NToutle Plain panorama 8883 · Photo: Chris Light · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Cowlitz County, Washington

112,360 residents · Updated Nov 12, 2026

Rental availability, asking rents against HUD Fair Market Rent, and community services in Cowlitz County, from the data behind Range Lab’s tools, refreshed daily.

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Cowlitz County

Washington

112,360 residents

5 ZIP codes with listings

207 services listed

All Washington counties

NToutle Plain panorama 8883 · Photo: Chris Light · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Renter households

14,067 ±705

32% of occupied homes

Median renter household income

$49,904 ±2,936

Affords $1,248/month at 30% of income

47% of area median income

Median gross rent
(what renters pay)

$1,206 ±39

Includes utilities; renters already housed

Asking today $1,300 ↑ 8% higher

Rental vacancy rate

3.4%

Vacant units for rent, of rental stock

309 priced listings on Range Lab today

How much of the rental market each income can reach

Asking rents today by unit size (middle half and median) against what a household at each share of area median income (AMI) can afford at 30% of income. HUD sizing: one person for a studio, 1.5 per bedroom.

30% AMI can afford50% AMI can afford80% AMI can afford100% AMI can affordMiddle half of asking rentsMedian

$500$1,000$1,500$2,000$2,500$3,000$3,500Monthly rent →

Asking rents and affordable rents by unit size
Unit size	Median asking	Middle half	30% AMI can afford	50% AMI can afford	80% AMI can afford	100% AMI can afford
Studio	$895	$879–$988	$548	$913	$1,459	$1,825
1 bedroom	$1,050	$896–$1,138	$586	$978	$1,563	$1,955
2 bedroom	$1,295	$1,195–$1,411	$704	$1,173	$1,876	$2,345
3 bedroom	$2,095	$1,700–$2,295	$896	$1,355	$2,168	$2,710
4 bedroom	$2,745	$2,643–$3,000	$1,109	$1,511	$2,418	$3,023

What renters can afford vs. typical asking rent

HUD FY2026 income limits at 30% of income, against today’s median asking rent.

Affordable rent (30% of income)Median asking rent, 2 bedroom

30% AMI

Extremely low income

$704$1,295

50% AMI

Very low income

$1,173$1,295

80% AMI

Low income

$1,295$1,876

100% AMI

Median income

$1,295$2,345

2 bedroom

$1,295

Median asking rent · middle half $1,195–$1,411

1.8×

what an extremely low-income household can afford ($704)

55% AMI

income needed to afford the median, as a share of AMI

1.1

affordable listings per 100 renter households at or below 50% AMI (all sizes)

Households vs. the listings they can afford

Renter households at or below each income line, next to today’s listings affordable at that line. Both on the same scale.

Renter households (HUD CHAS)Affordable listings today

At or below 30% AMI3,095 households1 listings · 0.0 per 100
At or below 50% AMI5,695 households63 listings · 1.1 per 100
02k4k6k

1.1

affordable listings per 100 renter households at or below 50% AMI: 63 listings for 5,695 households.

Renter cost burden by income band

HUD CHAS 2018-2022. Column width is renter households in each band; height is the share paying 30–50% or 50%+ of income on rent.

Not burdenedBurdened (30–50%)Severely (50%+)Not published

24%10%65%

9%58%33%

56%42%

Not published

All renters: 46% cost-burdened, 21% severely (CHAS). Census ACS 2024: 49% and 25%. HUD doesn’t publish the burden split above 80% AMI.

Typical rent over time vs. what incomes can afford

Zillow’s typical rent since September 2023 against the 2-bedroom rent affordable at 50% and 80% of AMI (HUD FY2026).

Zillow typical rent by month
September 2023	$1,357
October 2023	$1,361
November 2023	$1,366
December 2023	$1,365
January 2024	$1,351
February 2024	$1,350
March 2024	$1,348
April 2024	$1,363
May 2024	$1,364
June 2024	$1,371
July 2024	$1,365
August 2024	$1,360
September 2024	$1,368
October 2024	$1,390
November 2024	$1,408
December 2024	$1,409
January 2025	$1,411
February 2025	$1,405
March 2025	$1,412
April 2025	$1,411
May 2025	$1,424
June 2025	$1,425
July 2025	$1,431
August 2025	$1,440
September 2025	$1,442
October 2025	$1,434
November 2025	$1,422
December 2025	$1,430
January 2026	$1,440
February 2026	$1,450
March 2026	$1,450
April 2026	$1,449
May 2026	$1,444
June 2026	$1,443
July 2026	$1,444
August 2026	$1,443

Around the county

Median household income (all)

$76,531 ±3,128

Renters earn 65% of this

Poverty rate

12.2%

of 112,360 residents

Listings at or below HUD Fair Market Rent

74%

of 2 bedroom listings today

Key takeaways

Asking rents are far out of reach at the lowest incomes
A household at 30% of AMI can afford $704/month for a 2 bedroom; the median asking rent is $1,295, 1.8× that.
About 8 in 10 renters below 50% AMI are cost-burdened
76% of extremely low-income and 91% of very low-income renter households pay more than 30% of income on rent; 65% of the lowest band pay half or more.
1.1 affordable listings per 100 low-income households
63 of today’s 309 priced listings are affordable at 50% of AMI, for 5,695 renter households at or below that line.

Rent affordability gap by unit size

Median asking rent vs. what a household at 30% of area median income can afford. HUD sizing: one person for a studio, 1.5 per bedroom. Select a size to update the charts above.

Sources: Census ACS 5-year (2024) · HUD CHAS (2018-2022) · HUD FY2026 income limits · Zillow ZORI · Range Lab RST listings. How this is calculated.