1st Advantage MortgageIn Morrow County, Oregon, the typical household earns $75,448 a year and the typical rent is $995. 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
- Morrow County, OR: the basics
- Housing costs in Morrow County
- Income in Morrow County compared with Oregon
- Work, industries and travel time in Morrow County
- Places inside Morrow County
- How Morrow County compares with nearby counties
- Room for a loan payment in Morrow County
- Before borrowing in Morrow County
- Morrow County households compared
- Checklist for Morrow County applicants
- Lender oversight for Morrow County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Morrow County, OR: the basics
Roughly 12,300 residents live in Morrow County, Oregon, 29th by population among the state's 36 counties and county equivalents. It covers 2,031 square miles of land, or about 6 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (5 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Boardman, with about 4,064 residents, or 33% of the county.
Housing costs in Morrow County
Renters in Morrow County pay a median of $995 a month, 35% below the Oregon figure of $1,525. 35% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 15% spend half or more. Home values center on $240,400, or 3.2 years of median income. The ownership rate is 72%. Half the housing stock was built before 1979.
| Measure | Morrow County | Oregon | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $995/mo | $1,525/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $240,400 | $477,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 35% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 31% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 32.0% | 7.1% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 8% | n/a |
Income in Morrow County compared with Oregon
Morrow County households have a median income of $75,448 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 14th of 36 in Oregon.
| Households earning | Morrow County | +/- vs Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.9% | +0.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.2% | +5.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.8% | +2.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.0% | -8.7 pts |
Some 21% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 35% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 13.2% of Morrow County residents in poverty, against 11.9% across Oregon. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.416 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Morrow County median.
Work, industries and travel time in Morrow County
By the Census industry count, 19% of employed Morrow County residents work in education and health care and 17% in agriculture, forestry and mining. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 17% of workers here, versus 3% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.4% in Morrow County. 11% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 3% work from home. Only 3.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Morrow County share | +/- vs Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.6% | -5.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 16.7% | +14.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.3% | +2.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.9% | -2.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.5% | -2.4 pts |
| Construction | 6.7% | -0.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Morrow County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Places inside Morrow 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 65% of Morrow County residents live in one of the 5. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $49,521 in Heppner to $74,336 in Irrigon. Median rent ranges from $744 in Heppner to $971 in Boardman. Live in one of these Morrow County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boardman | city | 4,064 | $66,691 | $971 | 29 mi |
| Irrigon | city | 2,120 | $74,336 | $794 | 33 mi |
| Heppner | city | 1,277 | $49,521 | $744 | 5 mi |
| Ione | city | 456 | $75,893 | $1,217 | 12 mi |
| Lexington | town | 83 | $40,568 | n/a | 4 mi |
How Morrow County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 33 to 65 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Benton County leads the group on income ($89,874), Wheeler County trails ($55,284), and Morrow County out-earns 5 of the six. Some neighbors are in Washington. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Morrow County resident follows Oregon rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morrow County | - | $75,448 | $995/mo | 72% |
| Gilliam County, OR | 33 mi | $66,917 | $1,125/mo | 74% |
| Umatilla County, OR | 44 mi | $67,728 | $997/mo | 68% |
| Wheeler County, OR | 52 mi | $55,284 | $870/mo | 72% |
| Sherman County, OR | 52 mi | $60,161 | $1,032/mo | 66% |
| Benton County, WA | 56 mi | $89,874 | $1,306/mo | 68% |
| Klickitat County, WA | 65 mi | $71,042 | $1,105/mo | 77% |
Room for a loan payment in Morrow County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Morrow County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Morrow County: $6,287
- 16% goes to median rent ($995)
- $1,520: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Before borrowing in Morrow County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Morrow County borrowers.
- Mobile home upkeep. 32% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Morrow County households compared
10% of Morrow County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 9.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Morrow County | Oregon | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.3 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 10.1% | 36.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 23.8% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.6% | 5.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.5% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.2% | 19.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.2% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.4% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Morrow County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.5% |
| 60+ min | 7.2% |
Checklist for Morrow County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Lender oversight for Morrow County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Morrow County borrowers answers to the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Oregon state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Oregon guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Morrow County household make?
About $75,448 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 9% below the Oregon median.
Is Morrow County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $995 against $1,525 statewide, and 35% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Morrow County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 72% of Morrow County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Boardman?
Yes, along with the other 4 Census places in Morrow County, such as Irrigon, Heppner, Ione.
Are Morrow 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.