RANK #857 / 1001 NAT · #16 / 21 WA · POP 516,959
1YR FORECAST: -1.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +21%
Clark County, Washington, often called the "Cradle of Pacific Northwest History," is distinguished by its direct access to the Columbia River and its proximity to the Cascade Mountains. Vancouver, the county seat, sits just across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon, making it a commuter hub with C-TRAN offering express bus services to downtown Portland. The community offers a blend of urban and rural settings, with towns like Camas known for its schools and Ridgefield for its natural beauty and wildlife refuge. Outdoor recreation is a significant draw, with numerous parks, trails like the Salmon Creek Greenway, and water features such as Lacamas Lake and the Columbia River supporting hiking, biking, boating, and wildlife viewing.
Life in Clark County appeals to families and professionals seeking a balance of natural amenities and urban access. The county's public schools are generally rated above average, with districts like Camas and Ridgefield noted for their educational offerings. The economy is diverse, with healthcare, professional services, retail, and manufacturing as primary sectors. Clark County has seen consistent population growth, partly due to its appealing quality of life and the absence of a state income tax in Washington, which attracts residents from neighboring Oregon.
Clark County is one of 78 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of -0.4% matches the profile's typical -0.8%.
See all 78 Western Premium Correction counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Prices detached from rents
Housing looks overvalued at 19.6x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Amazon Warehouse and Distribution Center
Amazon
|
$50M | Planned |
|
Bridge Point Vancouver 600 Warehouse
Bridge Industrial
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Clark County scores just 14/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #857 of 1001 counties. Job growth at +0.7% and median household income of $97,536 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Clark County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $522,900 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.19 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,748/month on average.
Clark County's population is growing — up +1.3% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.7%). Home values shifted -0.4% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
Not particularly — 1.6% of Clark County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.