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City · 7,036 residents · Umatilla County, Oregon

Milton-Freewater , Oregon

In Milton-Freewater, a typical home is worth $240,000 and typical rent is $877 a month. Compared with all of Umatilla County, typical household income is 23% lower, the typical home value is 15% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 20 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $240,000

    15% below the county

    50% below Oregon

    • Milton-Freewater
    • Umatilla
    • Oregon

  • Typical rent

    $877a month

    12% below the county

    42% below Oregon

    • Milton-Freewater
    • Umatilla
    • Oregon

  • Typical household income

    $52,183a year

    23% below the county

    37% below Oregon

    • Milton-Freewater
    • Umatilla
    • Oregon

  • Households that own their home

    48%

    20 points below the county

    15 points below Oregon

    • Milton-Freewater
    • Umatilla
    • Oregon

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$309,813
4% more than 12 months ago

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

Milton-Freewater is in Umatilla County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Umatilla County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Milton-Freewater apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Milton-Freewater has the 2nd lowest typical rent of the 102 cities in Oregon with more than 5,000 people ($877).

  2. Milton-Freewater has the 3rd lowest typical home value of the 105 cities in Oregon with more than 5,000 people ($240,000).

  3. 48% of households in Milton-Freewater own their home, against 68% in Umatilla County.

  4. Milton-Freewater has the 5th lowest typical household income of the 105 cities in Oregon with more than 5,000 people ($52,183).

  5. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Milton-Freewater rose 4%; in Oregon, it barely changed.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Milton-Freewater

What homes there are in Milton-Freewater, 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

Detached houses are the majority in Milton-Freewater (55%), but less so than in Umatilla County (62%).

Year built

By age, homes in Milton-Freewater look like those in Umatilla County: the typical year built is 1976.

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
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,413 a month

Umatilla County: $1,640 a month

Without a mortgage

$560 a month

Umatilla County: $547 a month

Owners with a mortgage

58%

Umatilla County: 57%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Milton-Freewater is $1,413 a month, less than in Umatilla County ($1,640); without one, $560.

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

The typical home value in Milton-Freewater rose 88% since 2015–2019, more than in Umatilla County (65%).

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Milton-Freewater rose 40%, more than in Umatilla County (32%).

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

MeasureMilton-FreewaterUmatilla CountyOregonUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate4.8%4.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.7%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate3.8%3.2%3.4%
People per household 2.792.652.422.53
Drive alone 53%76%65%69%
Carpool 28%13%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2%3%
Walk or bike 9%3%5%3%
Work from home Unreliable estimate7%19%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

More people live in each home here: 2.79 on average, against 2.65 in Umatilla County.

More people carpool to work in Milton-Freewater than in Umatilla County: 28% against 13%.

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 for a home in Milton-Freewater?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Milton-Freewater, worth $240,000, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 45% of the typical household income in Milton-Freewater, which is $52,183 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $84,195 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Umatilla County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Milton-Freewater. 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 $8,400 (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

$1,965

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$235,653
Total interest
$339,049
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,053 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,218 a month

  • Tight

    $1,218 to $1,565 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,565 a month

    Your payment · 45%

Compared with the typical household income in Milton-Freewater ($52,183 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,965
Principal & interest$1,596
Property tax$162
Home insurance$100
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$106

You need at least $8,400 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.

The city and its county

Milton-Freewater and Umatilla County

Milton-Freewater is in Umatilla County, Oregon. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Milton-Freewater's own numbers

Typical home value
$240,000
Typical monthly rent
$877
Typical yearly household income
$52,183
Households that own their home
48%
Effective property tax rate
0.81%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Umatilla County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,131
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+48%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
3.2%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Umatilla County.

Everything about Umatilla County

Buying

Buying a home in Milton-Freewater

A typical home in Milton-Freewater is worth $240,000: 15% below the county and 50% below Oregon. With the typical household income in Milton-Freewater ($52,183 a year), a typical home costs 4.6 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Milton-Freewater 4.6 years
  • Umatilla 4.2 years
  • Oregon 5.8 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Umatilla County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Umatilla County rose 102% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Umatilla County.

Period County Oregon U.S.
Last year (2025) +5.3% +0.9% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +48% +35% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +102% +86% +85%

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

Milton-Freewater next to Umatilla County, Oregon and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Milton-Freewater $240,000
  • Umatilla $282,600
  • Oregon $477,600
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Milton-Freewater $877
  • Umatilla $997
  • Oregon $1,525
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Milton-Freewater $52,183
  • Umatilla $67,728
  • Oregon $83,011
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Milton-Freewater next to Umatilla County and Oregon
Measure Milton-Freewater Umatilla County Oregon U.S.
Typical home value $240,000 $282,600 $477,600 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $877 $997 $1,525 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $52,183 $67,728 $83,011 $80,734
Households that own their home 48% 68% 63% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,952 $2,557 $3,876 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.81% 0.9% 0.81% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 46% 44% 52% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Umatilla County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Milton-Freewater

For a typical $240,000 home in Milton-Freewater, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Milton-Freewater's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,965a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $8,400
    Cash to close
    $15,600
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $106

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,921a month

    Down payment
    $12,000
    Cash to close
    $19,200
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $114

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,563a month

    Down payment
    $48,000
    Cash to close
    $55,200
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,785a month

    Down payment
    $36,000
    Cash to close
    $43,200
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • 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? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Milton-Freewater and for Umatilla County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Milton-Freewater

0.81%of the home’s value each year

$1,952 a year for the typical owner in Milton-Freewater.

  • Milton-Freewater 0.81%
  • Umatilla 0.9%
  • Oregon 0.81%

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

Exemptions and deadlines in Oregon

Flood risk in Umatilla County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Umatilla County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
3.2%
934
Of those, with NFIP insurance
18%
County Oregon U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 3.2% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 18% 25% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Milton-Freewater

Typical rent in Milton-Freewater is $877 a month: 12% below the county. In Milton-Freewater, 46% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Umatilla County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,131 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $21.75 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Umatilla County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $788 $15.15 $31,520
1 bedroom $865 $16.63 $34,600
2 bedrooms $1,131 $21.75 $45,240
3 bedrooms $1,566 $30.12 $62,640
4 bedrooms $1,873 $36.02 $74,920

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

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Milton-Freewater

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Milton-Freewater is in ZIP code 97862.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,120: $11 less than the fair market rent for Umatilla County ($1,131).

  • 97862 $1,120$1,560

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Milton-Freewater when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Milton-Freewater

HUD lists 3 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Milton-Freewater. These are the largest.

  • Washington Park 925 Cowl St, Milton Freewater 97862 46 low-income homes · 1 bd: 18 · 2 bd: 28 · In service since 2007 · For families
  • Mason Grove 1005 NE 4th Ave, Milton Freewater 97862 30 homes, 29 low-income · 2 bd: 14 · 3 bd: 16 · In service since 2001 · For families
  • THE GREENS at MONTCLAIR 141 W Broadway Ave, Milton Freewater 97862 24 low-income homes · For older adults (541) 398-4119

See all 29 buildings in Umatilla County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Milton-Freewater

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Umatilla County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A young man and a young woman look something up together on a laptop.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Milton-Freewater

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Milton-Freewater or Umatilla County. The ones below are statewide in Oregon: they work in Milton-Freewater the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Oregon

  • OHCS Down Payment Assistance

    Statewide in Oregon

    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. Offered by Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS).

    GrantForgivable

    See the program Official page

  • FirstHome (Flex Lending)

    Statewide in Oregon

    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. Offered by Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • NextStep (Flex Lending)

    Statewide in Oregon

    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. Offered by Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Milton-Freewater

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Milton-Freewater, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Community Connection of Northeast Oregon, Inc.

    2802 Adams Ave, La Grande · 45 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    (541) 963-3186

  • Columbia Cascade Housing Corporations Housing Resource Center

    500 E 2nd St, The Dalles · 136 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (541) 296-5462

  • Community in Action

    915 SW 3rd Ave, Ontario · 149 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 8 more
    (541) 889-1060

All counseling agencies in Oregon

Help in Spanish near Milton-Freewater

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve 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.

Housing authorities of Milton-Freewater

HUD’s record names them for Milton-Freewater or Umatilla County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority of the County of Umatilla Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (541) 567-3241

All housing agencies in Oregon Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Umatilla County

These cities are also in Umatilla County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Umatilla County Housing in Oregon

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Milton-Freewater, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Umatilla County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Milton-Freewater.

All guides
A man and two girls read a book together on the sofa.

Questions

Housing questions about Milton-Freewater

Short answers with the numbers for Milton-Freewater and all of Umatilla County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Milton-Freewater?

The typical home value in Milton-Freewater is $240,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Umatilla County it is $282,600.

How much does it cost to rent in Milton-Freewater?

Typical rent in Milton-Freewater is $877 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Umatilla County is $1,131.

What is the FHA loan limit in Milton-Freewater?

Milton-Freewater uses the FHA limit for all of Umatilla County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Milton-Freewater?

The typical homeowner in Milton-Freewater pays $1,952 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.81% of the home’s value; in Umatilla County, the rate is 0.9%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Milton-Freewater?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Umatilla County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).