About Vancouver

waterfront park community west side

Vancouver, Washington by the numbers

Founded: 1825
Incorporated: Jan. 23, 1857
City Charter Adopted: February 20, 1952
Government Type: Council/Manager
City’s Namesake: Captain George Vancouver, British sailor/explorer (1758-1798)

Area: 51.84 square miles
Density: 4,077 people per square mile

Elevation: 150 – 290 feet
Latitude: 45° 37′ 32.358″ N
Longitude: 122° 40′ 31.7994″ (measured at City Hall, 415 W. 6th St.)

Our people

Population

  • 205,100 residents
  • 85,374 households
  • Median age: 40.2
  • 19% under age 18
  • 19% 65 or older
  • 51% female
  • 49% male
  • 15.1% identify as having a disability
  • 6.5% are veterans1

Income and education

  • Median household income: $82,9281
  • 60.7% employment rate
    • 22.5% Educational services, health care and social assistance
    • 12.3% Retail trade
    • 12.1% Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services
    • 10.3% Manufacturing
    • 8.2% Transportation and warehousing, and utilities
    • 7.6% Construction
    • 6.9% Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing
    • 5.8% Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accomodation and food services
    • 4.8% Public administration
    • 4.2% Other services, except public administration
  • 92% have a high school diploma1
  • 34% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher1
  • 9.8% currently live below the federal poverty level1

Housing

  • 47.6% of residents rent their home
  • 52.4% of residents own their home
  • $1,767 median gross rent

Language, origin

  • 16.6% speak a language other than English in the home
    • Asian and Pacific Island languages: 3.8%
    • Other languages: 1.4%
    • Other Indo-European: 4.4% 
    • Spanish: 7%
  • 11% of residents were not born in the United States

Race and ethnicity

  • 5.3% Asian
  • 3.2% Black or African American
  • 16.8% Hispanic, Latino/a/e
  • 1% Native American
  • 1.5% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
  • 13.4% Two or more races
  • 68.7% White
Sources:

U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates

Washington Office of Financial Management Official 2025 Population Estimates

U.S. Census Bureau. “Language Spoken at Home.” American Community Survey, ACS 1-Year Estimates Subject Tables, Table S1601, Accessed on 24 Mar 2026.

U.S. Census Bureau “QuickFacts: Vancouver, Washington City 2025 population estimates”

City services

Employees: 1,279
Police officers: 240
Firefighters: 218
Neighborhood associations: 71
Parks: 82
Natural areas: 28
Miles of trails: 20+
Fire stations: 11
Visits to community centers: 316,138
Recreation registrations: 14,154
Community events permitted: 100+
Calls responded to by Vancouver Fire/Emergency Medical: 39,000
Incidents dispatched to Vancouver Police: 104,628
Grants: $59.7 million earned in grants for housing, public safety, energy initiatives and more
Affordable Housing Fund: $15 million to build 330 new rental units, operate 62+ year-round shelter beds, construct 32 new affordable homes and provide rental assistance to 160+ people
Homelessness emergency response: 466 people served at Safe Stay/Park communities and 104 participants transitioned to stable housing
Building permits issued: 1,174
Code cases resolved: 882
Building inspections completed: 42,733
Gallons of drinking water delivered: 7.46 billion
New trees planted: 2,048
Miles of bike lanes added or improved: 14.1
Lane miles of city streets paved or preserved: 71.6
New or upgraded, ADA-compliant sidewalk curb ramps added: 200

Last updated: January 2026

Awards and recognition