1st Advantage MortgageAbout 67% of Linn County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $76,329. 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
- Getting oriented in Linn County
- Linn County housing compared with Oregon
- Household income in Linn County
- Employment and commuting in Linn County
- Towns and communities in Linn County
- Linn County and the counties next door
- A Linn County household budget, worked through
- What the numbers mean for Linn County borrowers
- Linn County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Oregon rules that apply in Linn County
- Steps before you apply in Linn County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Linn County
Linn County is home to about 130,706 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 8th most populous of 36 county-level areas in Oregon. Packed into 2,290 square miles, that is close to 57 residents for every square mile of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Albany, OR metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 21 places in the county (12 incorporated, 9 census-designated); the largest is Lebanon, with about 19,344 residents, or 15% of the county.
Linn County housing compared with Oregon
A typical Linn County rental runs $1,320 a month including utilities, which is 13% below Oregon. By the Census definition, 53% of Linn County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $376,400, about 4.9 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 67%. Median construction year: 1978.
| Measure | Linn County | Oregon | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,320/mo | $1,525/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $376,400 | $477,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 31% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 5% | 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?
Household income in Linn County
At $76,329, the typical Linn County household income is 16% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Households earning | Linn County | +/- vs Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.9% | +1.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.4% | +4.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.1% | +0.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.6% | -7.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 35% of Linn County households make $100,000 or more, and 22% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 13.0%, 1 point higher than the state's 11.9%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.405 here. For a borrower in Linn 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.
Employment and commuting in Linn County
The biggest employer of Linn County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by retail trade (12%). Averaged over the five survey years, 6.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 15% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 4.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Linn County | Gap to Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.6% | +0.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.4% | +0.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.3% | +0.6 pts |
| Construction | 8.1% | +1.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.9% | -4.1 pts |
| Public administration | 6.7% | +1.9 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Towns and communities in Linn County
21 Census places fall mainly inside Linn County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 47,383 residents, leaving about 64% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $124,867 at the median in Millersburg, $56,927 in Sweet Home. Median rent ranges from $1,042 in South Lebanon to $2,061 in Halsey. This guide covers each of the 21 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lebanon | city | 19,344 | $63,176 | $1,312 | 19 mi |
| Sweet Home | city | 10,078 | $56,927 | $1,213 | 10 mi |
| Harrisburg | city | 3,681 | $73,650 | $1,548 | 34 mi |
| Millersburg | city | 3,366 | $124,867 | $1,489 | 29 mi |
| Brownsville | city | 1,912 | $83,098 | $1,665 | 23 mi |
| Halsey | city | 1,491 | $106,458 | $2,061 | 29 mi |
| Tangent | city | 1,290 | $99,000 | $2,048 | 29 mi |
| Lyons | city | 1,139 | $91,875 | $1,391 | 20 mi |
| South Lebanon | CDP | 939 | $61,346 | $1,042 | 18 mi |
| Scio | city | 930 | $99,886 | $1,375 | 21 mi |
| Lacomb | CDP | 691 | $76,221 | $1,145 | 12 mi |
| Crabtree | CDP | 602 | $120,513 | n/a | 21 mi |
| Crawfordsville | CDP | 588 | n/a | n/a | 19 mi |
| Sodaville | city | 309 | $53,750 | $1,036 | 16 mi |
Linn County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Linn County's, from 29 to 65 miles away. Income ranges from $71,544 in Lane County to $103,517 in Clackamas County; 5 of these neighbors top Linn County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linn County | - | $76,329 | $1,320/mo | 67% |
| Marion County, OR | 29 mi | $77,351 | $1,414/mo | 62% |
| Lane County, OR | 43 mi | $71,544 | $1,355/mo | 60% |
| Benton County, OR | 44 mi | $77,702 | $1,410/mo | 57% |
| Clackamas County, OR | 49 mi | $103,517 | $1,758/mo | 71% |
| Polk County, OR | 51 mi | $85,118 | $1,299/mo | 65% |
| Yamhill County, OR | 65 mi | $90,063 | $1,480/mo | 69% |
A Linn County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Linn 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, Linn County: $6,361
- Rent at the median, $1,320, takes 21% of that
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $906 left for all other debt payments
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,542 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
What the numbers mean for Linn County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Linn County borrowers.
- Manufactured homes. 14% of Linn County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Rent squeeze. 53% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Linn County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 22% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 6.3%, against 5.9% for Oregon.
| Residents | Linn County | Oregon | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.1 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.6% | 36.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.8% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.3% | 5.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.2% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.1% | 19.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.0% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.0% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Linn County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.6% |
| 60+ min | 7.5% |
Oregon rules that apply in Linn County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Linn County, check the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Oregon guide covers state rules in more detail.
Steps before you apply in Linn County
Steps that save money for Linn County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A Oregon license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Oregon guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Linn County a high-income county?
Its $76,329 median ranks 12th of 36 Oregon counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Linn County?
$1,320 a month at the median, about 21% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Linn County?
By population: Lebanon, Sweet Home, Harrisburg, Millersburg, Brownsville. The county has 21 Census places in all.
Does living in Linn County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Linn County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a Linn County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Oregon it is the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation.