1st Advantage MortgageIn Umatilla County, Oregon, the typical household earns $67,728 a year and the typical rent is $997. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Oregon before sharing details.
On this page
- Umatilla County at a glance
- Umatilla County housing compared with Oregon
- What Umatilla County households earn
- Jobs and commutes in Umatilla County
- Regional comparison for Umatilla County
- Umatilla County towns compared
- Room for a loan payment in Umatilla County
- Borrowing situations common in Umatilla County
- Umatilla County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- A Umatilla County borrower's checklist
- Lender oversight for Umatilla County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Umatilla County at a glance
Umatilla County is home to about 79,940 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 14th most populous of 36 county-level areas in Oregon. Spread over 3,215 square miles, that works out to roughly 24.9 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Umatilla County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 22 Census places inside Umatilla County, Hermiston leads by population with about 19,546; 12 of the 22 are incorporated.
Umatilla County housing compared with Oregon
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $997 in Umatilla County versus $1,525 statewide. By the Census definition, 44% of Umatilla County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $282,600, or 4.2 years of median income. Owners occupy 68% of homes. The median home was built in 1979, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Umatilla County | Oregon figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $997/mo | $1,525/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $282,600 | $477,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 31% | n/a |
What Umatilla County households earn
Umatilla County households have a median income of $67,728 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 19th of 36 in Oregon.
| Yearly household income | Umatilla County | Gap to Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.1% | +3.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.4% | +7.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.3% | -4.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.2% | -6.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 30% of Umatilla County households make $100,000 or more, and 23% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 11.8%, the same as the state's 11.9%. None of these numbers decides a Umatilla County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Jobs and commutes in Umatilla County
The biggest employer of Umatilla County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by retail trade (13%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 7% locally and 3% for Oregon. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 9% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. Only 5.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Umatilla County | Gap to Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.0% | +0.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.8% | +1.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.4% | -0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.4% | -2.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.3% | -3.7 pts |
| Public administration | 8.0% | +3.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Regional comparison for Umatilla County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (41 to 66 miles). Income ranges from $65,661 in Union County to $89,874 in Benton County; 5 of these neighbors top Umatilla County's median. Some neighbors are in Washington. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Umatilla County resident follows Oregon rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Umatilla County | - | $67,728 | $997/mo | 68% |
| Union County, OR | 41 mi | $65,661 | $982/mo | 66% |
| Morrow County, OR | 44 mi | $75,448 | $995/mo | 72% |
| Walla Walla County, WA | 47 mi | $74,202 | $1,218/mo | 65% |
| Benton County, WA | 58 mi | $89,874 | $1,306/mo | 68% |
| Columbia County, WA | 63 mi | $71,810 | $985/mo | 78% |
| Franklin County, WA | 66 mi | $86,714 | $1,198/mo | 71% |
Umatilla County towns compared
22 Census places fall mainly inside Umatilla County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 61,673 residents, leaving about 23% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $34,583 in Mission to $121,750 in Green Meadows. This guide covers each of the 22 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hermiston | city | 19,546 | $66,998 | $1,088 | 31 mi |
| Pendleton | city | 16,950 | $66,563 | $956 | 7 mi |
| Umatilla | city | 7,508 | $68,826 | $1,159 | 37 mi |
| Milton-Freewater | city | 7,036 | $52,183 | $877 | 29 mi |
| Stanfield | city | 1,902 | $60,074 | $1,000 | 27 mi |
| Athena | city | 1,377 | $71,898 | $894 | 19 mi |
| Pilot Rock | city | 1,283 | $89,091 | $973 | 8 mi |
| Umapine | CDP | 1,215 | $55,927 | $967 | 29 mi |
| Mission | CDP | 878 | $34,583 | $713 | 6 mi |
| Green Meadows | CDP | 584 | $121,750 | n/a | 4 mi |
| Echo | city | 494 | $112,639 | $994 | 25 mi |
| Helix | city | 471 | $190,270 | $818 | 18 mi |
| Weston | city | 443 | $45,000 | $1,313 | 21 mi |
| Gopher Flats | CDP | 382 | $76,250 | $878 | 5 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Umatilla County
Umatilla County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,644 before taxes
- 18% goes to median rent ($997)
- Under a 40% cap, $2,258 total minus rent leaves $1,261
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Borrowing situations common in Umatilla County
Where the Umatilla County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Manufactured homes. 18% of Umatilla County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Umatilla County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Consolidating cards in Umatilla County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Umatilla County residents: age, schooling, coverage
18% of Umatilla County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 6.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Umatilla County | All of Oregon | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.9 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.3% | 36.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.8% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.7% | 5.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 19.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.8% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.0% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 46.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.1% |
| 60+ min | 4.6% |
A Umatilla County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Umatilla County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Umatilla County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Oregon license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Lender oversight for Umatilla County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Umatilla County resident can confirm its license with the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Oregon: Oregon personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Oregon guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Umatilla County a high-income county?
Its $67,728 median ranks 19th of 36 Oregon counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Umatilla County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $997 against $1,525 statewide, and 44% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Umatilla County?
By population: Hermiston, Pendleton, Umatilla, Milton-Freewater, Stanfield. The county has 22 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Umatilla County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Umatilla County residents?
The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation licenses consumer lenders in Oregon; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.