1st Advantage MortgageIn Lake County, Oregon, the typical household earns $62,787 a year and the typical rent is $878. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Oregon before sharing details.
On this page
- A quick profile of Lake County
- Lake County housing compared with Oregon
- What Lake County households earn
- Jobs and commutes in Lake County
- Towns and communities in Lake County
- Lake County and the counties next door
- Budget math at the Lake County median
- Before borrowing in Lake County
- Who lives in Lake County, in numbers
- Licensing and complaints for Lake County
- A Lake County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Lake County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Lake County
Roughly 8,267 residents live in Lake County, Oregon, 30th by population among the state's 36 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 8,139 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 1 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Lake County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (2 incorporated, 3 census-designated); the largest is Lakeview, with about 3,270 residents, or 40% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Lake County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Lake County housing compared with Oregon
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $878 in Lake County versus $1,525 statewide. 51% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 28% spend half or more. Home values center on $219,500, or 3.5 years of median income. The ownership rate is 67%.
| Cost | Lake County | Oregon figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $878/mo | $1,525/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $219,500 | $477,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 31% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 17.2% | 7.1% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 18% | 8% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
What Lake County households earn
The median household income in Lake County is $62,787; statewide it is $83,011, so Lake County runs 24% below Oregon as a whole. In the state ranking that is 25th of 36.
| Households earning | Lake County | +/- vs Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.8% | +12.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.5% | +3.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.4% | -6.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.3% | -10.4 pts |
About 33% of households earn under $35,000, while 25% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 14.9%, 3 points higher than the state's 11.9%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.431 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Lake County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Jobs and commutes in Lake County
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Lake County residents work in education and health care and 17% in agriculture, forestry and mining. Compared with Oregon, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (17% against 3%). The survey's unemployment rate for Lake County averages 4.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.4%). 7% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home. 5.1% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Lake County share | +/- vs Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.1% | +2.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 17.0% | +14.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.5% | +0.6 pts |
| Public administration | 11.4% | +6.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.4% | +0.7 pts |
| Construction | 5.3% | -1.5 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Towns and communities in Lake 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 47% of Lake County residents live in one of the 5. No Lake County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 5.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeview | town | 3,270 | $70,900 | $1,026 | 41 mi |
| Paisley | city | 249 | $54,250 | $475 | 10 mi |
| Silver Lake | CDP | 206 | $60,350 | n/a | 41 mi |
| New Pine Creek | CDP | 125 | n/a | n/a | 55 mi |
| Plush | CDP | 59 | n/a | $588 | 36 mi |
Lake County and the counties next door
Klamath County is closest, 64 miles from center to center; the sixth, Jackson County, is 119 miles off. Deschutes County leads the group on income ($92,758), Harney County trails ($55,208), and Lake County out-earns 3 of the six. The list crosses into California, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake County | - | $62,787 | $878/mo | 67% |
| Klamath County, OR | 64 mi | $58,830 | $991/mo | 69% |
| Harney County, OR | 73 mi | $55,208 | $684/mo | 67% |
| Modoc County, CA | 84 mi | $59,455 | $836/mo | 77% |
| Deschutes County, OR | 88 mi | $92,758 | $1,787/mo | 70% |
| Crook County, OR | 95 mi | $81,965 | $1,283/mo | 74% |
| Jackson County, OR | 119 mi | $73,999 | $1,358/mo | 66% |
Budget math at the Lake County median
How much room does a median Lake County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Lake County: $5,232
- Rent at the median, $878, takes 17% of that
- Under a 36% cap, $1,884 total minus rent leaves $1,006
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,372 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Lake County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Before borrowing in Lake County
A few patterns in the Lake County data, and the practical point behind each:
- 17% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Fixed incomes. Lake County's median age is 45.7. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Rent squeeze. 51% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Who lives in Lake County, in numbers
21% of Lake County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 4.9%, against 5.9% for Oregon.
| Measure | Lake County | Oregon statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.7 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.1% | 36.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.1% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.9% | 5.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.1% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.4% | 19.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.9% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Lake County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 77.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 10.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 5.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.8% |
| 60+ min | 3.9% |
Licensing and complaints for Lake County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Lake County, check the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Oregon state guide for the statewide picture.
A Lake County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Lake County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
More guides for Lake County
For statewide rules and data, see the Oregon guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Lake County household make?
About $62,787 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 24% below the Oregon median.
How does Lake County rent compare with Oregon?
$878 locally versus $1,525 for the state, 42% below.
What are the biggest places in Lake County?
By population: Lakeview, Paisley, Silver Lake, New Pine Creek, Plush. The county has 5 Census places in all.
Are Lake County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who regulates personal lenders for Lake 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.