1st Advantage MortgageKlamath County households have a median income of $58,830 and median rent of $991 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Use those as context only. A lender looks at your own documented income and debts; compare APR and total repaid on every Klamath County offer.
On this page
- Klamath County, OR: the basics
- How much Klamath County households make
- Renting and owning in Klamath County
- Where Klamath County works
- Klamath County at the extremes
- Census places in Klamath County
- Regional comparison for Klamath County
- A Klamath County household budget, worked through
- Borrowing situations common in Klamath County
- Klamath County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Checklist for Klamath County applicants
- Lender oversight for Klamath County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Klamath County, OR: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Klamath County's population at 70,247; only 14 of Oregon's 36 county-level areas are larger. Klamath County spans 5,950 square miles; with 70,247 people, that is 11.8 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Klamath County is not part of any metropolitan area. Largest place: Klamath Falls, about 22,115 residents (31% of Klamath County); 20 Census places in all.
How much Klamath County households make
$58,830 is the median household income for Klamath County, set against $83,011 for Oregon.
| Band | Klamath County | Compared with Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 31.2% | +11.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.9% | +4.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.4% | -8.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.4% | -7.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 26% of Klamath County households make $100,000 or more, and 31% make less than $35,000. Klamath County counts about 12,860 residents below the poverty line, 18.3% of the population. Gini index for Klamath County: 0.485. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Renting and owning in Klamath County
Klamath County rent at the median: $991 a month, utilities in ($1,525 in Oregon). About 5 in 10 Klamath County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. Home values center on $280,400, or 4.8 years of median income. In Klamath County, 69% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them.
| Home costs | Klamath County | Oregon | Compared with Oregon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 69% | 63% | +6.1 pts |
| Vacant units | 13% | 8% | +5.0 pts |
| Median home value | $280,400 | $477,600 | 41% lower |
| Median gross rent | $991/mo | $1,525/mo | 35% lower |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 31% | +2.5 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 52% | +2.4 pts |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Where Klamath County works
The biggest employer of Klamath County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 27% of workers, followed by retail trade (14%). Klamath County over-indexes on education and health care: 27% versus 24% in Oregon. Averaged over the five survey years, 7.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 48% of Klamath County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 7% need 45 or more. 6.6% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Klamath County workers | vs Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.0% | +3.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.1% | +2.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.4% | -1.3 pts |
| Public administration | 7.6% | +2.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.6% | -1.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.8% | -5.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Klamath County at the extremes
Ranked against the other 35 county-level areas in Oregon, these are the Klamath County figures furthest from the middle.
- On the poverty rate, Klamath County sits near the top of Oregon at 18.3%, 2nd highest of 36. Nonprofit credit counseling is free or low cost and worth a call first.
- Median household income: $58,830 in Klamath County. Only 3 of 36 Oregon counties are lower. Where incomes run low, free assistance and credit-union small-dollar loans deserve a look first.
- The ACS unemployment rate: 7.2% in Klamath County. Only 3 of 36 Oregon counties are higher. Job gaps can make income hard to document; gather records first.
- On the share of commutes over 45 minutes, Klamath County sits near the bottom of Oregon at 7%, 5th lowest of 36. Short commutes keep vehicle costs down, which can free up room for savings.
Census places in Klamath County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 20 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 71% of Klamath County residents live in one of the 20. Running Y Ranch ($102,697) and Klamath Falls ($46,693) mark the top and bottom of Klamath County's income range among larger places. Median rent ranges from $489 in Bonanza to $2,591 in Running Y Ranch. From Klamath Falls to the smallest crossroads, Klamath County residents share this guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Klamath Falls | city | 22,115 | $46,693 | $986 | 33 mi |
| Altamont | CDP | 19,927 | $58,629 | $1,015 | 34 mi |
| Keno | CDP | 1,651 | $72,877 | n/a | 41 mi |
| Falcon Heights | CDP | 837 | $61,773 | n/a | 39 mi |
| Merrill | city | 819 | $56,607 | $678 | 46 mi |
| Malin | city | 799 | $49,643 | $981 | 48 mi |
| Bonanza | town | 632 | $66,250 | $489 | 36 mi |
| Running Y Ranch | CDP | 607 | $102,697 | $2,591 | 31 mi |
| Rocky Point | CDP | 478 | n/a | n/a | 30 mi |
| Chiloquin | city | 465 | $33,839 | $647 | 13 mi |
| Oregon Shores | CDP | 428 | $69,688 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Crescent | CDP | 363 | $45,313 | n/a | 53 mi |
| Gilchrist | CDP | 291 | $250,001 | n/a | 55 mi |
| Fort Klamath | CDP | 155 | n/a | n/a | 18 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Regional comparison for Klamath County
Jackson County is closest, 56 miles from center to center; the sixth, Modoc County, is 89 miles off. Richest neighbor: Deschutes County, $92,758. Poorest: Siskiyou County, $59,095. Klamath County: $58,830. Some neighbors are in California. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Klamath County resident follows Oregon rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Klamath County | - | $58,830 | $991/mo | 69% |
| Jackson County, OR | 56 mi | $73,999 | $1,358/mo | 66% |
| Lake County, OR | 64 mi | $62,787 | $878/mo | 67% |
| Douglas County, OR | 87 mi | $61,310 | $1,055/mo | 73% |
| Deschutes County, OR | 88 mi | $92,758 | $1,787/mo | 70% |
| Siskiyou County, CA | 88 mi | $59,095 | $1,091/mo | 69% |
| Modoc County, CA | 89 mi | $59,455 | $836/mo | 77% |
A Klamath County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Klamath County's medians:
- $58,830 a year is $4,902 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $991, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,117 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Borrowing situations common in Klamath County
Based on the Klamath County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- 13% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Before borrowing. At 18.3% poverty, Klamath County has local aid programs worth checking (options).
- Rent at $991. With 55% burdened, a short term and small amount keep risk down.
Klamath County residents: age, schooling, coverage
23% of Klamath County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. Health coverage gaps: 6.8% of Klamath County residents are uninsured.
| People and households | Klamath County | Compared with Oregon | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.7% | -14.1 pts | +0.5 pts |
| Work from home | 8.8% | -10.2 pts | +0.1 pts |
| Poverty rate | 18.3% | +6.4 pts | +5.1 pts |
| No high school diploma | 10.6% | +2.4 pts | n/a |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.2% | +1.8 pts | +2.8 pts |
| No health insurance | 6.8% | +0.9 pts | -1.0 pts |
| Median age | 41.3 | +0.9 yrs | -0.2 yrs |
| No vehicle | 6.6% | -0.5 pts | +1.2 pts |
| Commute length | Klamath County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.2% |
| 60+ min | 3.7% |
Checklist for Klamath County applicants
Quick steps for Klamath County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask a Klamath County credit union about member loans.
Lender oversight for Klamath County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Klamath County borrowers answers to the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. If a Klamath County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. The Oregon page has statewide figures to set beside Klamath County's.
Related local guides
Next step up from Klamath County:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Klamath County household make?
About $58,830 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 29% below the Oregon median.
What do renters pay in Klamath County?
$991 a month at the median, about 20% of median household income.
Is Sprague River covered?
Yes. Sprague River is one of 20 Census places in Klamath County, and this guide covers all of them.
Will a Klamath County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Oregon as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
What agency protects Klamath County borrowers?
The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation at the state level and the CFPB federally.