1st Advantage MortgageAbout 63% of Malheur County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $54,519. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Malheur County by the numbers
- Malheur County housing compared with Oregon
- How much Malheur County households make
- Employment and commuting in Malheur County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Malheur County
- Malheur County next to its neighbors
- Budget math at the Malheur County median
- Local borrowing considerations for Malheur County
- Malheur County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before you sign
- Lender oversight for Malheur County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Malheur County by the numbers
With an estimated 31,954 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Malheur County ranks 20th of 36 in Oregon for population. Land area is 9,888 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 3 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Malheur County is not part of any metropolitan area. Ontario is the biggest of its 9 Census places, at roughly 11,842 people (37% of the county total).
Malheur County housing compared with Oregon
A typical Malheur County rental runs $821 a month including utilities, which is 46% below Oregon. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 38% of renter households here. Home values center on $248,900, or 4.6 years of median income. Owners occupy 63% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1974.
| Malheur County | Oregon | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $821/mo | $1,525/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $248,900 | $477,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 63% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 31% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 8% | n/a |
How much Malheur County households make
At $54,519, the typical Malheur County household income is 17% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 36th among Oregon's 36 county-level areas.
| Band | Malheur County | Compared with Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.2% | +14.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.8% | +4.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.1% | -10.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.0% | -7.8 pts |
Some 34% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 23% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 17.6%, 6 points higher than the state's 11.9%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Employment and commuting in Malheur County
Education and health care employs 20% of working residents, the largest share; arts, lodging and food service is next with 14%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 12% of workers here, versus 3% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.2% in Malheur County. Long commutes are the exception here: 10% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Malheur County share | +/- vs Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.0% | -3.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 14.0% | +5.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 12.4% | +9.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.8% | -1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.3% | -0.4 pts |
| Public administration | 9.0% | +4.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Malheur County
Here are the 9 most populous of the county's 9 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 58% of Malheur County residents live in one of the 9. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $46,308 in Ontario to $69,183 in Nyssa. Median rent ranges from $804 in Ontario to $916 in Nyssa. None of the 9 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | city | 11,842 | $46,308 | $804 | 66 mi |
| Nyssa | city | 3,240 | $69,183 | $916 | 57 mi |
| Vale | city | 2,348 | $50,313 | $820 | 58 mi |
| Annex | CDP | 340 | $67,000 | $894 | 78 mi |
| Adrian | city | 299 | $73,000 | n/a | 47 mi |
| Harper | CDP | 219 | $48,750 | n/a | 46 mi |
| Jordan Valley | city | 180 | $55,893 | n/a | 31 mi |
| Brogan | CDP | 38 | $119,167 | n/a | 73 mi |
| Juntura | CDP | 18 | n/a | $275 | 45 mi |
Malheur County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Malheur County's, from 54 to 85 miles away. All of the six report a higher median household income than Malheur County; Ada County is highest at $91,502 and Harney County lowest at $55,208. The list crosses into Idaho, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malheur County | - | $54,519 | $821/mo | 63% |
| Canyon County, ID | 54 mi | $76,488 | $1,347/mo | 76% |
| Harney County, OR | 70 mi | $55,208 | $684/mo | 67% |
| Payette County, ID | 71 mi | $67,673 | $860/mo | 75% |
| Ada County, ID | 71 mi | $91,502 | $1,577/mo | 71% |
| Owyhee County, ID | 83 mi | $64,406 | $821/mo | 73% |
| Gem County, ID | 85 mi | $64,605 | $1,038/mo | 76% |
Budget math at the Malheur County median
How much room does a median Malheur County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,543 before taxes
- 18% goes to median rent ($821)
- Under a 43% cap, $1,954 total minus rent leaves $1,133
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Malheur County's.
Local borrowing considerations for Malheur County
A few patterns in the Malheur County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 15% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Malheur County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 15% of adults over 25. About 9% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Malheur County | Oregon | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.1 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.2% | 36.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.3% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.0% | 5.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.7% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 19.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.6% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.2% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Malheur County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 50.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.8% |
| 60+ min | 5.4% |
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Malheur County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A Oregon license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Lender oversight for Malheur County
Malheur County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Oregon: Oregon personal loans.
Related local guides
The Oregon guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Malheur County a high-income county?
Its $54,519 median ranks 36th of 36 Oregon counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Malheur County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $821 a month; 38% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Malheur County?
By population: Ontario, Nyssa, Vale, Annex, Adrian. The county has 9 Census places in all.
Will a Malheur 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 do I complain to about a lender in Malheur County?
Start with the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.