Housing decision brief
Wallowa County, OR Housing Market
Wallowa County screens as a higher purchase price, below-state rent, a manageable tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
19th lowest home value out of 36 Oregon counties with data | 6th lowest rent out of 36
Median home value
$371,900
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$858/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$834/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
5.7x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
26.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$24/mo
Median owner cost screens below median rent.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Lower rent
$858/mo is 25% below Oregon county median
Rent burden below pressure line
26.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
Owning screens cheaper than renting
Median owner costs are $24/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
What to Check
Lower income base
$65,559 median income is 3% below Oregon county median
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Households weighing ownership against renting
Poor Fit For
- Households dependent on a deep local wage market
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Wallowa County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $371,900 | $369,300 | $281,900 | Near state median1% above Oregon county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $858 | $1,140 | $1,163 | 25% favorable25% below Oregon county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $834 | $1,123 | $1,672 | 26% favorable26% below Oregon county median |
Median household income | $65,559 | $67,628 | $74,755 | Near state median3% below Oregon county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.58% | 1.00% | 1.02% | 42% favorable42% below Oregon county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 26.00% | 29.00% | N/A | 10% favorable26.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$31,239
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$29,816
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Wallowa County is affordable for renters, with a median gross rent of $858/month representing approximately 15.7% of median household income. The rent burden (GRAPI) stands at 26.0%.
Rent vs own
Renters in Wallowa County pay $858/month on average, compared to $834/month for homeowners. This market favors buyers by about 3%.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $34,320/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $35,743/year. With a median household income of $65,559, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 26.0% of renter households in Wallowa County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Wallowa County sits 6% less expensive than Morrow County ($910/month) in terms of median gross rent.
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wasco County, OR | $332,500 | $978/mo | Same-state comparison near $332,500 home value and $978/mo rent. |
| Jefferson County, OR | $339,200 | $957/mo | Same-state comparison near $339,200 home value and $957/mo rent. |
| Curry County, OR | $366,700 | $1,156/mo | Same-state comparison near $366,700 home value and $1,156/mo rent. |
| Lincoln County, OR | $387,700 | $1,150/mo | Same-state comparison near $387,700 home value and $1,150/mo rent. |
| Gem County, ID | $367,300 | $887/mo | Out-of-state peer near $367,300 home value and $887/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Wallowa County
Is Wallowa County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Wallowa County?
How much income do you need for housing in Wallowa County?
What should I double-check before moving to Wallowa County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.