1st Advantage MortgageThe median Clackamas County household earns $103,517, and 8% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Oregon license first.
On this page
- A quick profile of Clackamas County
- What Clackamas County households earn
- Renting and owning in Clackamas County
- Jobs and commutes in Clackamas County
- Towns and communities in Clackamas County
- How Clackamas County compares with nearby counties
- Debt-to-income at Clackamas County's medians
- Borrowing situations common in Clackamas County
- More Clackamas County figures
- Checklist for Clackamas County applicants
- Checking a lender's license in Oregon
- More guides for Clackamas County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Clackamas County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Clackamas County's population at 423,975; only 2 of Oregon's 36 county-level areas are larger. It covers 1,871 square miles of land, or about 227 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metropolitan area. Oregon City is the biggest of its 21 Census places, at roughly 37,755 people (9% of the county total).
What Clackamas County households earn
At $103,517, the typical Clackamas County household income is 58% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Yearly household income | Clackamas County | Gap to Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 14.2% | -5.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 34.3% | -4.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.7% | +4.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 18.8% | +6.1 pts |
Some 14% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 52% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 7.7%, 4 points lower than the state's 11.9%. None of these numbers decides a Clackamas County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Renting and owning in Clackamas County
A typical Clackamas County rental runs $1,758 a month including utilities, which is 15% above Oregon. By the Census definition, 53% of Clackamas County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $611,000, or 5.9 years of median income. 71% of Clackamas County households own their home and 29% rent. The median year built is 1985.
| Cost | Clackamas County | Oregon figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,758/mo | $1,525/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $611,000 | $477,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 31% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.8% | 7.1% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 6% | 8% | n/a |
High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Jobs and commutes in Clackamas County
The biggest employer of Clackamas County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by retail trade (12%). Compared with Oregon, the county leans toward construction (9% against 7%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.4% in Clackamas County. About 67% drive to work alone and 17% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Where residents work | Clackamas County | Difference from Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.9% | -0.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.0% | +0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.9% | -0.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.0% | +0.2 pts |
| Construction | 9.5% | +2.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.9% | -1.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Clackamas County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Towns and communities in Clackamas County
21 Census places fall mainly inside Clackamas County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 215,489 residents, leaving about 49% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $163,155 at the median in Stafford, $71,054 in Jennings Lodge. This guide covers each of the 21 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon City | city | 37,755 | $97,829 | $1,708 | 23 mi |
| West Linn | city | 26,935 | $146,507 | $2,116 | 26 mi |
| Happy Valley | city | 26,738 | $122,151 | $2,029 | 24 mi |
| Canby | city | 18,134 | $100,989 | $1,542 | 25 mi |
| Oak Grove | CDP | 16,796 | $86,226 | $1,744 | 28 mi |
| Oatfield | CDP | 13,294 | $103,224 | $1,786 | 26 mi |
| Sandy | city | 12,854 | $108,984 | $1,861 | 17 mi |
| Gladstone | city | 11,977 | $91,250 | $1,740 | 25 mi |
| Damascus | CDP | 11,437 | $122,500 | $2,654 | 22 mi |
| Molalla | city | 10,186 | $89,318 | $1,654 | 19 mi |
| Jennings Lodge | CDP | 7,971 | $71,054 | $1,669 | 26 mi |
| Estacada | city | 5,152 | $94,435 | $682 | 12 mi |
| Beavercreek | CDP | 4,894 | $135,032 | $1,407 | 17 mi |
| Mount Hood Villages | CDP | 4,703 | $91,817 | $1,466 | 15 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
How Clackamas County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 26 to 50 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $64,175 in Wasco County to $97,536 in Clark County; none of these neighbors top Clackamas County's median. Some neighbors are in Washington. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Clackamas County resident follows Oregon rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clackamas County | - | $103,517 | $1,758/mo | 71% |
| Marion County, OR | 26 mi | $77,351 | $1,414/mo | 62% |
| Multnomah County, OR | 29 mi | $88,766 | $1,646/mo | 53% |
| Hood River County, OR | 36 mi | $88,947 | $1,417/mo | 69% |
| Clark County, WA | 45 mi | $97,536 | $1,748/mo | 66% |
| Linn County, OR | 49 mi | $76,329 | $1,320/mo | 67% |
| Wasco County, OR | 50 mi | $64,175 | $1,008/mo | 68% |
Debt-to-income at Clackamas County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Clackamas County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $8,626 gross per month ($103,517 / 12)
- Median rent: $1,758, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,348 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,951 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $1,758, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Borrowing situations common in Clackamas County
Where the Clackamas County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Six-figure budgets. For the 52% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Rent squeeze. 53% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
More Clackamas County figures
41% of Clackamas County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 4.3%, against 5.9% for Oregon.
| Residents | Clackamas County | Oregon | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 40.5% | 36.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.3% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.3% | 5.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.8% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 20.9% | 19.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.7% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.9% |
| 60+ min | 6.6% |
Checklist for Clackamas County applicants
Steps that save money for Clackamas County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A Oregon license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Checking a lender's license in Oregon
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Clackamas County borrowers answers to the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Oregon guide.
More guides for Clackamas County
For statewide rules and data, see the Oregon guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Clackamas County household make?
About $103,517 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 25% above the Oregon median.
Is Clackamas County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,758 against $1,525 statewide, and 53% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Clackamas County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 71% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Oregon City?
Yes, along with the other 20 Census places in Clackamas County, such as West Linn, Happy Valley, Canby.
Can Clackamas County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Oregon county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.