1st Advantage MortgageLincoln County households have a median income of $63,165 and median rent of $1,201 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Lincoln County at a glance
- Jobs and commutes in Lincoln County
- Household income in Lincoln County
- Lincoln County housing compared with Oregon
- The communities that make up Lincoln County
- How Lincoln County compares with nearby counties
- What a median Lincoln County budget can carry
- Lincoln County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Lincoln County borrowers
- Lender oversight for Lincoln County
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Lincoln County at a glance
Lincoln County is home to about 50,964 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 18th most populous of 36 county-level areas in Oregon. Land area is 981 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 52 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 12 places in the county (7 incorporated, 5 census-designated); the largest is Newport, with about 10,583 residents, or 21% of the county.
Jobs and commutes in Lincoln County
The biggest employer of Lincoln County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 21% of workers, followed by arts, lodging and food service (18%). Compared with Oregon, the county leans toward arts, lodging and food service (18% against 9%). Averaged over the five survey years, 8.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 12% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Sector | Lincoln County | Compared with Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.4% | -2.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 18.1% | +9.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.5% | +3.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.3% | -3.7 pts |
| Construction | 8.3% | +1.4 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.6% | +0.2 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Household income in Lincoln County
The median household income in Lincoln County is $63,165; statewide it is $83,011, so Lincoln County runs 24% below Oregon as a whole. Only 23 Oregon counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Lincoln County | Gap to Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.1% | +6.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.0% | +7.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.7% | -6.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.3% | -6.4 pts |
About 26% of households earn under $35,000, while 28% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 15.9%, 4 points higher than the state's 11.9%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.462 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Lincoln County housing compared with Oregon
Renters in Lincoln County pay a median of $1,201 a month, 21% below the Oregon figure of $1,525. By the Census definition, 51% of Lincoln County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $410,800, a typical Lincoln County house costs 6.5 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 72% of homes. Median construction year: 1981.
| Lincoln County | Oregon | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,201/mo | $1,525/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $410,800 | $477,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 39% | 31% | 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?
The communities that make up Lincoln County
Here are the 12 most populous of the county's 12 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 71% of Lincoln County residents live in one of the 12. Neotsu has the highest median household income on the list ($105,133) and Toledo the lowest ($53,947), counting places with at least 500 residents. No Lincoln County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 12.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newport | city | 10,583 | $60,568 | $1,241 | 7 mi |
| Lincoln City | city | 9,968 | $56,635 | $1,314 | 24 mi |
| Toledo | city | 3,546 | $53,947 | $1,084 | 2 mi |
| Lincoln Beach | CDP | 2,434 | $73,750 | $884 | 17 mi |
| Waldport | city | 2,177 | $55,625 | $987 | 17 mi |
| Depoe Bay | city | 1,782 | $85,417 | $1,622 | 14 mi |
| Rose Lodge | CDP | 1,381 | $59,038 | $1,180 | 26 mi |
| Siletz | city | 1,119 | $86,667 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Yachats | city | 979 | $67,125 | $979 | 25 mi |
| Bayshore | CDP | 925 | $61,894 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Neotsu | CDP | 872 | $105,133 | n/a | 25 mi |
| San Marine | CDP | 506 | $77,710 | n/a | 22 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
How Lincoln County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (26 to 68 miles). Yamhill County leads the group on income ($90,063), Tillamook County trails ($69,105), and Lincoln County out-earns 0 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | - | $63,165 | $1,201/mo | 72% |
| Benton County, OR | 26 mi | $77,702 | $1,410/mo | 57% |
| Polk County, OR | 31 mi | $85,118 | $1,299/mo | 65% |
| Yamhill County, OR | 51 mi | $90,063 | $1,480/mo | 69% |
| Tillamook County, OR | 57 mi | $69,105 | $1,246/mo | 74% |
| Marion County, OR | 68 mi | $77,351 | $1,414/mo | 62% |
| Linn County, OR | 68 mi | $76,329 | $1,320/mo | 67% |
What a median Lincoln County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Lincoln County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $5,264 gross per month ($63,165 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $1,201, takes 23% of that
- At 36%, room after rent is $694 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Lincoln County's.
Lincoln County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 29% of adults over 25. About 8% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Lincoln County | All of Oregon | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.7 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.6% | 36.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.8% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.9% | 5.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.5% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.1% | 19.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.9% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 8.0% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Lincoln County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 44.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.3% |
| 60+ min | 7.1% |
What the numbers mean for Lincoln County borrowers
What the Lincoln County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Mobile home upkeep. 13% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Fixed incomes. Lincoln County's median age is 52.7. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Renters under pressure. When 51% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Lender oversight for Lincoln County
Lincoln County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Oregon: Oregon personal loans.
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Lincoln County residents:
- Price the Lincoln County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Oregon guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lincoln County a high-income county?
Its $63,165 median ranks 24th of 36 Oregon counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Lincoln County rent compare with Oregon?
$1,201 locally versus $1,525 for the state, 21% below.
Which towns does the Lincoln County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 12 Census places: Newport, Lincoln City, Toledo, Lincoln Beach, Waldport.
Can Lincoln County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Oregon county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who regulates personal lenders for Lincoln 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.