Vancouver

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Vancouver, WA

Area Guide

A historic haven between monumental mountains and rushing rivers

Mountains River Scenic Bike-Friendly Commuter Family-Friendly Shopping

Along the north bank of the Columbia River, Vancouver, Washington combines small-city charm with outdoor recreation opportunities. This historic city of nearly 200,000 residents features a revitalized downtown area centered around Esther Short Park and the Vancouver Waterfront development. Housing includes waterfront apartments, established neighborhood rentals, and historic homes, with current rental rates averaging $1,540 for one-bedroom apartments and $1,718 for two-bedroom units. The rental market has remained stable, with changes ranging from a 1% increase for one-bedroom units to a 1.7% increase for three-bedroom homes over the past year.

The city offers numerous recreational opportunities, from the Columbia River Waterfront Renaissance Trail to Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. Established in 1825 as a fur-trading outpost, Vancouver preserves its history while embracing modern development. The downtown Arts District features the restored Kiggins Theatre, an art deco landmark showing independent films. Washington State University Vancouver provides local educational opportunities, while the city's location near Portland, Oregon allows easy access to additional entertainment and employment options. Notable areas include the tree-lined streets of the Hough neighborhood, Fisher's Landing with its mix of housing options, and the Columbia River waterfront area, home to Grant Street Pier and waterfront parks.

Explore the City

The newly renovated playground at Ester Short Park in Vancouver is a family favorite.

The newly constructed waterfront in Vancouver offers beautiful views of the Colombia River.

Head to the Farmer's Market and explore fresh produce and flower arrangements.

Rent Trends

As of December 2025, the average apartment rent in Vancouver, WA is $1,370 for a studio, $1,531 for one bedroom, $1,715 for two bedrooms, and $2,096 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Vancouver has increased by 0.2% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,531/month
704 Sq Ft
House
$2,627/month
1,698 Sq Ft
Condo
$1,584/month
896 Sq Ft
Townhome
$2,231/month
1,409 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Vancouver, WA

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Vancouver, WA is 6.3% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in Vancouver is 2.3% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,370 - $2,096. You can expect to pay 5.4% more for groceries, 7.5% less for utilities, and 16.1% more for transportation.

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Transportation

53

Somewhat Walkable

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but for others you’ll need a car.

24

Some Transit

out of 100 TransitScore® Rating

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

63

Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.

Schools

Glenwood Heights Primary

Public

Grades PK-4

580 Students

Fishers Landing Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

462 Students

Endeavour Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

639 Students

Felida Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

633 Students

Chinook Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

546 Students

Shahala Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

874 Students

Alki Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

607 Students

Frontier Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

800 Students

Vancouver iTech Preparatory

Public

Grades 6-12

602 Students

Jason Lee Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

532 Students

Skyview High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,739 Students

Mountain View High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,589 Students

Columbia River High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,134 Students

Vancouver iTech Preparatory

Public

Grades 6-12

602 Students

Evergreen High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,550 Students

Points of Interest

Top Apartments in Vancouver

Houses for Rent in Vancouver

Property Management Companies in Vancouver, WA

Living in Vancouver

Transportation

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Getting around Vancouver is a fairly simple prospect depending on your time and hurry. C-TRAN is the local public transportation service for Clark County and therefore Vancouver itself, and provides a variety of convenient and efficient means of transport including buses everywhere in town, C-VAN shuttle & accessibility services, and even express busses across the river for commutes or shopping trips into Portland, OR.

If a more environmental option suits your needs, Vancouver has a variety of Park & Ride lots in the more popular areas of town such as Fisher's Landing East, which allow you to easily drive the short distance from your apartment to the lot, hop on one of the many available buses or shuttles, and be taken anywhere around town in short order, saving both gas money and the environment to boot!

Shopping

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While Vancouver is not what many would consider an urban area or city, it can best be thought of as a condensed rural space, and as such, the shopping opportunities are tremendous. Downtown you'll find a variety of both upscale and discount shops along Main Street and Broadway. Head south into the Columbia Way area or far east into Fisher's Landing to find a massive variety of new stores ranging from organic groceries from New Seasons Market to Willows boutique clothing to Bad Monkey boards and skates.

If convenience and variety is more your style, you can head to the north end of town and check out the expansive Westfield Vancouver mall featuring over 150 stores inside including shopping, dining and even entertainment!

Best of all, if you want a truly downtown cityscape for shopping or entertainment, a mere 20 - 30 minute drive south across the Columbia River will bring you right into the heart of beautiful Portland, OR! Vancouver is in many ways a more peaceful extension of the wonderful city that is Portland and the resources it provides for locals should not be missed.

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in November 2025.