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Living in
Orchards.
Orchards is an unincorporated community in Clark County, WA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Orchards
The median household income is solid at about $100,000, and the job market is reasonably healthy with unemployment around 4.5%, though many residents commute about 27 minutes for work (likely toward Portland or deeper into Clark County). Housing costs are real: median home values hover around $462,000 and rent runs about $1,784 monthly, which reflects the broader trend of rising costs in the greater Vancouver area. This is a family-focused place—more than half of households are married couples, and schools are a central concern, though you'll want to research which of the three districts serves your specific address.
Orchards at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.5%
Foreign-Born
14.4%
Broadband Internet
96.1%
of households
Median household income
Demographics14.4% foreign-born, most often from Russia
Who lives in Orchards: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Orchards, the largest foreign-born group is from Russia (21.2%), and 8.2% of residents speak Russian/Slavic at home.
Under 18
25.3%
of residents
65 and Older
11.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
38.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
18.4%
of households
Married Couples
49.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.88
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 WA
Rent, home values, and income in Orchards
In Orchards, home values are 18% below the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
105.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,815
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
66.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1998
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.4%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WA
Unemployment in Orchards and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Clark County, which includes Orchards, is close to the WA average.
Unemployment rate
Orchards: Clark County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Clark County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Orchards 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
Commute25.5 min avg
How Orchards residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Orchards, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 68% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 mi
Portland International Airport (PDX)
Medium hub9.1M passengers boarded in 2025
- 122 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 60% below national average
Crime rates for 2024
Violent crime in the area policed by the Clark County Sheriff's Office, which covers Orchards, runs 60% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
143.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (363 national, 2024)
Property Crime Rate
912.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,767 national, 2024)
Policed by Clark County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersHeavy Snow most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Clark County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Clark County, which includes Orchards, the most common type is heavy snow, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Heavy Snow | $30,000 |
| 2024 | 11 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2023 | 3 | Heavy Rain | None reported |
| 2022 | 1 | Flood | None reported |
| 2021 | 2 | Tornado | $50,000 |
| 2019 | 1 | Funnel Cloud | None reported |
| 2018 | 2 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3,000 |
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.
8 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Clark County, county-wide
Air Quality33 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Clark County, which includes Orchards, is typically good — 302 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
33
Good Days
302
per year
Moderate Days
63
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Clark County, county-wide
Climate76°F summers, 32°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Orchards has mild summers (avg high 76°F) and cold winters (avg low 32°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
76°/51°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/41°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
46°/32°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
45.1"
Annual Snowfall
0.8"
Hot Days/Year
10
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
66
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
163
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 45°F | 32°F | 6.05" |
| Feb | 49°F | 32°F | 4.14" |
| Mar | 54°F | 35°F | 4.43" |
| Apr | 59°F | 38°F | 3.58" |
| May | 66°F | 44°F | 2.81" |
| Jun | 71°F | 49°F | 1.84" |
| Jul | 78°F | 53°F | 0.48" |
| Aug | 79°F | 52°F | 0.62" |
| Sep | 74°F | 47°F | 1.61" |
| Oct | 62°F | 41°F | 3.61" |
| Nov | 51°F | 36°F | 6.31" |
| Dec | 45°F | 32°F | 6.79" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Orchards
Uninsured
7.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Orchards's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Peacehealth Southwest Medical Cente
Acute Care Hospitals · 4.8 mi away · Vancouver
Rainier Springs
Psychiatric · 5.9 mi away · Vancouver
Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.3 mi away · Vancouver
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.
Education18.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Orchards
Orchards's student/teacher ratio is 18.6:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 24.7% 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
24.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Orchards (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 13,182 students · in-state tuition $12,315 · 59% graduate · median earnings $62,447 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 4,945 students · in-state tuition $5,366 · 42% graduate · median earnings $47,832 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 3,856 students · in-state tuition $5,418 · 25% graduate · median earnings $46,423 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,957 students · in-state tuition $60,100 · 80% graduate · median earnings $85,634 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,320 students · in-state tuition $71,770 · 79% graduate · median earnings $64,977 (10 yrs after entry)
Oregon Health & Science University
14.9 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 836 students · 95% graduate · median earnings $109,788 (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, 8 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Orchards
Orchards has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (8 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
National Historic Site
8 mi awayLewis and Clark National Historical Park
National Historical Park
78 mi awayMount Rainier National Park
National Park
90 mi awayCities Near Orchards
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Orchards?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Orchards FAQ
Is Orchards, Washington affordable?⌄
Orchards's median rent is $1,784/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $100,146/year. Median home value is $461,700.
Is Orchards, Washington safe?⌄
Orchards is policed by the Clark County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 144 per 100,000 residents in 2024, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 363/100k that year. Property crime rate is 912 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Orchards, Washington?⌄
Clark County, which includes Orchards, has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Orchards, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Orchards is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,784/month and median household income is $100,146/year. The median home value is $461,700. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Orchards, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Orchards is 26 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