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City · 11,842 residents · Malheur County, Oregon

Ontario , Oregon

In Ontario, a typical home is worth $236,300 and typical rent is $804 a month. Compared with all of Malheur County, typical household income is 15% lower, the typical home value is 5% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 8 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $236,300

    5% below the county

    51% below Oregon

    • Ontario
    • Malheur
    • Oregon

  • Typical rent

    $804a month

    2% below the county

    47% below Oregon

    • Ontario
    • Malheur
    • Oregon

  • Typical household income

    $46,308a year

    15% below the county

    44% below Oregon

    • Ontario
    • Malheur
    • Oregon

  • Households that own their home

    56%

    8 points below the county

    8 points below Oregon

    • Ontario
    • Malheur
    • Oregon

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$303,104
2.4% more than 12 months ago

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

Ontario is in Malheur 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 Malheur County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Ontario apart

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

  1. Ontario has the lowest typical rent of the 102 cities in Oregon with more than 5,000 people: $804.

  2. Ontario has the lowest typical household income of the 105 cities in Oregon with more than 5,000 people: $46,308.

  3. Ontario has the lowest typical home value of the 105 cities in Oregon with more than 5,000 people: $236,300.

  4. Ontario has the 3rd smallest share of rent-burdened renters of the 93 cities in Oregon with more than 5,000 people (38%).

  5. 56% of households in Ontario own their home, against 63% in Malheur County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Ontario

What homes there are in Ontario, 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

In Ontario, 6 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Malheur County, 7.

Year built

Here half of the homes date from 1978 or later; in Malheur County, from 1974 or later.

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

The FHA limit for Malheur County is high ($541,287): at least 97% of owner-occupied homes in Ontario are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

By rent, most homes in Ontario cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,014): about 77%.

With a mortgage

$1,516 a month

Malheur County: $1,478 a month

Without a mortgage

$520 a month

Malheur County: $490 a month

Owners with a mortgage

55%

Malheur County: 52%

Owning costs about the same in Ontario as in Malheur County: with a mortgage, $1,516 a month; without one, $520.

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 Ontario rose 101% since 2015–2019, more than in Malheur County (83%).

Much as in Malheur County, the typical rent in Ontario rose 16% since 2015–2019.

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

MeasureOntarioMalheur CountyOregonUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate4.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.7%0.9%
More than one person per room 10.8%9.2%3.2%3.4%
People per household 2.522.742.422.53
Drive alone 76%76%65%69%
Carpool 11%10%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate5%5%3%
Work from home 8%8%19%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

More households are short on space in Ontario: 10.8% have more than one person per room; in Malheur County, 9.2%.

On average, a household in Ontario has 2.52 people, fewer than in Malheur County (2.74).

To get to work, 76% of workers in Ontario drive alone; in Malheur County, 76%.

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 Ontario?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Ontario, worth $236,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 50% of the typical household income in Ontario, which is $46,308 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $82,559 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Ontario. 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 $8,271 (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

$1,926

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$232,020
Total interest
$333,822
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,991 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,081 a month

  • Tight

    $1,081 to $1,389 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,389 a month

    Your payment · 50%

Compared with the typical household income in Ontario ($46,308 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,926
Principal & interest$1,572
Property tax$152
Home insurance$99
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$105

You need at least $8,271 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

Ontario and Malheur County

Ontario is in Malheur 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).

Ontario's own numbers

Typical home value
$236,300
Typical monthly rent
$804
Typical yearly household income
$46,308
Households that own their home
56%
Effective property tax rate
0.77%

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

Numbers for all of Malheur County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,014
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+53%

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 Malheur County.

Everything about Malheur County

Buying

Buying a home in Ontario

A typical home in Ontario is worth $236,300: 5% below the county and 51% below Oregon. With the typical household income in Ontario ($46,308 a year), a typical home costs 5.1 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.

  • Ontario 5.1 years
  • Malheur 4.6 years
  • Oregon 5.8 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Malheur County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Malheur County rose 123% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County Oregon U.S.
Last year (2025) −2.3% +0.9% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +53% +35% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +123% +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

Ontario next to Malheur 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
  • Ontario $236,300
  • Malheur $248,900
  • Oregon $477,600
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Ontario $804
  • Malheur $821
  • Oregon $1,525
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Ontario $46,308
  • Malheur $54,519
  • Oregon $83,011
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Ontario next to Malheur County and Oregon
Measure Ontario Malheur County Oregon U.S.
Typical home value $236,300 $248,900 $477,600 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $804 $821 $1,525 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $46,308 $54,519 $83,011 $80,734
Households that own their home 56% 63% 63% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,814 $1,860 $3,876 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.77% 0.75% 0.81% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 38% 38% 52% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Malheur 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 Ontario

For a typical $236,300 home in Ontario, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Ontario's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,926a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $8,271
    Cash to close
    $15,360
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $105

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,883a month

    Down payment
    $11,815
    Cash to close
    $18,904
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $112

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,531a month

    Down payment
    $47,260
    Cash to close
    $54,349
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,749a month

    Down payment
    $35,445
    Cash to close
    $42,534
    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 Ontario and for Malheur County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Ontario

0.77%of the home’s value each year

$1,814 a year for the typical owner in Ontario.

  • Ontario 0.77%
  • Malheur 0.75%
  • 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 Malheur County

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

FEMA’s maps count no homes in the high-risk zone in Malheur County. That does not mean it cannot flood: check your address.

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Ontario

Typical rent in Ontario is $804 a month: 2% below the county. In Ontario, 38% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Malheur County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,014 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $19.50 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Malheur 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 $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

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Ontario

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Ontario is in ZIP code 97914.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,020: $6 more than the fair market rent for Malheur County ($1,014).

  • 97914 $1,020$1,410

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Ontario 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 Ontario

HUD lists 12 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Ontario. These are the largest.

  • Parkview Village Apts 986 NW 4th St, Ontario 97914 48 low-income homes · In service since 1997 · For families
  • Sierra Vista Apts 789 Sierra Dr, Ontario 97914 41 homes, 40 low-income · In service since 1997 · For families
  • Housing Authority of Malheur County 630 SE 6th St, Ontario 97914 40 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of Malheur County · Average payment: $444 a month · Homes at several sites (541) 889-9661
  • Fairview Apts 555 NW 9th St, Ontario 97914 40 homes, 39 low-income · 1 bd: 8 · 2 bd: 30 · 3 bd: 2 · In service since 2010
  • Rosewood Terrace 625 Alameda Dr, Ontario 97914 35 low-income homes · For families (541) 889-3657

See all 14 buildings in Malheur County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Ontario

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.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Malheur County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.

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

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Ontario

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Ontario or Malheur County. The ones below are statewide in Oregon: they work in Ontario 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 Ontario

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

  • Community in Action

    915 SW 3rd Ave, Ontario · 0 miles away · Spanish

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

  • Community Connection of Northeast Oregon, Inc.

    2802 Adams Ave, La Grande · 104 miles away

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

  • Neighborimpact - Prineville Housing Center

    457 NE Ochoco Plaza Dr, Prineville · 192 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in American Sign Language (ASL).

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 6 more
    (541) 323-6567

Every agency in Malheur County All counseling agencies in Oregon

Help in Spanish near Ontario

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 Ontario

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

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

All housing agencies in Oregon Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Ontario, with the typical home value.

Everything about Malheur County Housing in Oregon

Neighboring counties

If Malheur 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 Ontario.

All guides
A mother smiles as she carries her young daughter on her shoulders (black and white).

Questions

Housing questions about Ontario

Short answers with the numbers for Ontario and all of Malheur 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 Ontario?

The typical home value in Ontario is $236,300, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Malheur County it is $248,900.

How much does it cost to rent in Ontario?

Typical rent in Ontario is $804 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Malheur County is $1,014.

What is the FHA loan limit in Ontario?

Ontario uses the FHA limit for all of Malheur 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 Ontario?

The typical homeowner in Ontario pays $1,814 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.77% of the home’s value; in Malheur County, the rate is 0.75%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Ontario?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Malheur County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. 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).