Oregon households earn a median $83,011 a year and pay a median $1,525 in rent, according to the Census Bureau. Before borrowing, confirm the lender's state license, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and walk away from any upfront fee.
On this page
- Oregon by the numbers
- What the numbers mean for Oregon borrowers
- Largest places in Oregon
- Other sizable places in Oregon
- Counties with the most residents
- How Oregon earns a living
- More context for Oregon budgets
- Checking a lender in Oregon
- Can Oregon residents use the questionnaire?
- Local guides in Oregon
- Frequently asked questions
Oregon by the numbers
The table compares Oregon with the United States on sixteen measures that shape household budgets, and ranks it against the other states and the District of Columbia. All figures are American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 five-year estimates.
| Indicator | Oregon | U.S. | Rank (1 = highest) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $83,011 | $80,734 | 19th |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree | 37% | 36% | 17th |
| Median age | 40.4 | 38.9 | 11th |
| Income inequality (Gini index) | 0.463 | 0.483 | 31st |
| Share of households under $35,000 | 20% | 21% | 34th |
| Households earning $100,000 or more | 41% | 41% | 19th |
| Poverty rate | 11.9% | 12.5% | 24th |
| Unemployment rate (ACS) | 5.4% | 5.2% | 15th |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,525 | $1,413 | 14th |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent | 52% | 51% | 8th |
| Home value, median | $477,600 | $332,700 | 8th |
| Homeownership rate | 63% | 65% | 43rd |
| Cost-burdened owners with a mortgage | 31% | 28% | 8th |
| Years of median income to buy the median home | 5.8x | 4.1x | 4th |
| Workers commuting 45+ minutes | 12% | 17% | 34th |
| Workers who work from home | 19% | 15% | 5th |
What the numbers mean for Oregon borrowers
19% of the Oregon workforce works from home, while 12% face a one-way trip of 45 minutes or longer. Remote and self-employed workers should expect lenders to ask for bank statements or tax returns in place of a simple pay stub.
Roughly one in 2 Oregon households earns six figures (41%), and 13% clear $200,000, while 20% live on less than $35,000. If your household sits under $30,000 a year, start with credit unions, creditor hardship plans and nonprofit counseling before a personal loan.
With a median age of 40.4 and 37% of adults holding a four-year degree, Oregon has a Gini inequality index of 0.463, ranking 31st from most to least unequal.
Homeownership stands at 63% in Oregon and the median owner-occupied home is worth $477,600, which ranks 8th among the 51 jurisdictions. The owner cost burden rate, for households with a mortgage, is 31%. Owners can also compare a home-equity line against a personal loan, keeping in mind that equity borrowing puts the house at risk.
Largest places in Oregon
Where most Oregon residents live: the 12 largest cities, towns and census-designated places, with the latest five-year Census figures.
| City or town | County | Population | Median income | Rent (median) | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | Multnomah County, Washington County | 641,165 | $90,919 | $1,655 | $581,500 |
| Eugene | Lane County | 179,591 | $66,562 | $1,402 | $460,400 |
| Salem | Polk County, Marion County | 178,865 | $75,487 | $1,400 | $416,900 |
| Gresham | Multnomah County | 112,378 | $77,795 | $1,586 | $458,700 |
| Hillsboro | Washington County | 108,231 | $106,409 | $1,978 | $521,100 |
| Bend | Deschutes County | 103,390 | $96,394 | $1,883 | $718,400 |
| Beaverton | Washington County | 97,812 | $98,622 | $1,826 | $569,800 |
| Medford | Jackson County | 86,315 | $73,230 | $1,376 | $417,100 |
| Springfield | Lane County | 61,499 | $68,761 | $1,258 | $358,700 |
| Corvallis | Benton County | 59,960 | $65,012 | $1,391 | $502,900 |
| Albany | Benton County, Linn County | 56,839 | $78,114 | $1,372 | $389,200 |
| Tigard | Washington County | 56,011 | $108,823 | $1,782 | $610,500 |
Bethany ($167,735) and Klamath Falls ($46,693) mark the high and low ends of median household income among Oregon places with at least 20,000 residents. 69 places top 10,000 people; 13 top 50,000. Bethany renters pay the most ($2,245 at the median) and Klamath Falls renters the least ($986).
Other sizable places in Oregon
20 more Oregon places, largest first.
| Community | Residents | Median income | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aloha | 52,389 | $101,934 | $1,896 |
| Lake Oswego | 40,381 | $141,549 | $2,139 |
| Grants Pass | 39,311 | $59,646 | $1,217 |
| Keizer | 39,082 | $84,813 | $1,424 |
| Oregon City | 37,755 | $97,829 | $1,708 |
| Redmond | 36,092 | $84,164 | $1,628 |
| McMinnville | 34,596 | $73,736 | $1,380 |
| Bethany | 33,106 | $167,735 | $2,245 |
| Woodburn | 27,875 | $67,347 | $1,489 |
| Tualatin | 27,763 | $104,043 | $1,806 |
| Wilsonville | 26,974 | $96,236 | $1,878 |
| West Linn | 26,935 | $146,507 | $2,116 |
| Happy Valley | 26,738 | $122,151 | $2,029 |
| Forest Grove | 26,529 | $87,933 | $1,460 |
| Newberg | 26,066 | $93,232 | $1,713 |
| Roseburg | 23,778 | $53,918 | $1,063 |
| Klamath Falls | 22,115 | $46,693 | $986 |
| Milwaukie | 21,392 | $86,892 | $1,598 |
| Ashland | 21,259 | $68,028 | $1,387 |
| Hayesville | 21,246 | $58,624 | $1,435 |
Measured as a year of median rent against median household income, housing weighs most in Hayesville (29%) and least in Bethany (16%) among these 20 places.
Counties with the most residents
Of 36 counties in Oregon, these 16 have the most people.
| County | Population | Median household income | Median rent | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multnomah County | 801,477 | $88,766 | $1,646 | $552,700 |
| Washington County | 603,947 | $107,772 | $1,849 | $588,000 |
| Clackamas County | 423,975 | $103,517 | $1,758 | $611,000 |
| Lane County | 384,207 | $71,544 | $1,355 | $430,600 |
| Marion County | 349,244 | $77,351 | $1,414 | $416,400 |
| Jackson County | 222,645 | $73,999 | $1,358 | $430,200 |
| Deschutes County | 206,334 | $92,758 | $1,787 | $650,900 |
| Linn County | 130,706 | $76,329 | $1,320 | $376,400 |
| Douglas County | 112,072 | $61,310 | $1,055 | $310,300 |
| Yamhill County | 108,734 | $90,063 | $1,480 | $471,700 |
| Benton County | 96,303 | $77,702 | $1,410 | $513,000 |
| Polk County | 89,662 | $85,118 | $1,299 | $454,700 |
| Josephine County | 88,179 | $60,098 | $1,194 | $404,300 |
| Umatilla County | 79,940 | $67,728 | $997 | $282,600 |
| Klamath County | 70,247 | $58,830 | $991 | $280,400 |
| Coos County | 64,827 | $62,143 | $1,042 | $337,800 |
Washington County posts the highest county median income in Oregon at $107,772, while Malheur County posts the lowest at $54,519. That spread is a reminder to size a payment to your own budget, not to a state average.
How Oregon earns a living
The jobs mix in Oregon: the four largest industries by share of employed residents 16 and older.
| Industry | Share of Oregon workers | U.S. share | Gap vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education, health care and social assistance | 24% | 24% | +0.3 pts |
| Professional, scientific and administrative services | 12% | 13% | -0.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12% | 11% | +1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11% | 10% | +0.8 pts |
Oregon's signature sector, measured against the U.S., is agriculture, forestry, fishing and mining at 3% of employed residents. Hourly workers with variable schedules should average several months of pay when sizing a payment.
More context for Oregon budgets
The median household in Oregon earns $83,011 a year, about the same as the national median of $80,734, which ranks 19th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Use it as a yardstick: if your income sits well below the median, keep the loan smaller and the term shorter.
Oregon renters pay a median $1,525 a month. 52% of them spend 30 percent or more of income on rent, above the national share of 51%. Rent-burdened households should put a cushion ahead of any loan, even a small one.
The Census Bureau's five-year unemployment estimate for Oregon is 5.4% (U.S.: 5.2%), and 11.9% of residents live below the poverty line. A new job is not a deal breaker for most lenders, but a gap in income usually is.
Checking a lender in Oregon
License checks come first. Oregon's banking agency, per the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, is the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, and many consumer lenders also show their state licenses on NMLS Consumer Access.
- File any complaint with the state agency, or with the CFPB.
- NMLS Consumer Access shows many lenders' licenses state by state.
- Legitimate lenders take fees out of the loan or bill them later, never by gift card or wire first (FTC).
Can Oregon residents use the questionnaire?
Coverage is added state by state. A Oregon resident who picks the state on step two learns immediately whether a partner is available, and can join the waitlist if not.
Local guides in Oregon
Prefer the view from your own city? 4 Oregon places have a full guide:
Frequently asked questions
How do I verify a lender in Oregon?
The state banking agency listed for Oregon by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors is the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. NMLS Consumer Access lists many lenders' licenses, and the CFPB accepts complaints from every state.
What is the median household income in Oregon?
$83,011 a year in the 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, 19th among the 50 states and DC; the national median is $80,734.
How much do Oregon renters pay?
The typical renter pays $1,525; the U.S. median is $1,413. In Oregon, 52% of renting households spend 30 percent or more of income on housing.
Do home values in Oregon change how I should borrow?
The median home in Oregon is valued at $477,600, about 5.8 times the median household income of $83,011. Where housing takes a big share of income, keep new payments modest and compare total cost rather than stretching the term.