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County in Oregon

Malheur County, Oregon

Malheur County, in Oregon, has 31,954 residents: No. 20 of 36 by population. Malheur County has an FHA limit of $541,287 for one-unit homes. The typical home value here is $248,900. HUD's Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $1,014 a month; to pay it without spending more than 30% of your income, you need to earn about $19.50 an hour.

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  • Typical home price

    $248,900

    −48% vs. Oregon −25% vs. U.S.

    Half of owner-occupied homes are worth more and half are worth less.

    • Malheur
    • Oregon
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

  • Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms

    $1,014 a month

    −40% vs. Oregon −42% vs. U.S.

    HUD's reference rent for a two-bedroom apartment, with basic utilities.

    • Malheur
    • Oregon
    • United States

    Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

  • FHA limit 2026, 1 unit

    $541,287

    FHA national floor limit

    The most you can borrow with an FHA loan for a one-unit home here.

    • Malheur
    • Floor
    • Ceiling

    Source: HUD, 2026 data

  • Property tax

    0.75% of value per year

    −7% vs. Oregon −20% vs. U.S.

    $1,860 a year for the typical owner

    • Malheur
    • Oregon
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$306,087
2.8% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Data from October 2026

In short

What is housing like in Malheur County today?

The monthly payment on a typical home with FHA would be about $2,025, that is, 45% of the typical household income in Malheur County. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $86,784 a year; the typical income here is $54,519. Homes here are worth 48% less than the average across Oregon. The typical property tax is $1,860 a year (about 0.75% of home value), lower than in Oregon.

Renting is less of a stretch than in Oregon: 38% of renters put 30% or more of their income toward housing, against 52% statewide. There are 1 agency with HUD-approved housing counselors who speak Spanish near here.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); HUD (Retrieved November 6, 2026).

Only here

What sets Malheur County apart

  1. Malheur County has the lowest typical household income of the 36 counties in Oregon: $54,519.

  2. From 2020 to 2025, home prices in Malheur County rose 53% on FHFA's index, faster than in Oregon (35%).

  3. Nearby, in Harney County, the typical rent is $684: 17% less than in Malheur County ($821).

  4. At $821, Malheur County ranks 3rd among the 36 counties in Oregon for the lowest typical rent.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); FHFA (2025 data).

The homes here

Housing in Malheur County

What homes there are in Malheur County, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house is the most common home in Malheur County: 65% of homes, near the figure in Oregon (63%).

Mobile homes are 15% of homes in Malheur County, more than in Oregon (7%).

Year built

The typical home in Malheur County was built in 1974, 7 years before the typical one in Oregon.

Much as in Oregon, 57% of homes in Malheur County have 3 bedrooms or more.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

By price, most homes in Malheur County sit under the FHA limit for this county ($541,287): about 87%.

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for this county is $1,014; about 71% of rents in Malheur County are below it.

With a mortgage

$1,478 a month

Oregon: $2,157 a month

Without a mortgage

$490 a month

Oregon: $684 a month

Owners with a mortgage

52%

Oregon: 65%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Malheur County is $1,478 a month, less than in Oregon ($2,157); without one, $490.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Since 2015–2019, homes in Malheur County gained value faster than in Oregon: 83% against 53%.

The typical rent in Malheur County rose 19% over the same time; in Oregon, it rose 37%.

The typical household income in Malheur County rose 26% over that time; home values changed +83% and rent +19%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureMalheur CountyOregonUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate4.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.7%0.9%
More than one person per room 9.2%3.2%3.4%
People per household 2.742.422.53
Drive alone 76%65%69%
Carpool 10%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate2%3%
Walk or bike 5%5%3%
Work from home 8%19%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

More households are short on space in Malheur County: 9.2% have more than one person per room; in Oregon, 3.2%.

On average, a household in Malheur County has 2.74 people, more than in Oregon (2.42).

The car rules in Malheur County: 76% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes 10 to 19 minutes.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month in Malheur County?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home of $248,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 45% of the typical household income here, which is $54,519 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $86,784 a year.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Malheur County. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $8,712 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,025

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$244,391
Total interest
$351,622
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,203 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,272 a month

  • Tight

    $1,272 to $1,636 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,636 a month

    Your payment · 45%

Compared with the typical household income in Malheur County ($54,519 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,025
Principal & interest$1,656
Property tax$156
Home insurance$104
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$110

You need at least $8,712 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

Buying a home

Buying a home in Malheur County

Here you'll see how prices have changed, how Malheur County compares with Oregon and the country, and what you'd pay each month with four kinds of loans.

How have home prices changed?

According to the FHFA House Price Index, home prices in Malheur County rose 123% in the 10 years through 2025. FHFA's index follows the price of the same homes over the years.

Period Here Oregon United States
In 2025 −2.3% +0.9% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +53% +35% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +123% +86% +85%
See each year's change

The index follows the prices of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals on loans bought or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Malheur County compared with Oregon and the United States

Home value, rent and household income, side by side. "Typical" is the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Malheur $248,900
  • Oregon $477,600
  • United States $332,700
Typical rent a month
  • Malheur $821
  • Oregon $1,525
  • United States $1,413
Typical household income a year
  • Malheur $54,519
  • Oregon $83,011
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Malheur compared with Oregon and the United States
MeasureHereOregonU.S.
Residents31,9544,254,293334,922,499
Typical home value$248,900$477,600$332,700
Typical household income$54,519$83,011$80,734
Typical rent$821$1,525$1,413
Fair Market Rent (2 bedrooms)$1,014$1,691$1,750
Hourly wage to rent a 2-bedroom$19.50$32.52$33.65
Typical property tax$1,860$3,876$3,119
Effective tax rate0.75%0.81%0.94%
Households that own their home63%63%65%
Renters spending 30% or more on rent38%52%51%
FHA limit (1 unit)*$541,287$541,287$541,287

FHA limit: Oregon shows the median of its counties; the United States, the national floor. Download CSV

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Malheur County

For a typical $248,900 home at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, the county's property tax, an example homeowners insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

Loan Monthly payment Down payment Loan amount Rate Mortgage insurance Cash to close Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down $2,025 $8,712 $244,392 7.18% FHA MIP · $110 $16,179 580
Conventional, 5% down $1,979 $12,445 $236,455 7.18% PMI · $118 $19,912 620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,608 $49,780 $199,120 7.18% None $57,247 620*
ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,838 $37,335 $211,565 8.18% None $44,802 Set by the lender
  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Closing costs

Loan limits

FHA loans in Malheur County use the national floor limit: it isn't a high-cost area. If the loan you need is above these amounts, it doesn't fit FHA or it becomes a "jumbo" loan.

VA loans. If you have full VA entitlement, VA doesn't cap the loan amount. If you've used part of your entitlement, the calculation uses the county limit ($832,750 for one unit). VA loan limits (va.gov)

USDA loans. They're for homes in eligible rural areas and households with incomes within USDA's limit. Check whether the address and your income qualify on the official site. USDA eligibility (usda.gov)

Home type FHA limit Conforming limit
1 unit $541,287 $832,750
2 units $693,050 $1,066,250
3 units $837,700 $1,288,800
4 units $1,041,125 $1,601,750

Source: HUD, 2026 data · Source: FHFA, 2026 data

Taxes and risks

Property tax and flooding in Malheur County

Two costs that change a lot from place to place and that a house payment does include: property tax and, in risk zones, flood insurance.

Property tax

In Malheur County, the typical owner pays $1,860 a year: about 0.75% of the home's value. That is less than the rest of Oregon and less than the national average.

  • Malheur 0.75%
  • Oregon 0.81%
  • United States 0.94%

What Oregon publishes 3 percent cap on maximum assessed value (Measure 50) (Oregon Legislature (Oregon Revised Statutes))

Exemptions and deadlines in Oregon

Is there a flood risk?

FEMA’s maps count no homes in high-risk flood zones in Malheur County. That does not mean there is no risk: some areas have no map. Check your address.

  • A high-risk zone (Special Flood Hazard Area) has a 1% or greater chance of flooding each year. (44 CFR 59.1)
  • If the home is in that zone and the loan comes from a regulated lender, federal law requires flood insurance for the life of the loan, in communities that take part in the NFIP. (42 U.S.C. 4012a)
  • Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. (FEMA, FloodSmart)

Source: FEMA, As of August 3, 2026

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Owning a home here

Owning a home in Malheur County

The natural hazards FEMA measures in Malheur County, a maintenance plan for your climate and what the trades earn in your area.

Risks to your home

FEMA, National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025)

FEMA rates the natural hazard risk in Malheur County as very low.

That rating combines the loss FEMA expects with social vulnerability and community resilience.

In Malheur County, FEMA expects natural hazards to cause $10.5 million in losses a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

The hazard that would do the most damage to homes and buildings here is inland flooding: about $6.5 million a year.

Loss FEMA expects each year to homes and buildings, by hazard
  1. Inland floodingRelatively low $6.5 million a year
  2. WildfireRelatively moderate $1.5 million a year
  3. EarthquakeRelatively low $622,686 a year
  4. Winter weatherRelatively moderate $67,899 a year
  5. TornadoVery low $27,130 a year

What it means for your home

The ratings are FEMA's own. FEMA says its data is meant for planning and does not replace a local study. Drought is not shown: FEMA counts its loss in crops only.

National Risk Index, version 1.20.0 (December 2025), retrieved November 6, 2026

FEMA notice: This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Climate and upkeep

Department of Energy (PNNL), 2021 IECC zones

The home energy code (IECC) puts Malheur County in zone 5B: cold.

The zone's number says how hot or cold it gets; the letter says how humid: A is moist, B is dry and C is marine.

  • Spring

    • Book the air conditioner's check-up before the heat: ENERGY STAR advises checking the cooling system in the spring, because contractors get busy once summer comes. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Clean and repair the roof gutters. EPA

  • Summer

    • Seal the air ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, basement or garage with duct mastic or foil tape, then wrap them in insulation. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Check that the ground slopes away from the house, so water does not collect around the foundation. EPA

  • Fall

    • Book the heating check-up in the fall. If it runs on gas or oil, the technician should check the connections: faulty ones are a fire hazard. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Seal air leaks and add insulation in the attic: ENERGY STAR says it lowers the chance of ice dams on the roof in snowy climates. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

  • Winter

    • Get the house ready for the cold with insulation, caulking and weather stripping, and learn how to keep pipes from freezing. Ready.gov (FEMA)
    • Put clear plastic film over the windows: it is inexpensive, cuts drafts, helps the house feel warmer in winter and reduces moisture on the glass. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

All year

  • Check the air filter every month, especially in heavy-use months. If it looks dirty, change it; change it at least every 3 months. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
  • Test the smoke alarms every month and replace their batteries at least once a year. USFA (FEMA)

Each task comes from the official page beside it. The spring air-conditioning and fall heating check-ups are the timing ENERGY STAR advises; the rest is a suggested order.

Climate zones by county, 2021 IECC

What the trades charge here

BLS, wages for May 2025

TradeTypical hourly wage8 in 10 earn between
Electricians$45.81$23.85 and $58.76
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters$29.52$18.46 and $47.27
Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics$30.43$21.28 and $42.77
Roofers$24.86$18.20 and $33.87
Carpenters$25.00$15.63 and $45.79
Painters, construction and maintenance$23.23$17.54 and $33.36
Maintenance and repair workers, general$24.21$17.98 and $38.45

According to BLS, an electrician earns about $45.81 an hour in the Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area; a plumber, about $29.52.

These are workers' hourly wages, not the price of a job.

Need help paying for a repair?

Renting

Renting in Malheur County

The typical rent in Malheur County is $821 a month. HUD also publishes a “fair market rent” by unit size: it's the one programs like Section 8 use.

38% of renter households in Malheur County spend 30% or more of their income on housing. 19% spend half or more.

Fair market rent by size

To pay the fair market rent without spending more than 30% of income, working full time (40 hours a week).

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Income needed per year
Studio $711 $13.67 $28,440
1 bedroom $931 $17.90 $37,240
2 bedrooms $1,014 $19.50 $40,560
3 bedrooms $1,404 $27.00 $56,160
4 bedrooms $1,695 $32.60 $67,800

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

Free help in Malheur County

Programs and counseling in Malheur County

There is 1 HUD-approved housing counseling agency in Malheur County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, with rent, or if you've fallen behind on payments.

Official programs for the down payment and loans for buyers. Check which ones you might qualify for with your income and your county.

Houses on a hill of rock and dry grass above The Dalles, Oregon.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Oregon down payment programs

  1. OHCS Down Payment Assistance

    Oregon state funds for the down payment and closing costs, delivered by local organizations: up to $60,000 or 20% of the price, sometimes as a grant or as a forgivable second mortgage, for first-time or first-generation buyers with income up to 100% of the area median

    The source does not say whether you must be a first-time buyer. Run by Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS).

    GrantForgivable Verified November 5, 2026

  2. FirstHome (Flex Lending)

    Oregon Housing and Community Services mortgage for low- and moderate-income first-time buyers, with down payment assistance of 4% or 5% of the loan as a second mortgage

    First-time buyers only. Run by Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS).

    Type not stated Verified November 5, 2026

  3. NextStep (Flex Lending)

    Oregon Housing and Community Services mortgage for any buyer, including people who have owned a home before, with down payment assistance of 4% or 5% of the loan as a second mortgage that can be forgivable or repayable

    No first-time requirement. Run by Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS).

    Type not stated Verified November 5, 2026

Which programs do I qualify for? See all Oregon programs

Help in Spanish in Malheur County

1 of the 1 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Public housing agencies

They run public housing and Section 8 vouchers (Housing Choice Vouchers) in this county.

  • Housing Authority of Malheur County Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (541) 889-9661

Free legal help

If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.

Find legal aid (lsc.gov)

Housing counseling nearby

These agencies have an office in Malheur County. The full list is on the Oregon counselors page. Official HUD list. Confirm hours and fees with the agency before you go.

  • Community in Action

    915 SW 3rd Ave, Ontario · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 8 more
    (541) 889-1060
See every agency in Oregon

Places

Cities in Malheur County

This site has no city pages of Malheur County. The neighboring counties are below.

See all 1 cities of Malheur County

Nearby counties

Each row compares its typical value, typical rent and FHA limit with Malheur County.

Read next

Guides that help here

We picked them by this county's numbers: what weighs most here is what's worth understanding first.

Frequently asked questions

What is the FHA loan limit in Malheur County in 2026?

Malheur County has an FHA limit of $541,287 for a one-unit home. For 2 units it's $693,050, for 3 it's $837,700 and for 4 it's $1,041,125. It's the national floor limit.

What is the conforming loan limit in Malheur County?

Malheur County has a conforming limit of $832,750 for one-unit conventional loans in 2026. A bigger loan is a “jumbo” loan.

How much does a typical home cost in Malheur County?

The typical home value in Malheur County is $248,900 (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). Across Oregon it's $477,600.

How much does it cost to rent in Malheur County?

Malheur County has a typical rent of $821 a month (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). HUD's fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $1,014 (Fiscal year 2027).

How much do you need to earn to rent a 2-bedroom apartment in Malheur County?

About $19.50 an hour working full time (2,080 hours a year), or $40,560 a year, so the fair market rent of $1,014 stays under 30% of income.

Sources: American Community Survey (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (Fiscal year 2027); Income Limits (Fiscal year 2026); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (As of August 3, 2026); National Risk Index (2025 data); IECC climate zones by county (2021 data); Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2025 data); Census Bureau cartographic boundary files (2024 data).