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Living in
Cornelius.
About
Life in Cornelius
This compact Washington County city of about 13,700 people is solidly positioned in the Portland metro area—close enough to the city for work and culture, but with its own distinct identity shaped by a vibrant Latino community that makes up over half the population. You're looking at a median home price around $453,000 and median rent near $1,573 a month, which is reasonable for the Portland region, though the job market here is modest; most residents commute east to Hillsboro or further into Portland (averaging about 30 minutes), where tech and professional jobs are concentrated. The community skews young and family-oriented, with about 47% of households raising kids, and it's grown steadily; this means schools are split between Forest Grove and Hillsboro districts, and you'll find the city has the feel of a place still figuring out its identity rather than a fully established neighborhood.
Cornelius at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.1%
Foreign-Born
23.3%
Broadband Internet
98.3%
of households
Population Growth
+21.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics23.3% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Cornelius: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Cornelius, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (81.6%), and 44.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.1%
of residents
65 and Older
12.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
18.4%
of households
Married Couples
50.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.91
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for OR
Rent, home values, and income in Cornelius
Rent and home values here are close to the OR average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
105.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,411
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
74.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1992
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $474,865 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for OR
Unemployment in Cornelius and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Washington County, which includes Cornelius, is close to the OR average.
Unemployment rate
Cornelius: Washington County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Washington County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Cornelius is about 2% of Washington County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Cornelius Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area
Commute28.7 min avg
How Cornelius residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Cornelius, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 61% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 23 mi
Portland International Airport (PDX)
Medium hub9.1M passengers boarded in 2025
- 138 mi
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Major hub25.4M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 19% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Cornelius runs 19% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
267.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,342.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Cornelius Police Department
Natural DisastersFlood most common — 4 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Washington County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Washington County, which includes Cornelius, the most common type is flood, with 4 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | Heavy Snow | Not estimated |
| 2024 | 5 | Frost/Freeze | $75,000 |
| 2023 | 4 | Flood | $14,000 |
| 2022 | 1 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5,000 |
| 2021 | 1 | Flood | None reported |
| 2019 | 1 | Flood | None reported |
| 2018 | 3 | Lightning | $106,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
10 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Washington County, county-wide
Cornelius is about 2% of Washington County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality36 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Washington County, which includes Cornelius, is typically good — 289 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
36
Good Days
289
per year
Moderate Days
76
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Washington County, county-wide
Cornelius is about 2% of Washington County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate79°F summers, 33°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Cornelius has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and mild winters (avg low 33°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
61°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/52°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
46°/33°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
46.7"
Annual Snowfall
2.7"
Hot Days/Year
23
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
61
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
146
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 45°F | 33°F | 7.19" |
| Feb | 49°F | 33°F | 5.76" |
| Mar | 55°F | 36°F | 5.03" |
| Apr | 60°F | 39°F | 3.33" |
| May | 68°F | 45°F | 2.19" |
| Jun | 73°F | 50°F | 1.40" |
| Jul | 81°F | 54°F | 0.32" |
| Aug | 82°F | 54°F | 0.51" |
| Sep | 76°F | 49°F | 1.34" |
| Oct | 63°F | 42°F | 3.70" |
| Nov | 51°F | 36°F | 7.23" |
| Dec | 44°F | 33°F | 8.72" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Cornelius
Uninsured
9.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Cornelius's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Hillsboro Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.6 mi away · Hillsboro
Kaiser Foundation Hospital Westside
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.6 mi away · Hillsboro
Cedar Hills Hospital
Psychiatric · 13.1 mi away · Portland
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Cornelius
Cornelius's student/teacher ratio is 16.0:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 18.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
18.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Cornelius (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,516 students · in-state tuition $58,348 · 70% graduate · median earnings $67,497 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, 20 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Cornelius
Cornelius has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (20 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
National Historic Site
20 mi awayLewis and Clark National Historical Park
National Historical Park
65 mi awayPublic Libraries in Cornelius
Cornelius Public Library
1370 N Adair St, Cornelius
Cities Near Cornelius
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Cornelius?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Cornelius FAQ
Is Cornelius, Oregon affordable?⌄
Cornelius's median rent is $1,573/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $96,273/year. Median home value is $452,900.
Is Cornelius, Oregon safe?⌄
Cornelius's violent crime rate was 267 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1343 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Cornelius, Oregon?⌄
Washington County, which includes Cornelius, has an unemployment rate of 4.9%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Cornelius, Oregon?⌄
The cost of living in Cornelius is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,573/month and median household income is $96,273/year. The median home value is $452,900. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Cornelius, Oregon?⌄
The average commute in Cornelius is 29 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from