1st Advantage MortgageThe median Harney County household earns $55,208, and 14% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Harney County by the numbers
- Household income in Harney County
- Harney County housing compared with Oregon
- Jobs and commutes in Harney County
- Harney County next to its neighbors
- Harney County towns compared
- What a median Harney County budget can carry
- Reading the Harney County data as a borrower
- More Harney County figures
- Lender oversight for Harney County
- A Harney County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Harney County
- Frequently asked questions
Harney County by the numbers
Harney County is home to about 7,499 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 32nd most populous of 36 county-level areas in Oregon. It covers 10,134 square miles of land, with fewer than one resident per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Harney County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Burns is the biggest of its 3 Census places, at roughly 2,723 people (36% of the county total). Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Harney County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Household income in Harney County
At $55,208, the typical Harney County household income is 16% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 34 Oregon counties post a higher median.
| Band | Harney County | Compared with Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 31.2% | +11.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.0% | +5.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.4% | -10.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.5% | -6.3 pts |
About 31% of households earn under $35,000, while 25% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 13.7%, 2 points higher than the state's 11.9%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.467 here. A household earning below the $55,208 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Harney County housing compared with Oregon
A typical Harney County rental runs $684 a month including utilities, which is 55% below Oregon. By the Census definition, 40% of Harney County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $242,100, or 4.4 years of median income. 67% of Harney County households own their home and 33% rent. The median home was built in 1974, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Harney County | Oregon | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $684/mo | $1,525/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $242,100 | $477,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 31% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 16% | 8% | n/a |
Jobs and commutes in Harney County
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Harney County residents work in education and health care and 15% in agriculture, forestry and mining. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 15% of workers here, versus 3% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Harney County averages 3.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.4%). 9% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 13% work from home.
| Industry | Share of Harney County workers | vs Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.4% | -2.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 15.5% | +12.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.4% | +2.6 pts |
| Public administration | 9.5% | +4.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.4% | -3.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 6.9% | -3.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Harney County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Harney County's, from 70 to 123 miles away. Income ranges from $54,519 in Malheur County to $81,965 in Crook County; 5 of these neighbors top Harney County's median. The list crosses into Idaho, Nevada, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harney County | - | $55,208 | $684/mo | 67% |
| Malheur County, OR | 70 mi | $54,519 | $821/mo | 63% |
| Lake County, OR | 73 mi | $62,787 | $878/mo | 67% |
| Grant County, OR | 99 mi | $59,450 | $789/mo | 77% |
| Crook County, OR | 103 mi | $81,965 | $1,283/mo | 74% |
| Canyon County, ID | 121 mi | $76,488 | $1,347/mo | 76% |
| Humboldt County, NV | 123 mi | $81,073 | $994/mo | 74% |
Harney County towns compared
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Harney County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 4,463 people, so roughly 40% of residents live outside any named place. Live in one of these Harney County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burns | city | 2,723 | $41,858 | $734 | 36 mi |
| Hines | city | 1,604 | $78,355 | $496 | 34 mi |
| Crane | CDP | 136 | $36,406 | $436 | 32 mi |
What a median Harney County budget can carry
Harney County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Harney County: $4,601
- Rent at the median, $684, takes 15% of that
- $1,156: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Harney County's.
Reading the Harney County data as a borrower
Based on the Harney County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Manufactured homes. 25% of Harney County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Retirees. At a median age of 45.9, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
More Harney County figures
Degree holders: 18% of adults over 25. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Harney County | Oregon | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.9 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.3% | 36.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.4% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.2% | 5.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.8% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.6% | 19.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.7% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.7% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 68.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 14.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 7.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.3% |
| 60+ min | 4.6% |
Lender oversight for Harney County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Harney County, check the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Oregon guide covers state rules in more detail.
A Harney County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Harney County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Harney County
For statewide rules and data, see the Oregon guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Harney County?
$55,208 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $83,011 for Oregon. It ranks 35th of 36 in the state.
How much is rent in Harney County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $684 a month; 40% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Harney County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 3 Census places: Burns, Hines, Crane.
Will a Harney County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Oregon as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Harney County residents?
The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation licenses consumer lenders in Oregon; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.