1st Advantage MortgageCrook County (26,277 residents) has a $81,965 median household income and $1,283 median rent, by the latest Census five-year survey. County medians do not set your terms. Shop at least three lenders, including a credit union serving Crook County, and confirm each one's Oregon license.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Crook County
- Where Crook County works
- Paychecks and income spread in Crook County
- Crook County housing compared with Oregon
- Crook County against other Oregon counties
- Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
- Crook County towns compared
- Who lives in Crook County, in numbers
- Reading the Crook County data as a borrower
- Debt-to-income, Crook County edition
- Verifying a lender from Crook County
- Four steps for Crook County borrowers
- More guides for Crook County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Crook County
With an estimated 26,277 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Crook County ranks 23rd of 36 in Oregon for population. Spread over 2,979 square miles, that works out to roughly 8.8 residents per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Bend, OR metropolitan area. Prineville (11,470 people) heads the county's list of 4 Census places, 1 incorporated and 3 census-designated.
Where Crook County works
Education and health care (24%), retail trade (14%) and construction (11%) lead Crook County's job mix. Relative to Oregon (7%), construction is 5 points bigger in Crook County (11%). The survey's unemployment rate for Crook County averages 5.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.4%). Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 21%; under 15 minutes: 37%.
| Top industries | Crook County share | +/- vs Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.9% | 0.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.2% | +2.3 pts |
| Construction | 11.4% | +4.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.6% | -0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.9% | -3.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.4% | -2.3 pts |
Self-employed in Crook County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
Paychecks and income spread in Crook County
$81,965 is the median household income for Crook County, set against $83,011 for Oregon. Only 8 Oregon counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Crook County | vs Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.5% | -2.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.5% | +6.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.7% | -1.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.4% | -2.4 pts |
About 18% of households earn under $35,000, while 37% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 11.3%, 1 point lower than the state's 11.9%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Crook County median.
Crook County housing compared with Oregon
$1,283 a month is the median gross rent in Crook County, 16% below the state. By the Census definition, 57% of Crook County renters are cost-burdened. Median value $467,000; median income $81,965; ratio 5.7. In Crook County, 74% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them.
| Measure | Crook County | Oregon | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 74% | 63% | +10.8 pts |
| Mobile homes | 14.3% | 7.1% | +7.2 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 57% | 52% | +4.2 pts |
| Median gross rent | $1,283/mo | $1,525/mo | 16% lower |
| Vacant units | 9% | 8% | +1.1 pts |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 31% | +1.0 pts |
| Median home value | $467,000 | $477,600 | 2% lower |
With 74% of Crook County homes owner-occupied, equity is a real alternative for many readers; just remember a missed HELOC payment puts the home at risk. With rent burdens at 57%, keep any Crook County loan to the smallest amount that solves the problem.
Crook County against other Oregon counties
Ranked against the other 35 county-level areas in Oregon, these are the Crook County figures furthest from the middle.
- Few Oregon counties match Crook County on the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 57% here, 52% for the state, ranking 2nd highest of 36. Rent pressure leaves little room; stress-test any payment.
- On the share of commutes over 45 minutes, Crook County sits near the top of Oregon at 21%, 3rd highest of 36. With long commutes, a reliable car is part of keeping the job.
- Homeownership: 74% in Crook County. Only 4 of 36 Oregon counties are higher. An owner-heavy county means repairs are a common reason to borrow.
Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
Wheeler County is closest, 43 miles from center to center; the sixth, Gilliam County, is 84 miles off. Deschutes County leads the group on income ($92,758), Wheeler County trails ($55,284), and Crook County out-earns 5 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crook County | - | $81,965 | $1,283/mo | 74% |
| Wheeler County, OR | 43 mi | $55,284 | $870/mo | 72% |
| Deschutes County, OR | 46 mi | $92,758 | $1,787/mo | 70% |
| Jefferson County, OR | 52 mi | $76,260 | $941/mo | 72% |
| Grant County, OR | 71 mi | $59,450 | $789/mo | 77% |
| Wasco County, OR | 79 mi | $64,175 | $1,008/mo | 68% |
| Gilliam County, OR | 84 mi | $66,917 | $1,125/mo | 74% |
Crook County towns compared
15,952 of Crook County's 26,277 residents live in its 4 Census places (61%); the 4 largest are listed. Juniper Canyon has the highest median household income on the list ($84,861) and Prineville the lowest ($72,980), counting places with at least 500 residents. From Prineville to the smallest crossroads, Crook County residents share this guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prineville | city | 11,470 | $72,980 | $1,355 | 26 mi |
| Juniper Canyon | CDP | 2,666 | $84,861 | n/a | 19 mi |
| Prineville Lake Acres | CDP | 1,497 | $80,164 | $914 | 21 mi |
| Ochoco West | CDP | 319 | $84,000 | n/a | 32 mi |
Who lives in Crook County, in numbers
College graduates make up 21% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 5.7%, against 5.9% for Oregon.
| Residents | Crook County | Difference from Oregon | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.3% | -15.5 pts | -0.9 pts |
| Work from home | 11.4% | -7.6 pts | +2.7 pts |
| Median age | 47.2 | +6.8 yrs | +5.7 yrs |
| No high school diploma | 10.7% | +2.5 pts | n/a |
| No vehicle | 4.9% | -2.1 pts | -0.5 pts |
| Poverty rate | 11.3% | -0.7 pts | -1.9 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.9% | +0.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
| No health insurance | 5.7% | -0.2 pts | -2.1 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.9% |
| 60+ min | 11.1% |
Reading the Crook County data as a borrower
- Commuter costs. 21% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Manufactured homes. 14% of Crook County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 47, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Renters under pressure. When 57% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Debt-to-income, Crook County edition
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Crook County's medians:
- Start: $6,830 gross per month ($81,965 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $1,283, takes 19% of that
- $1,654: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $1,283, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Verifying a lender from Crook County
The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation is the place to verify any lender's Oregon license. If a Crook County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. See the Oregon state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for Crook County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Crook County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Crook County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for Crook County
Next step up from Crook County:
Frequently asked questions
Is $81,965 a good income in Crook County?
It is the county median, so half of Crook County households earn more and half less; 37% earn $100,000 or more.
Can a Crook County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $1,283 median rent and $6,830 median monthly income, rent alone uses 19%; add other debts before a new payment.
Is home equity cheaper than a personal loan in Crook County?
Often, because the home secures it. With 74% of Crook County homes owner-occupied, weigh that lower cost against the risk to the house.
I live in a small Crook County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Prineville, Juniper Canyon, Prineville Lake Acres, Ochoco West.
Is the fit check different in Crook County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.