Acheson Building, 2006
Washougal’s story
174 years in pictures
Census counts: 456 in 1910, 17,039 in 2020. The archive holds 11 old photos and papers going back to 2006 and 5 maps from 1941 on.
- 1852Washougal is settled
WashougalWA
A town of 18,028, settled in 1852.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: Jared Adams · CC BY 3.0
Population
18,028
2025 Census estimate · +5.8% since 2020
Typical home
$635K
+1.2% in a year
Household income
$106K
median
Median age
38.4
years
Jobs based here
3,500
A commuter town
TownGrade
C+
#161 of 285 in WA
Is Washougal a good place to live?
Washougal grades C+ overall, ranked 161st of 285 in Washington, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. It has 10 miles of trail and it is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 75% of U.S. towns. On the other side, homes are expensive, about $635K for a typical one and 6.5 times the Portland metro’s $97K median household income. Washougal’s trail density is 1.5 miles per square mile, above both the Washington town median (0.8) and the median of U.S. towns (0.4). Washougal's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) is stronger than in 86% of U.S. towns. FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 82% of U.S. communities, with inland flooding at the top.
What makes Washougal stand out
Where Washougal beats most towns.
WalkabilityA−
More walkable than 75% of U.S. towns
1.9% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
Washougal School District
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Hathaway Elementary | PK–5 | 272 |
| Gause Elementary | PK–5 | 224 |
| Riverside Christian School | K–8 | 73 |
SchoolsB+
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
A growing town
Washougal has grown 28% since 2010
14,095 counted in 2010 and 17,039 in 2020; an estimated 18,028 in 2025.
Growth hasn’t slowed: 5.8% since 2020, after 20.9% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Washougal grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Washington), ordered by how far Washougal is from typical.
Cost of livingDOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 10.6 of 20; 4.1% of households have no carA−Open →SchoolsB+Open →HealthLegacy Mount Hood Medical Center 5.3 miles awayBOpen →Jobs & incomeB−Open →SafetyB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 82° summer afternoons, 4″ of snow–Open →Housing market43 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 38.4; 29% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 190 attractions →Mount Hood and 167 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Washougal. Close and well known come first.
Big draw35 mi MountainMount Hood
11 mi WaterfallMultnomah Falls
16 mi Stadium & arenaModa Center
17 mi Stadium & arenaProvidence Park
20 mi DamBonneville Dam
28 mi Canyon & gorgeColumbia River GorgeSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Mount Hood: Oregon's Mt. Hood Territory., Public domain · Multnomah Falls: John Fowler from Placitas, NM, USA, CC BY 2.0 · Moda Center: Lugnuts, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Providence Park: Pdx.rollingthunder, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bonneville Dam: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Public domain · Columbia River Gorge: Hux, Public domain
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Washougal: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Washougal, and how to reach them.
PowerPUD No 1 of Clark County10.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Washougal water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpWashougal Transfer StationMon–Fri 7 am–5 pm; Sat 8 am–4 pmOpenStreetMap
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 hereClark County AuditorClark County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2025
ZIP code9867198671 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 Washougal.
Washougal has seen reported crime fall by a third or more, has added a third more jobs in ten years and is healthy by national standards but behind most towns in Washington.
OutdoorsA
Protected land: 8% of Washougal
The biggest place to walk is Captain William Clark Park, 72 acres with 2.2 miles of trail. Walkers can cover 10 miles of trail in 19 parks and preserves.
#62for trails in WA
8%
conserved · 349 of 4,343 acres
10 mi
of trails · 1.5 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Captain William Clark Park | 2.2 mi | 72 |
| 2. Washougal Waterfront Park | 1 mi | 17 |
| 3. Mable Kerr Park | 0.8 mi | 32 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsB+
Public schools in Washougal beat 72% of Washington districts
Public schools: the Washougal School District. The largest public high school is Washougal High School, with 942 students. Of its 6 schools, two are listed below, each with the reason.
72%of WA districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hathaway ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 272 | – |
| Washougal High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 942 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WA on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Washougal faces a very high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Households in Washougal have drawn federal disaster aid in 2 declared disasters, most recently in 2008. 76% of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by earthquakes at 9%.
82risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakesCold waves
9
paid flood claims since 1982
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
Most of Washougal’s workers head elsewhere: there are 0.4 jobs for each of them
Jobs based here grew from 2,536 in 2013 to 3,500.
Washougal’s middle household income comes in at $106,000. For most workers, Washougal is a place to come home to: only 9% work in town. Since 2013, Washougal has added 964 jobs, to 3,500 in 2023. In Washougal, nearly a quarter of workers do their job from home.
9%work in town
| Washougal | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 23% | 15% | 11% |
| Median household income | $106,000 | $98,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 11% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 9.2% | 4.8% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Washougal9%
Vancouver24%
Portland15%
Camas9%
Seattle4%
15 mi
median commute distance
3,500
jobs based in Washougal
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 75% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
4″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter36–47°
Spring43–62°
Summer54–79°
Fall45–64°
Nov 17
typical first frost
Mar 26
typical last frost
+1.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HealthB
Residents of Washougal are healthier than three in five U.S. towns
Within Washington it is less healthy than 75% of the 285 graded towns: Washington sets a high bar. Against the 7,691 U.S. towns with household incomes like Washougal’s, it is less healthy than 67%: its national edge comes with its incomes.
Among adults in Washougal, 69% had a checkup this year, against 71% in Washington’s towns and 79% across U.S. towns. The town beats the Washington average on 1 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 10. For adults locally, the share who sleep under 7 hours is 31%.
59%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Washougal | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 69% | 71% | 79% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 26% | 23% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 17% | 17% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 33% | 36% |
31 measures vs. Washington
1 better20 too close to call10 worse
| What stands out | Washougal | WA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults lacking emotional support | 25.1% | 28% |
| More smokers | 12.6% | 10.1% |
Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center
5.3 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
25th
percentile among WA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade D
Washougal earns a D for cost of living
Homes in Washougal are typically worth about $635,000, up 1.2% in a year, 8% above the Washington typical home. The rent at the middle of the market in the town is $1,701 a month. On the market locally: a median 43 days to sell.
$635KZillow home value
| Washougal | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,701 a month | $1,740 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 71% | 70% | 73% |
Typical home value
Washougal$635K
Washington$588K
Market temperature
43
days on market
100.3%
sale-to-list price
+1.2%
value change, 1 year
26
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SafetyB−
Crime per resident in Washougal is higher than in 51% of U.S. towns
Reported crimes fell from 259 to 174 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
Washougal’s rate of thefts and burglaries is 8.3 per 1,000 residents. Within Washington, it does better than 71% of towns.
49%of U.S. towns report more crimeB−Safety Grade
| Washougal | Washington towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 8.3 per 1,000 residents | 15.1 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1.3 per 1,000 residents | 1.5 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Washougal1.3
Washington2.9
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Washougal8.3
Washington20.2
U.S.15.5
49th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
71st
percentile among WA towns
23
violent crimes reported in 2025
151
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Washougal
19pages on Washougal
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 72% of WA districts · 6 schoolsSafetyB−1.3 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthBBetter than WA on 1 of 31 CDC measuresCost of livingD$635K typical home · up 1.2% in a yearWork & commuteB−$106K median household income · 3,500 jobs hereNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 82% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
6 within 15 miles of the center of Washougal
Mt Hood Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Gresham, OR5.3 mi$5,247 in-state tuitionSumner CollegeUniversity or college · Private for-profit · Portland, OR11.1 miUniversity of Western StatesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Portland, OR11.8 mi
About 5 of every 100 Washougal residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Washington.
A commuter town
91% of working residents leave Washougal for work
Where Washougal’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
3,500jobs based in Washougal
9%of working residents work in town
15 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Washougal
City in Washington, United States
Washougal ( wah-SHOO-gəl) is a city in Clark County, Washington, United States. The population was 17,039 as of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1852
- Area
- 6.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 79 ft
- ZIP code
- 98671
- Area code
- 360
Washougal’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Washougal.
CamasWashougal
How the neighbors grade
Questions about Washougal
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Washougal, WA a good place to live?
Washougal grades C+ overall, better than 39% of U.S. towns and #161 of 285 in Washington. It grades B for health, B− for safety and B+ for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Washougal, WA safe?
Within Washington, it does better than 71% of towns.
Is Washougal, WA expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D.