1st Advantage MortgageIn Hood River County, Oregon, the typical household earns $88,947 a year and the typical rent is $1,417. 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
- A quick profile of Hood River County
- How much Hood River County households make
- Employment and commuting in Hood River County
- What it costs to live in Hood River County
- Towns and communities in Hood River County
- Counties near Hood River County
- Hood River County households compared
- Local borrowing considerations for Hood River County
- Budget math at the Hood River County median
- Four steps for Hood River County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Oregon
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Hood River County
Roughly 23,905 residents live in Hood River County, Oregon, 26th by population among the state's 36 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 522 square miles, that works out to roughly 45.8 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Hood River County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Hood River is the biggest of its 5 Census places, at roughly 8,361 people (35% of the county total).
How much Hood River County households make
The median household income in Hood River County is $88,947; statewide it is $83,011, so Hood River County runs 7% above Oregon as a whole. Only 4 Oregon counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in Hood River County | Difference from Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.7% | -2.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.5% | -2.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.0% | +0.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 16.9% | +4.2 pts |
Some 18% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 46% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 8.0%, 4 points 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 Hood River County median.
Employment and commuting in Hood River County
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; agriculture, forestry and mining is next with 12%. Compared with Oregon, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (12% against 3%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.8% in Hood River County. About 62% drive to work alone and 10% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 5.8% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Hood River County workers | vs Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.4% | -0.5 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 12.4% | +9.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.3% | +3.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.8% | -1.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.0% | -2.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.7% | -3.0 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
What it costs to live in Hood River County
A typical Hood River County rental runs $1,417 a month including utilities, which is 7% below Oregon. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 49% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $660,000, about 7.4 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 69%. Median construction year: 1984.
| Home costs | Hood River County | Oregon | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,417/mo | $1,525/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $660,000 | $477,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 31% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 13% | 8% | n/a |
Towns and communities in Hood River County
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 52% of Hood River County residents live in one of the 5. Incomes vary by place: $97,250 at the median in Odell, $70,000 in Cascade Locks. This guide covers each of the 5 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hood River | city | 8,361 | $85,647 | $1,480 | 15 mi |
| Odell | CDP | 2,218 | $97,250 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Cascade Locks | city | 1,378 | $70,000 | $1,102 | 15 mi |
| Parkdale | CDP | 319 | $71,250 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Mount Hood | CDP | 191 | n/a | n/a | 5 mi |
Counties near Hood River County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Hood River County's, from 34 to 48 miles away. Clackamas County leads the group on income ($103,517), Sherman County trails ($60,161), and Hood River County out-earns 3 of the six. The list crosses into Washington, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hood River County | - | $88,947 | $1,417/mo | 69% |
| Wasco County, OR | 34 mi | $64,175 | $1,008/mo | 68% |
| Clackamas County, OR | 36 mi | $103,517 | $1,758/mo | 71% |
| Multnomah County, OR | 37 mi | $88,766 | $1,646/mo | 53% |
| Skamania County, WA | 38 mi | $93,265 | $1,068/mo | 80% |
| Clark County, WA | 44 mi | $97,536 | $1,748/mo | 66% |
| Sherman County, OR | 48 mi | $60,161 | $1,032/mo | 66% |
Hood River County households compared
41% of Hood River County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 9.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Hood River County | All of Oregon | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 41.0% | 36.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.5% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.5% | 5.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.8% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 20.3% | 19.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.0% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 44.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.0% |
| 60+ min | 6.0% |
Local borrowing considerations for Hood River County
Based on the Hood River County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 46% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Rent squeeze. 49% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Budget math at the Hood River County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Hood River County's medians:
- Start: $7,412 gross per month ($88,947 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $1,417, takes 19% of that
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,770 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Hood River County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Four steps for Hood River County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Hood River County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A Oregon license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Checking a lender's license in Oregon
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Hood River County borrowers answers to the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Oregon guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Oregon guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hood River County a high-income county?
Its $88,947 median ranks 5th of 36 Oregon counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Hood River County?
$1,417 a month at the median, about 19% of median household income.
Does this page cover Hood River?
Yes, along with the other 4 Census places in Hood River County, such as Odell, Cascade Locks, Parkdale.
Will a Hood River 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 Hood River 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.