Castle Rock, Wash, 1905
Castle Rock’s story
172 years in pictures
Census counts: 681 in 1890, 2,446 in 2020. The archive holds 5 old photos and papers going back to 1905 and 3 maps from 1941 on.
- 1854Castle Rock is settled
Castle RockWA
Population
2,442
2025 Census estimate · −0.2% since 2020
Typical home
$476K
+1.1% in a year
Household income
$70K
median
Median age
33.9
years
Jobs based here
746
A commuter town
Is Castle Rock a good place to live?
Castle Rock’s best subject grade is an A+ for the outdoors; its weakest is a D for hazard risk. 16% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Castle Rock, below both Washington’s towns (30%) and U.S. towns (29%). Castle Rock’s trail density is 1.2 miles per square mile, where Washington’s towns sit at 0.8 and U.S. towns at 0.4. On the outdoors, just 12 of Washington’s 397 towns do better. The biggest park or preserve is North County Park, at 57 acres. Castle Rock has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Castle Rock stand out
Where Castle Rock beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
A growing town
Castle Rock has grown 23% since 2010
1,982 counted in 2010 and 2,446 in 2020; an estimated 2,442 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Castle Rock grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Washington), ordered by how far Castle Rock is from typical.
Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listDOpen →SchoolsC−Open →Cost of livingCOpen →HealthPeacehealth St. John Medical Center 9.9 miles awayC+Open →Jobs & incomeC+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.3 of 20; 3.3% of households have no car; 0.5% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors3 miles of trails; 11% conserved landA+Open →History1 notable person born hereC+Open →Civic life1.7 library visits per resident; 3.6 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 80° summer afternoons, 2″ of snow–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 33.9–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Castle Rock: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Castle Rock, and how to reach them.
PowerPUD No 1 of Cowlitz County9.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCastle Rock Municipal WaterNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Castle Rock’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Washington you can register online until 8 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received 8 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereCowlitz County AuditorCowlitz County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2025
ZIP code9861198611 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Castle Rock.
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Castle Rock faces a very high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 87% of U.S. communities. Since 1980, 20 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Castle Rock.
87risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingVolcanic activityEarthquakes
20
paid flood claims since 1980
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
SchoolsC−
On state tests, Castle Rock’s schools trail 80% of Washington districts
Its public schools are run by the Castle Rock School District. Two of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Castle Rock High School, with 422 students.
20%of WA districts it outscoresC−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castle Rock ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 733 | – |
| Castle Rock High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 422 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WA on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
With 0.7 jobs for every working resident, most of Castle Rock’s workers commute out
Most working residents leave Castle Rock for work: only 8% work in town. Since 2013, Castle Rock has added 168 jobs, to 746 in 2023. The median household income in Castle Rock is $70,000.
8%work in town
| Castle Rock | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $70,000 | $98,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 28 minutes | 27 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Castle Rock8%
Longview17%
Vancouver8%
Kelso7%
Portland4%
29 mi
median commute distance
746
jobs based in Castle Rock
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 45% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Mild winters and pleasant summers in Castle Rock
Castle Rock has mild winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. Castle Rock’s July high is 79°F.
2″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter34–48°
Spring41–62°
Summer51–77°
Fall43–63°
Nov 5
typical first frost
Apr 8
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade C
Castle Rock’s typical home value is about $476K
The typical Castle Rock home is worth about $476,000, up 1.1% in a year, 19% below the Washington typical home.
$476KZillow home value
| Castle Rock | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,222 a month | $1,739 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 67% | 71% | 73% |
Typical home value
Castle Rock$476K
Washington$588K
+1.1%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
OutdoorsA+
Castle Rock has set aside 10.6% of its land for conservation
2.8 miles of trail in 5 parks and preserves.
10.6%conserved
10.6%
conserved · 156 of 1,471 acres
2.8 mi
of trails · 1.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Castle Rock Bike Skills Park | 1 mi | 6 |
| 2. North County Park | 0.2 mi | 57 |
| 3. The Rock Community Park | 0.2 mi | 10 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Safety
Crime reported in Castle Rock
Castle Rock's reported crime rate is well below Washington's. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts. Violent crime is rare: 1 reported in 2024.
| Castle Rock | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 0.4 per 1,000 residents | 1.9 | 1.7 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 10.3 per 1,000 residents | 19.3 | 11.5 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Castle Rock0.4
Washington3.3
U.S.3.6
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Castle Rock10.3
Washington25.2
U.S.17.7
1
violent crimes reported in 2024
25
property crimes reported in 2024
FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to police
HealthC+
Health in Castle Rock trails 58% of U.S. towns
Castle Rock beats the Washington average on 0 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 18. 20% of adults report frequent mental distress in Castle Rock.
42%healthier than U.S. townsC+Health Grade
| Castle Rock | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 17% | 17% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 70% | 71% | 79% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 33% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 36% | 33% | 36% |
31 measures vs. Washington
0 better13 too close to call18 worse
| What stands out | Castle Rock | WA |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 13.3% | 9% |
| More adults with COPD | 7.2% | 5.1% |
| More smokers | 13.9% | 10.1% |
Peacehealth St. John Medical Center
9.9 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Castle Rock
20pages on Castle Rock
The big questions
SchoolsC−Behind 80% of WA districts · 4 schoolsSafety0.4 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2024)HealthC+Better than WA on 0 of 31 CDC measuresCost of livingC$476K typical home · up 1.1% in a yearWork & commuteC+$70K median household income · 746 jobs hereNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 87% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Castle Rock
About 2 of every 100 Castle Rock residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Washington.
A commuter town
92% of working residents leave Castle Rock for work
Where Castle Rock’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
746jobs based in Castle Rock
8%of working residents work in town
29 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Castle Rock
City in Washington, United States
Castle Rock is a city in Cowlitz County, Washington, United States. Located between the Willapa Hills and the western base of Mount St. Helens, Castle Rock is at the heart of Washington timber country in the Pacific temperate rain forest. Castle Rock is part of the Longview, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area; the population was 2,446 as of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 2.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 59 ft
- ZIP code
- 98611
- Area code
- 360
Questions about Castle Rock
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Castle Rock, WA expensive?
That is 6.2 years of the area's median household income ($76,531 across the Longview-Kelso, WA metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.