1st Advantage MortgagePend Oreille County households have a median income of $67,436 and median rent of $855 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Pend Oreille County at a glance
- Paychecks and income spread in Pend Oreille County
- Employment and commuting in Pend Oreille County
- Pend Oreille County housing compared with Washington
- Places inside Pend Oreille County
- Pend Oreille County next to its neighbors
- Pend Oreille County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Pend Oreille County borrowers
- What a median Pend Oreille County budget can carry
- Checklist for Pend Oreille County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Pend Oreille County
- More guides for Pend Oreille County
- Frequently asked questions
Pend Oreille County at a glance
Pend Oreille County is home to about 14,050 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 33rd most populous of 39 county-level areas in Washington. It covers 1,400 square miles of land, or about 10 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 5 Census places inside Pend Oreille County, Newport leads by population with about 2,181; 5 of the 5 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Pend Oreille County
Half of Pend Oreille County households take in less than $67,436 a year and half take in more, 31% below the Washington median of $98,141.
| Yearly household income | Pend Oreille County | Gap to Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.7% | +9.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.3% | +6.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.0% | -5.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.9% | -10.6 pts |
About 26% of households earn under $35,000, while 33% clear $100,000. 14.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.9%). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Pend Oreille County median.
Employment and commuting in Pend Oreille County
By the Census industry count, 20% of employed Pend Oreille County residents work in education and health care and 15% in retail trade. Compared with Washington, the county leans toward construction (12% against 7%). The survey's unemployment rate for Pend Oreille County averages 6.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.1%). Long commutes are common here: 32% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 3.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Pend Oreille County | Difference from Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.1% | -1.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.7% | +3.1 pts |
| Construction | 11.9% | +4.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.3% | +0.3 pts |
| Public administration | 8.6% | +3.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.0% | -0.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Pend Oreille County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Pend Oreille County housing compared with Washington
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $855 in Pend Oreille County versus $1,760 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 34% of renter households here. With a median value of $367,900, a typical Pend Oreille County house costs 5.5 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 81%. Median construction year: 1985.
| Measure | Pend Oreille County | Washington | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $855/mo | $1,760/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $367,900 | $564,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 64% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 34% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 35% | 30% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 27% | 7% | n/a |
Because most Pend Oreille County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Places inside Pend Oreille County
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in Pend Oreille County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 3,234 people, so roughly 77% of residents live outside any named place. This guide covers each of the 5 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newport | city | 2,181 | $51,122 | $653 | 27 mi |
| Ione | town | 409 | $52,426 | $594 | 16 mi |
| Metaline Falls | town | 361 | $46,500 | $712 | 23 mi |
| Metaline | town | 150 | $69,688 | n/a | 22 mi |
| Cusick | town | 133 | n/a | $907 | 15 mi |
Pend Oreille County next to its neighbors
Stevens County is closest, 30 miles from center to center; the sixth, Kootenai County, is 65 miles off. Kootenai County leads the group on income ($81,861), Ferry County trails ($55,614), and Pend Oreille County out-earns 3 of the six. The list crosses into Idaho, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pend Oreille County | - | $67,436 | $855/mo | 81% |
| Stevens County, WA | 30 mi | $69,327 | $898/mo | 80% |
| Bonner County, ID | 32 mi | $66,979 | $1,122/mo | 78% |
| Boundary County, ID | 36 mi | $67,237 | $877/mo | 75% |
| Ferry County, WA | 60 mi | $55,614 | $663/mo | 78% |
| Spokane County, WA | 64 mi | $78,582 | $1,283/mo | 64% |
| Kootenai County, ID | 65 mi | $81,861 | $1,492/mo | 71% |
Pend Oreille County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 21% of adults over 25. 6.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Pend Oreille County | Washington | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.8 | 38.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.9% | 39.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.2% | 7.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.1% | 6.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.8% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.4% | 19.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.4% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.1% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Pend Oreille County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.7% |
| 60+ min | 20.5% |
What the numbers mean for Pend Oreille County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Pend Oreille County borrowers.
- Vehicle repairs. 32% of Pend Oreille County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- 16% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 50, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
What a median Pend Oreille County budget can carry
How much room does a median Pend Oreille County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $5,620 a month: gross income for a household at the Pend Oreille County median
- Less median rent of $855, which is 15% of it
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,561 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Pend Oreille County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Checklist for Pend Oreille County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Washington borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Licensing and complaints for Pend Oreille County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Pend Oreille County borrowers answers to the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Washington guide.
More guides for Pend Oreille County
The Washington guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pend Oreille County a high-income county?
Its $67,436 median ranks 31st of 39 Washington counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Pend Oreille County?
$855 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
Which towns does the Pend Oreille County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 5 Census places: Newport, Ione, Metaline Falls, Metaline, Cusick.
Does living in Pend Oreille 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 Pend Oreille County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Pend Oreille County?
Start with the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.