes
11.4%
U.S. 12.1% -0.7 pts
Smoking
13.4%
U.S. 12.8% +0.6 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
9.2%
U.S. 11.1% -1.9 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Cowlitz County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Cowlitz County, WA?
- Longview is the largest city or town in Cowlitz County, with about 38,069 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Cowlitz County?
- Cowlitz County includes 10 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 98581, 98603, 98609, 98611, 98625.
- What is the population of Cowlitz County, WA?
- About 112,360 people live in Cowlitz County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Cowlitz County?
- Cowlitz County borders Clark County, Lewis County, Columbia County, OR, Skamania County, Wahkiakum County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023