1st Advantage MortgageIn Wasco County, Oregon, the typical household earns $64,175 a year and the typical rent is $1,008. 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
- Who lives in Wasco County
- How Wasco County residents earn a living
- Household income in Wasco County
- Wasco County housing compared with Oregon
- Counties near Wasco County
- Wasco County towns compared
- Room for a loan payment in Wasco County
- Wasco County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Wasco County
- Licensing and complaints for Wasco County
- A Wasco County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Wasco County
Roughly 26,552 residents live in Wasco County, Oregon, 22nd by population among the state's 36 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 2,381 square miles, that works out to roughly 11.2 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Wasco County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 13 places in the county (6 incorporated, 7 census-designated); the largest is The Dalles, with about 15,917 residents, or 60% of the county.
How Wasco County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 12%. Compared with Oregon, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (9% against 3%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 7.7% in Wasco County. About 74% drive to work alone and 9% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 6.0% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Wasco County workers | vs Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.0% | +0.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.6% | -0.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.5% | +1.7 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.3% | +6.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.1% | -1.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -4.3 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Household income in Wasco County
Wasco County households have a median income of $64,175 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 23rd of 36 in Oregon.
| Income band | Share in Wasco County | Difference from Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.8% | +5.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.0% | +6.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.2% | -5.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.0% | -6.7 pts |
Some 26% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 29% have six-figure incomes. 11.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.9%). For a borrower in Wasco County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Wasco County housing compared with Oregon
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,008 in Wasco County versus $1,525 statewide. 46% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 28% spend half or more. With a median value of $367,400, a typical Wasco County house costs 5.7 times what the median household earns in a year. 68% of Wasco County households own their home and 32% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1973.
| Housing | Wasco County | Oregon statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,008/mo | $1,525/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $367,400 | $477,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 31% | n/a |
Counties near Wasco County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Wasco County's, from 29 to 52 miles away. Clackamas County leads the group on income ($103,517), Sherman County trails ($60,161), and Wasco County out-earns 1 of the six. The list crosses into Washington, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wasco County | - | $64,175 | $1,008/mo | 68% |
| Sherman County, OR | 29 mi | $60,161 | $1,032/mo | 66% |
| Hood River County, OR | 34 mi | $88,947 | $1,417/mo | 69% |
| Jefferson County, OR | 36 mi | $76,260 | $941/mo | 72% |
| Gilliam County, OR | 46 mi | $66,917 | $1,125/mo | 74% |
| Clackamas County, OR | 50 mi | $103,517 | $1,758/mo | 71% |
| Klickitat County, WA | 52 mi | $71,042 | $1,105/mo | 77% |
Wasco County towns compared
The table lists the 13 largest of 13 Census places in Wasco County, by population. Together all 13 hold about 20,827 people, so roughly 22% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $53,750 in Pine Hollow to $89,333 in Dufur. Live in one of these Wasco County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Dalles | city | 15,917 | $62,614 | $993 | 30 mi |
| Chenoweth | CDP | 1,445 | $63,425 | $857 | 31 mi |
| Dufur | city | 952 | $89,333 | $1,256 | 20 mi |
| Mosier | city | 714 | $73,278 | n/a | 38 mi |
| Pine Hollow | CDP | 561 | $53,750 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Maupin | city | 465 | $68,750 | $1,250 | 4 mi |
| Pine Grove | CDP | 208 | $95,972 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Rowena | CDP | 181 | n/a | $989 | 35 mi |
| Tygh Valley | CDP | 118 | $60,625 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Wamic | CDP | 117 | $81,250 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Antelope | city | 68 | $64,000 | n/a | 28 mi |
| Sportsmans Park | CDP | 67 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Shaniko | city | 14 | n/a | n/a | 23 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Room for a loan payment in Wasco County
Here is the Wasco County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $5,348 gross per month ($64,175 / 12)
- 19% goes to median rent ($1,008)
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $864 left for all other debt payments
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,399 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Wasco County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Wasco County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 22% of the adult population. About 9% go without health insurance.
| Wasco County | Oregon | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.4% | 36.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.8% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.5% | 5.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.0% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 19.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.6% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.7% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Wasco County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 54.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.4% |
| 60+ min | 6.3% |
Borrowing situations common in Wasco County
A few patterns in the Wasco County data, and the practical point behind each:
- 18% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Renters under pressure. When 46% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Licensing and complaints for Wasco County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Wasco County borrowers answers to the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Oregon guide covers state rules in more detail.
A Wasco County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Wasco County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- 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.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Oregon guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Wasco County earn?
The median is $64,175; 29% earn $100,000 or more and 26% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Wasco County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,008 a month; 46% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Wasco County?
By population: The Dalles, Chenoweth, Dufur, Mosier, Pine Hollow. The county has 13 Census places in all.
Are Wasco 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.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Wasco County?
Start with the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.