Cowlitz County, WA Distress Report: Foreclosure, Tax Liens & ZIPs (2026)
Where is distress concentrating in Cowlitz County, Washington? DLRadar grades every Cowlitz County ZIP 0-100 from foreclosure, tax-lien, mortgage and insurance records, peaking at 33/100. Here is the 2026 Cowlitz County breakdown.
- Cowlitz County's most distressed ZIP is 98581 at 33/100.
- 12 ZIP codes tracked in Cowlitz County, averaging 32/100 distress.
- Cowlitz County reads peak — home values up 2.4% year over year.
- Vacancy runs 16.5% across Cowlitz County's tracked ZIPs, with a 11.4% poverty rate.
- The typical Cowlitz County home is worth about $434,030 against a ~$76,565 median income.
- Lending headwind in Cowlitz County sits at 44/100 — a forward read on distressed supply.
Based on DLRadar's public-record distress index, updated every month. Free to cite with attribution to DLRadar (dlradar.com).
| Rank | ZIP | Composite distress |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 98581 | 33/100 |
| 2 | 98603 | 33/100 |
| 3 | 98609 | 33/100 |
| 4 | 98611 | 33/100 |
| 5 | 98625 | 33/100 |
| 6 | 98626 | 33/100 |
| 7 | 98632 | 33/100 |
| 8 | 98645 | 33/100 |
| 9 | 98649 | 33/100 |
| 10 | 98674 | 31/100 |
| 11 | 98601 | 29/100 |
| 12 | 98616 | 23/100 |
Most distressed ZIP codes in Cowlitz County (composite distress 0-100, 2026)
What is driving Cowlitz County distress
Cowlitz County's placement in the national index rests on public filings — a 32/100 average across its ZIPs. DLRadar reads FHFA price trajectory, CFPB mortgage delinquency, recorder-level foreclosure and tax-lien activity, FEMA/NFIP loss history and Census ACS demographics.
Cowlitz County market phase and pricing
DLRadar places Cowlitz County in peak; prices moved up 2.4% over the year. Longer marketing times follow, and with them the sellers worth calling.
See the distressed properties behind the data in Cowlitz County
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Frequently asked questions
What is the hardest-hit ZIP in Cowlitz County?
ZIP 98581 leads Cowlitz County at 33/100, recomputed monthly from public records.
How would you describe the Cowlitz County market phase?
The market phase for Cowlitz County is peak, prices rising 2.4% on the year — derived from the FHFA House Price Index path.
What is this Cowlitz County analysis built from?
The inputs are all public: FHFA for the peak path, CFPB mortgage performance, recorder filings from the county, FEMA and NFIP, and Census ACS. Because all 12 ZIP codes in Cowlitz County run through the identical model used nationwide, the figures compare directly against any other market.
How much do distress scores vary between Cowlitz County ZIP codes?
A single county score papers over real variation. Across the Cowlitz County ZIPs DLRadar ranks, scores run from 33/100 in 98581 down to 23/100 in 98616, against a Cowlitz County average of 32/100. Because the gap runs to 10 points, Cowlitz County rewards ZIP-level precision.
What do Cowlitz County home values and vacancy say about distressed supply?
The typical Cowlitz County home carries about $434,030 of value against a median household income near $76,565. Vacancy across Cowlitz County's tracked ZIPs runs 16.5% and the poverty rate is 11.4%. Thin affordability and empty housing are what convert a late payment into a sale, so they are read next to Cowlitz County's foreclosure and lien filings and its 44/100 lending headwind.
Related
DLRadar scores property distress from public records by deterministic formulas — not investment, legal, or financial advice. Figures refresh monthly from the live index.