Camas charms people fast. Historic downtown, good schools, forests and lakes, and easy access to Vancouver and Portland. It feels tucked away, yet close to everything.

Low inventory since COVID has kept demand high. Even so, residents move out of Camas every week. Families change, jobs shift, and budgets tighten. Median home prices in Camas hover around $850,000, and the town is still very desirable to live in.

Why do some homeowners move out, even if they love Camas?

1. Housing Costs Have Become Too High

Prices climbed fast, and monthly payments did too.

• Median sale price: about $535,000 in 2020, likely near $863,000 by October 2025.
• Clark County average: about $570,000, so Camas runs 50% higher.
• Income pressure: Washington’s median family income sits around $90,000. That does not stretch far with higher rates and taxes.
• Refi shock: owners who refinanced out of low rates feel the hit when moving or buying again.
• Outbound moves: more sellers look to lower-cost states for space and margin.

Where people are moving to:

• Tennessee, North Carolina, Florida, Arizona,Texas and the Midwest are the most popular destinations for our home seller clients
• Lower prices, more land, slower pace, smaller payments

2. Seeking More Home Choices

Some sellers chase bigger economic growth and states with more lax building/permit rules

• More land, fewer limits: many Southern and Midwestern metros allow faster building, with no urban growth boundaries.
• ADUs & Family Compounds: They’re hard to achieve in Clark County, but south and midwest states tend to have looser rules, making it more achievable and affordable
• Idaho: still popular, even as Boise got pricier, with many mid-size towns expanding.
• Camas growth: steady and strong, but not the same explosive pace in share terms after decades of gains.
• Career moves: new plants, logistics hubs, tech and healthcare corridors pull buyers east and south.

3. Craving More Sun & Retirement-Friendly Spots

Gray winters in the PNW can wear people down. Many retirees want sun, pools, and beaches year round.

• Top picks: Florida, Arizona, Texas, parts of California
• Lifestyle: golf, pickleball, community clubs, heated pools, daily walks in the sun
• Active adult options: Camas & Clark County lacks abundant 55-plus resort-style communities
• Health focus: post-pandemic, people want outdoor time and Vitamin D
• Family time: easier to host kids and grandkids near beaches or warm parks

4. Frustration with Rapid Development in Camas

Growth is complex. It brings jobs and fresh energy, but it changes daily life as well, and long time residents typically are not fans of it.

• New projects: plans such as the Northshore Development could add around 10,000 residents over time.
• More traffic and longer lines at schools, parks, and coffee spots.
• Nostalgia: many locals remember a quieter town from decades ago with more trees and less people
• Home values: growth can lift prices and fund services, which helps those who already own homes, but hurts those who do not already

5. Grueling Daily Commutes to Portland

Many Camas and Clark County residents work in Oregon, and the commute can be brutal

• 20 to 30 percent of Clark County residents commute to Portland daily for work
• Bridge traffic has worsened over 20 years, with limited new capacity and the i5 bridge reconstruction project stalled out
• A daily commute to Hillsboro area could mean 90 minutes each way at rush hour, up to 3 hours a day total
• Remote work helps some, but many still go in several days a week.
• Moving closer to work, or to a fully remote-friendly job is what some residents are looking for

6. Changing Community Dynamics

People love Camas, but the vibe feels different today than it did even a decade ago

• Politics from other regions: policy changes around taxes, zoning, schools
• Homelessness worries: an issue that gets brought up often and has been in the media constantly the last 5 years
• Post-COVID values: clashes on schools, public health, and spending
• Work-from-home: There are more work-from-home employees in Camas than ever before, and many of these works keep their high paying salaries while moving into a lower cost of living area, causing a socio economic divide

7. Desire to Be Closer to Family

• Missed milestones: birthdays, soccer games, school plays, first steps – a lot of young parents feel this, as they must work longer hours to provide for their family
• Aging parents: need rides, check-ins, or a private suite on site
• Grandkids: people move to be near day care help and Sunday dinners
• Land rules make multi-home setups/ family compounds hard on one parcel
• Urban growth limits constrain new housing options.

Conclusion

Camas remains a popular city to live in, still in our opinion, the most highly sought after in Clark County, but there are still valid reasons for people to move out on a regular basis.

Thinking of selling your home in Camas or Clark County Washington, and moving out of area? Contact us at Dubyne Realty Group- text 360.347.2551 or email info(at)dubynerealtygroup(dotted)com

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