1st Advantage MortgageThe median Curry County household earns $62,244, and 15% 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
- Curry County, OR: the basics
- How much Curry County households make
- The Curry County job picture
- Rent, home values and ownership in Curry County
- The communities that make up Curry County
- How Curry County compares with nearby counties
- What a median Curry County budget can carry
- Who lives in Curry County, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in Curry County
- Who licenses lenders for Curry County residents
- Four steps for Curry County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Curry County, OR: the basics
Curry County is home to about 23,381 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 27th most populous of 36 county-level areas in Oregon. It covers 1,628 square miles of land, or about 14 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Curry County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 8 Census places inside Curry County, Brookings leads by population with about 6,703; 3 of the 8 are incorporated.
How much Curry County households make
The median household income in Curry County is $62,244; statewide it is $83,011, so Curry County runs 25% below Oregon as a whole.
| Income band | Share in Curry County | Difference from Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.7% | +7.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.6% | +3.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.3% | -5.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.5% | -5.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 31% of Curry County households make $100,000 or more, and 28% make less than $35,000. Census counts 15.2% of Curry County residents in poverty, against 11.9% across Oregon. None of these numbers decides a Curry County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The Curry County job picture
The biggest employer of Curry County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by arts, lodging and food service (14%). Arts, lodging and food service stands out: 14% of workers here, versus 9% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Curry County averages 5.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.4%). About 70% drive to work alone and 7% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 4.1% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Curry County share | +/- vs Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.0% | -0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 14.4% | +5.6 pts |
| Public administration | 10.2% | +5.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.0% | -2.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.4% | -2.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.4% | -2.3 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Rent, home values and ownership in Curry County
Renters in Curry County pay a median of $1,241 a month, 19% below the Oregon figure of $1,525. By the Census definition, 48% of Curry County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $381,300, or 6.1 years of median income. 74% of Curry County households own their home and 26% rent. The median year built is 1982.
| Curry County | Oregon | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,241/mo | $1,525/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $381,300 | $477,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 37% | 31% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 18.3% | 7.1% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Curry County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
The communities that make up Curry County
The table lists the 8 largest of 8 Census places in Curry County, by population. Together all 8 hold about 13,549 people, so roughly 42% of residents live outside any named place. Brookings has the highest median household income on the list ($74,933) and Port Orford the lowest ($37,212), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Port Orford ($938) and steepest in Brookings ($1,415). None of the 8 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookings | city | 6,703 | $74,933 | $1,415 | 28 mi |
| Gold Beach | city | 2,466 | $56,014 | $983 | 11 mi |
| Harbor | CDP | 2,437 | $55,109 | $1,190 | 30 mi |
| Port Orford | city | 986 | $37,212 | $938 | 24 mi |
| Nesika Beach | CDP | 465 | $91,431 | $1,107 | 10 mi |
| Langlois | CDP | 286 | $44,750 | n/a | 34 mi |
| Wedderburn | CDP | 206 | $52,941 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Pistol River | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 16 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
How Curry County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Josephine County at 33 miles out to Siskiyou County at 105. Income ranges from $59,095 in Siskiyou County to $73,999 in Jackson County; 2 of these neighbors top Curry County's median. The list crosses into California, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curry County | - | $62,244 | $1,241/mo | 74% |
| Josephine County, OR | 33 mi | $60,098 | $1,194/mo | 72% |
| Coos County, OR | 50 mi | $62,143 | $1,042/mo | 71% |
| Del Norte County, CA | 51 mi | $67,058 | $1,233/mo | 70% |
| Douglas County, OR | 78 mi | $61,310 | $1,055/mo | 73% |
| Jackson County, OR | 78 mi | $73,999 | $1,358/mo | 66% |
| Siskiyou County, CA | 105 mi | $59,095 | $1,091/mo | 69% |
What a median Curry County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Curry County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $62,244 a year is $5,187 of gross monthly income
- 24% goes to median rent ($1,241)
- With a 40% ceiling, about $834 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Who lives in Curry County, in numbers
Degree holders: 22% of adults over 25. 4.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Curry County | All of Oregon | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.7 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.1% | 36.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.7% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.9% | 5.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.1% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 16.5% | 19.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.2% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.8% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Curry County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 57.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 20.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.2% |
| 60+ min | 4.6% |
Borrowing situations common in Curry County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Curry County borrowers.
- 18% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 58, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- 48% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Who licenses lenders for Curry County residents
Curry County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Oregon: Oregon personal loans.
Four steps for Curry County borrowers
A short checklist for Curry County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Oregon borrowers.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Oregon guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Curry County household make?
About $62,244 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 25% below the Oregon median.
What do renters pay in Curry County?
$1,241 a month at the median, about 24% of median household income.
Should Curry County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 74% of Curry County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Curry County?
By population: Brookings, Gold Beach, Harbor, Port Orford, Nesika Beach. The county has 8 Census places in all.
Does living in Curry County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Curry County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.