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Moving to Columbia, WA?

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Everything You Should Know Before Moving to Columbia, WA

Considering a move to Columbia, WA? This quiet rural town of just 220 residents offers scenic charm, affordable living, and a close-knit community. With median home prices around $420,000 and average rents near $1,050, housing remains accessible. Crime rates are low, and the area boasts mild summers, over 50% sunny days, and easy access to healthcare and outdoor activities. Commute times are short, and local schools provide quality education, making Columbia a peaceful spot for those seeking a slower pace of life in northwest Washington.

Demographics - Columbia, WA

Demographics - Columbia, WA

Columbia, WA is a small rural community with about 220 residents, a median age of 48.2 years, and a population density of 580 people per square mile. The town is predominantly White, with over 92% of residents identifying as such, and features a slightly higher number of males than females. A modest percentage of households speak a language other than English, reflecting a close-knit and relatively homogeneous population.

demograph population
Population:
220
demograph density
Density:
580 per sq mi
demograph median age
Median Age:
48.2
Demograph Gender Ratio
Gender Ratio:
105 males per 100 females
demograph Non English Speakers Percentage
Non-English Speakers Percentage:
4.5%
demograph ethnicCompositionEthnic Composition
demograph whites
White:
92.0%
demograph blacks
Black:
0.0%
demograph asian
Asian:
1.2%
demograph others
Others:
6.8%
People moving
People moving

Cost Of Living

Cost Of Living

What is the average cost of living in Columbia, WA?

Living in Columbia is moderately affordable, with a cost of living index of 113.4—slightly above the national average. The median home value is around $420,000 and the average rent is $1,050, offering accessible housing options for many. Utilities and healthcare costs are close to national averages, while state taxes range from 0% to 9%, making budgeting straightforward for new residents.

cost of living medianHouseValue
Median House Value:
$420,000
cost of living grossRent
Gross Rent:
$1,050
cost of living monthlyElectricityCharges
Monthly Electricity Charges:
$110
cost of living autoInsurance
Auto Insurance:
$1,210
cost of living houseownerCostWithMortgage
House Owner Cost With Mortgage:
$1,980
cost of living houseownerCostWithoutMortgage
House Owner Cost Without Mortgage:
$650
cost of living stateTaxes State Taxes:
Low:
0%
|
High:
9.0%
cost of living costOfLivingIndex
Cost Of Living Index:
113.4
cost of living grocery
Grocery:
109.6
cost of living housing
Housing:
118.2
cost of living utilities
Utilities:
94.5
cost of living transportation
Transportation:
106.2
cost of living health-care
Health Care:
103.8
cost of living miscellaneous
Miscellaneous:
100.7

Crime

Crime

Is Columbia, WA a safe place to live?

Columbia experiences low crime rates, with a violent crime rate of 120 per 100,000 residents and property crimes at 1,150 per 100,000. The chances of being a victim of violent crime are about 1 in 833, reflecting a generally safe environment. Residents enjoy peace of mind in this quiet community.

crime voilentCrimes
Violent Crimes Per 100k:
120
crime propertyCrime
Property Crimes Per 100k:
1,150
crime crimeIndex
Crime Index:
1,270
crime chanceOfViolentCrime
Chance Of Violent Crime:
1 in 833
crime chanceOfPropertyCrime
Chance Of Property Crime:
1 in 87
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Weather

Weather

What is the weather like in Columbia, WA year-round?

Columbia features mild and comfortable weather, with summer highs around 75°F and winter lows rarely dipping below 34°F. The area receives approximately 34.5 inches of rainfall annually and enjoys sunshine about 52% of the year. This climate supports year-round outdoor activities and a relaxed lifestyle.

weather winterWinter
weather min
Min:
34°F
weather max
Max:
46°F
weather springSpring
weather min
Min:
41°F
weather max
Max:
61°F
weather summerSummer
weather min
Min:
51°F
weather max
Max:
75°F
weather fallFall
weather min
Min:
43°F
weather max
Max:
62°F
weather averageRainfallInches
Average Rainfall Inches:
34.5 inches
weather sunnyDays Percentage
Sunny Days Percentage:
52%

Neighbors

Neighbors

The community boasts a median household income of $70,800 and a family income of $79,400, with a poverty rate of just 8.3%. Most residents are highly educated, as over 95% have completed high school and nearly a third hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Columbia's small-town atmosphere and low unemployment rate contribute to a stable and friendly neighborhood feel.

neighbor medianIncome
Median Income:
$38,500
neighbor householdIncome
Household Income:
$70,800
neighbor familyIncome
Family Income:
$79,400
neighbor perCapitaIncome
Per Capita Income:
$34,200
neighbor incomeMale
Income Male:
$41,000
neighbor incomeFemale
Income Female:
$36,000
neighbor povertyRate
Poverty Rate:
8.3%
neighbor nonEnglishSpeakers
Non English Speakers:
4.5%
neighbor rent
Rent:
$1,050
neighbor unemployment
Unemployment Rate:
5.2%
neighbor publicTransport
Public Transport Usage:
0.7%
neighbor commuteTime
Commute Time:
28.2 minutes
neighbor educationEducation
neighbor highSchool
High School or Higher:
95.8%
neighbor bachelors
Bachelors or More:
32.1%
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Education

Education

How are the schools in Columbia, WA?

Columbia offers quality education through Edison Elementary School, which has a low student-teacher ratio of 15.1, ensuring personalized attention. Families benefit from proximity to higher education, with Skagit Valley College just 14 miles away and Western Washington University 24 miles away. While there are no private schools in town, the public and nearby collegiate options provide strong educational opportunities.

education PublicSchoolsPublic Schools
education publicName
Name:
Edison Elementary School
education publicStreet
Street:
5831 Main St, Bow, WA 98232
education publicPhone
Phone:
360-766-4935
education publicStudents
Students:
120
education publicStudentTeacherRatio
Student Teacher Ratio:
15.1


education collegesColleges
education collegeName
Name:
Skagit Valley College
education collegeCity
City:
Mount Vernon
education collegeState
State:
WA
education collegeDistance
Distance:
14 miles
education collegeStudents
Students:
4,500


education collegeName
Name:
Western Washington University
education collegeCity
City:
Bellingham
education collegeState
State:
WA
education collegeDistance
Distance:
24 miles
education collegeStudents
Students:
16,000


Healthcare

Healthcare

Residents have access to nearby hospitals such as United General Medical Center and Skagit Valley Hospital, both offering emergency and surgical services. The community enjoys solid healthcare access, with 2.3 physicians per 1,000 people and over 91% of residents covered by health insurance. Columbia’s healthcare index of 77.2 indicates reliable and accessible medical care for locals.

healthcare majorHospitals Major Hospitals
healthcare hospitalName
Name:
United General Medical Center
healthcare hospitalAddress
Address:
2000 Hospital Dr, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284
healthcare hospitalPhone
Phone:
(360) 856-6021
healthcare hospitalType
Type:
General & Surgical
healthcare emergencyServices
Emergency Services:
Yes


healthcare hospitalName
Name:
Skagit Valley Hospital
healthcare hospitalAddress
Address:
1415 E Kincaid St, Mount Vernon, WA 98274
healthcare hospitalPhone
Phone:
(360) 424-4111
healthcare hospitalType
Type:
General & Surgical
healthcare emergencyServices
Emergency Services:
Yes


healthcare physiciansPer1000
Physicians Per 1000:
2.3
healthcare healthInsuranceCoverage
Health Insurance Coverage:
91.7%
healthcare healthCareIndex
Health Care Index:
77.2
Healthcare
Housing Market

Housing Market

Housing Market

What is the housing market like in Columbia, WA?

The housing market in Columbia is stable, with a median home price of $420,000 and average rent for a two-bedroom at $1,050. Owner-occupied homes make up 73.5% of the market, and the area has a low 0.4% foreclosure rate. Home values have appreciated by 5.6% over the past year, reflecting steady growth and investment potential.

housing market medianHomePrice
Median Home Price:
$420,000
housing market averageRentFor2Bedroom
Average Rent For 2 Bedroom:
$1,050
housing market ownerOccupiedRate
Owner Occupied Rate:
73.5%
housing market rentalVacancyRate
Rental Vacancy Rate:
5.8%
housing market homeAppreciationRate1Yr
Home Appreciation Rate (1yr):
5.6%
housing market newConstructionRate
New Construction Rate:
1.2%
housing market foreclosureRate
Foreclosure Rate:
0.4%

DMV Information

DMV Information

Vehicle and licensing needs in Columbia are managed by the Washington Department of Licensing, located in Olympia. Residents can access services online or by phone, making it convenient to handle registrations, licenses, and other DMV-related tasks. The state’s main DMV office is easily reachable for any in-person requirements.

dmv state
State:
Washington
dmv department
Department:
WA Department of Licensing
dmv address
Address:
1125 Washington St SE, Olympia, WA 98501
dmv phone
Phone:
360-902-3900
DMV

Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is based on publicly available sources including AccuWeather, U.S. Census Bureau, local government data, and third-party partners such as Neustar. While we strive to ensure accuracy, all data is provided “as is” and should be independently verified before making any decisions. Movers.com makes no guarantees regarding the completeness or reliability of the information.

Top Movers in Columbia, WA

Planning a relocation in or near Columbia? We have you covered. Whether you're moving across a street or across town, our dependable network of local movers is ready to handle every aspect of your relocation. Find expert movers who will make your move as seamless, efficient, and stress-free as possible, from packing and loading to transporting and unpacking. Explore specialty moving services, compare estimates, and contact a reputable moving company in Columbia.

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FAQs About Moving to Columbia, WA

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Check the cost of living, housing, traffic, and public transit in Columbia. Each neighborhood has its own vibe, so pick one that fits your lifestyle. Be prepared for Columbia climate and weather.

Moving within Columbia usually costs between $300 and $1,500. Moving long distances can cost anywhere from $2,000 to more than $5,000. The price may go up if you need extra services like packing or storage. Fill out Movers.com quote form to compare the quotes easily.

While moves happen year-round, spring and fall are often more comfortable in Columbia. Booking outside of peak summer or winter seasons can save money and make scheduling easier.

Yes! Majority of moving companies in Columbia offer full service moving, which means they will help you pack, unpack, and arrange your belongings.

You should plan your move from Columbia at least 4 to 8 weeks in advance, especially if you're moving during the busy season (summer). You can get better availability, prices, and flexibility with your moving date if you book early. If you book at the last minute, you may have fewer choices or pay more.
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