1st Advantage MortgageMultnomah County households have a median income of $88,766 and median rent of $1,646 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
- Multnomah County by the numbers
- How Multnomah County residents earn a living
- Income in Multnomah County compared with Oregon
- Renting and owning in Multnomah County
- Places inside Multnomah County
- How Multnomah County compares with nearby counties
- People and households in Multnomah County
- What the numbers mean for Multnomah County borrowers
- Room for a loan payment in Multnomah County
- Four steps for Multnomah County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Multnomah County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Multnomah County by the numbers
With an estimated 801,477 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Multnomah County ranks 1st of 36 in Oregon for population. It covers 431 square miles of land, or about 1,859 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metropolitan area. Portland is the biggest of its 10 Census places, at roughly 641,165 people (80% of the county total).
How Multnomah County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Multnomah County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (16%). The sharpest difference from the state is in professional and administrative services, at 16% locally and 12% for Oregon. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 11% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 12.6% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Multnomah County | Difference from Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.1% | +0.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 16.0% | +3.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | -0.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.1% | -1.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.1% | +0.3 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.7% | +0.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Multnomah County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Income in Multnomah County compared with Oregon
Multnomah County households have a median income of $88,766 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 6th of 36 in Oregon.
| Band | Multnomah County | Compared with Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.5% | -0.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.6% | -3.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.5% | -0.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 16.4% | +3.7 pts |
The spread is wide: 45% of Multnomah County households make $100,000 or more, and 20% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 12.6%, 1 point higher than the state's 11.9%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.475 here. A household earning below the $88,766 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Renting and owning in Multnomah County
Renters in Multnomah County pay a median of $1,646 a month, 8% above the Oregon figure of $1,525. By the Census definition, 53% of Multnomah County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $552,700, a typical Multnomah County house costs 6.2 times what the median household earns in a year. 53% of Multnomah County households own their home and 47% rent.
| Measure | Multnomah County | Oregon | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,646/mo | $1,525/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $552,700 | $477,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 53% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 31% | n/a |
For the many renters in Multnomah County, deposits, moving costs and card balances are typical reasons to borrow. Keep the amount small and the term short. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Places inside Multnomah County
Here are the 10 most populous of the county's 10 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 100% of Multnomah County residents live in one of the 10. Incomes vary by place: $250,001 at the median in Dunthorpe, $70,107 in Fairview. Rent is cheapest in Wood Village ($1,535) and steepest in Dunthorpe ($2,350). Names with links open a city guide. The other 9 places are covered here.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | city | 641,165 | $90,919 | $1,655 | 11 mi |
| Gresham | city | 112,378 | $77,795 | $1,586 | 3 mi |
| Lake Oswego | city | 40,381 | $141,549 | $2,139 | 17 mi |
| Milwaukie | city | 21,392 | $86,892 | $1,598 | 12 mi |
| Troutdale | city | 15,923 | $89,337 | $1,653 | 1 mi |
| Fairview | city | 10,735 | $70,107 | $1,637 | 1 mi |
| Wood Village | city | 4,696 | $85,413 | $1,535 | 1 mi |
| Dunthorpe | CDP | 1,875 | $250,001 | $2,350 | 14 mi |
| Maywood Park | city | 987 | $141,458 | $2,000 | 7 mi |
| Orient | CDP | 481 | $92,212 | n/a | 6 mi |
How Multnomah County compares with nearby counties
Clark County is closest, 16 miles from center to center; the sixth, Columbia County, is 42 miles off. Washington County leads the group on income ($107,772), Columbia County trails ($87,458), and Multnomah County out-earns 1 of the six. The list crosses into Washington, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multnomah County | - | $88,766 | $1,646/mo | 53% |
| Clark County, WA | 16 mi | $97,536 | $1,748/mo | 66% |
| Clackamas County, OR | 29 mi | $103,517 | $1,758/mo | 71% |
| Washington County, OR | 33 mi | $107,772 | $1,849/mo | 61% |
| Hood River County, OR | 37 mi | $88,947 | $1,417/mo | 69% |
| Skamania County, WA | 40 mi | $93,265 | $1,068/mo | 80% |
| Columbia County, OR | 42 mi | $87,458 | $1,373/mo | 76% |
People and households in Multnomah County
Degree holders: 49% of adults over 25. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Multnomah County | Oregon statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.7 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 48.9% | 36.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.5% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.6% | 5.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 12.6% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 26.1% | 19.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.6% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.7% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 44.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.2% |
| 60+ min | 5.1% |
What the numbers mean for Multnomah County borrowers
Where the Multnomah County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Six-figure budgets. For the 45% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Rent squeeze. 53% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Room for a loan payment in Multnomah County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Multnomah County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $7,397 gross per month ($88,766 / 12)
- Median rent: $1,646, or 22 cents of every gross dollar
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,313 a month
If your rent is above $1,646, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Four steps for Multnomah County borrowers
Steps that save money for Multnomah County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Oregon.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Licensing and complaints for Multnomah County
Consumer lenders serving Multnomah County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Oregon that is 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.
Related local guides
Guides that cover parts of Multnomah County:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Multnomah County household make?
About $88,766 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 7% above the Oregon median.
How much is rent in Multnomah County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,646 a month; 53% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Multnomah County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 10 Census places: Portland, Gresham, Lake Oswego, Milwaukie, Troutdale.
Is the fit check different in Multnomah County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Multnomah County?
Start with the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.