What it's like to live in Battle Ground
Battle Ground is a small city in Washington with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Battle Ground deals with home prices well above the national average, larger class sizes than the national average, above-average rainfall, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Clean air
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- High home prices
- High student-teacher ratio
- Above-average rainfall
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Battle Ground compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Battle Ground
Based on Battle Ground's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,152
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $63,040 a year
- 40% of Battle Ground renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$97,020
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $48,510
- Homes cost 4.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 12% above US
$1,576/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,576 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are steep, with a median around $485,100. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $485,100 · 40% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.5% county unemployment
Unemployment in Clark County is 4.5%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Clark County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 57% below US
140 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 710/100k · Battle Ground Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
27 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 27.2 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 14% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 76°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 32°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 26% below US
27% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 27%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
9 public schools inside the boundary
There are 9 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (12 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Battle Ground's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and above-average rainfall. A year of median rent ($1,576/mo) equals 18% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
See all the data for Battle Ground →·All Washington cities →
Other places near Battle Ground
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Compare with Battle Ground →Moving to Orchards →
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Compare with Battle Ground →Moving to Five Corners →
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Compare with Battle Ground →Moving to Salmon Creek →
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