Photo:Mike BeerA town of about 195,300 people in Clark County, part of the Portland area. Resident comments and photos are about Vancouver; job numbers cover the wider area.
Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.
Around Vancouver
One resident named Brewed as their favorite coffee place in Vancouver.
“Brewed is my favorite coffee place”
“My favorite trails are Moulton Falls, Bells Mountain, Tarbell, and Appaloosa trail to hidden falls. These are all slightly more advanced hikes…”
A bar on Fourth Plain is known for crowded karaoke nights.
“The spot is a common (crowded) bar on fourth plain with popular karaoke.”
From 5 resident comments about meeting people and the social scene.
One resident mentioned good shows at Billy Blues and Heavy Metal Brewing, with big names coming to the Ridgefield amphitheater.
“There's some good shows at Billy Blues and Heavy Metal Brewing. Big big names come to the Ridgefield amphitheater. And shows abound Portland,...”
Read the full commentAbout 3 years ago. Things may have changed since.One resident said they enjoyed the 4 Days of Aloha and would prefer to stay in Vancouver for great festivals or events.
“I’ve been to The 4 Days of Aloha and loved it. Would prefer to stay in Vancouver, but interested in great festivals or events in the metro that I may...”
Read the full commentAbout a year agoOne resident complained that Vancouver lost three music festivals and called the city boring because of it.
“Seriously though, why? Why is Vancouver so boring that we lost not 1, not 2 but 3 music festivals???? I know pemberton went bankrupt but seriously, how...”
Read the full commentAbout 2 years agoOne resident mentioned a local cycling group that meets weekly or several times a week for happy hours and board games.
“There's a local group here called Cycle Vancouver, and we get together weekly, or several times a week, for things like happy hours, board games...”
Read the full commentAbout 2 years agoOne resident said a young adults church service on Tuesday evenings draws a big turnout of about 50 people.
“I attend Crossroads Community Church and they have a Young Adults service every Tuesday evening at 7pm. Theres a pretty big turn up (~50 people)”
Read the full commentAbout 2 years agoOne resident who has lived there their whole life said it is hard to meet nice people who aren't flaky.
“I've lived here my whole life and find it so hard to meet nice people! Or nice people that aren't flakey 😩...”
Read the full commentAbout 4 months agoOne resident felt it is nearly impossible to date in the area after working hard to heal from a past relationship.
“Am I crazy or is it literally impossible to date out here!? I did so much work to heal after a bad relationship that ended a few years ago and now...”
Read the full commentAbout a year agoA bar on Fourth Plain is known for crowded karaoke nights.
“The spot is a common (crowded) bar on fourth plain with popular karaoke. There are also a few in dt Vancouver that attract a younger crowd.”
Read the full commentAbout 3 years ago. Things may have changed since.Downtown Vancouver has a few spots that attract a younger nightlife crowd, according to one local.
“The spot is a common (crowded) bar on fourth plain with popular karaoke. There are also a few in dt Vancouver that attract a younger crowd.”
Read the full commentAbout 3 years ago. Things may have changed since.About 9,591 business locations in the Vancouver area, employing about 171,438 people. That's about the usual U.S. share.
U.S. Census County Business Patterns, 2023. Counts business locations with paid employees, not job openings.
Pick a month. A dot means residents talked about that time of year.
No resident has talked about October yet.
Vancouver offers quick, easy access to scenery and hikes, with driving that feels much safer than in other areas.
“There's scenery, hikes that are quick and easy to access, and it actually feels like winter. Driving feels a LOT safer, there's no lifted trucks...”
Read the full commentAbout 2 years ago“My favorite trails are Moulton Falls, Bells Mountain, Tarbell, and Appaloosa trail to hidden falls. These are all slightly more advanced hikes…”
One resident is working on doing more hikes this year after walking over 2 miles in their neighborhood.
“Hey guys, I wanna do more hikes this year as I’m getting back to my health journey. Recently walked over 2 miles in my neighborhood so I wanna try a change...”
Read the full commentAbout 2 years agoOne resident said Kafiex is the best coffee shop, with Relevant, Compass, and Richland Hub also being great.
“Kafiex is the absolute best, hands down. Paper Tiger is trash. Relevant, Compass, and Richland Hub are all great. But part of the fun of moving...”
Read the full commentAbout 5 months ago“Driving feels a LOT safer, there's no lifted trucks”
What's nearby
Within 5 miles of Vancouver's center.
Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Biking and trails
Within 5 miles of the center of Vancouver.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Counts depend on how well local volunteers have mapped the area, so treat them as a rough guide.
What rent costs
Of about 38,815 rented homes in Vancouver, 78% rent for under $2,000 a month and 98% for under $3,000.
Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.
What moving costs
Average cost: $1,946
From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.
The middle rented home in Vancouver rents for $1,500 to $1,999 a month. First month plus a one-month deposit comes to about $3,000 to $3,998 before you get the keys.
Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.
Your first weeks in Washington
- Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
- Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the Washington DMV.
- Register to vote at your new address: Washington voter registration.
- Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
- Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
- Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.
Public schools
11 public school districts in this county, with about 75,273 students in all. Which one serves a home depends on its address.
NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For test results and programs, see each district's site and your state's school report card.
Childcare and colleges
Washington keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.
| Age | Daycare center | Home daycare |
|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $357/week about $18,600 a year | $246/week about $12,800 a year |
| Toddler (2) | $249/week about $12,900 a year | |
| Preschool (3 to 4) | $249/week about $12,900 a year | $205/week about $10,700 a year |
| School-age | $192/week about $10,000 a year |
For an infant at a center: $357/week here, $370 across WA, $259 across the U.S.. Full-time infant care at a center here costs about 18% of a typical family's income. These are 2022 prices, the newest the government has published by county, and prices have gone up since.
One college in the county around Vancouver. Prices are yearly tuition and fees for full-time undergrads, before financial aid.
Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.
IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.