Malheur County, OR Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Malheur County | Oregon Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 31,506 | 4,237,185 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 3.2 | 43.0 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.57% | 0.88% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 37.4 | 40.3 | 37.1 |
| Households | 10,039 | 1,701,186 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Malheur County grew by 2.5% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 31,701 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Malheur County has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Malheur County | Oregon Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $49,902 | $80,923 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 5.40% | 6.04% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 5.0% | 5.4% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Malheur County is about 38% lower than in Oregon.
Housing
| Metric | Malheur County | Oregon Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $787,879 | $406,286 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $819 | $1,449 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 63.4% | 63.4% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Malheur County is about 80.1 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $819 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Malheur County spend about 26 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 110 hours, about 4.6 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Malheur County | Oregon Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 13.2 | 20.3 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 26.4 | 40.5 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 110 | 169 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $3,415 | $5,236 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 8.6% | 17.0% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 3,192 | 7,643 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 293 | 967 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Oregon:
Lake County (7.8 min), Gilliam County (8.4 min), Harney County (8.8 min).
Slowest:
Columbia County (32.4 min), Clackamas County (25.2 min), Polk County (22.8 min).
The average commute time in Malheur County is 13 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Oregon.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Malheur County has a education index of F, which means it scores poorly in education.
| Metric | Malheur County | Oregon Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.5% | 32.7% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.80 | 2.44 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Oregon:
Benton County (0.4), Multnomah County (0.4), Washington County (0.4).
Lowest:
Morrow County (0.2), Malheur County (0.2), Gilliam County (0.2).
Health
Malheur County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Malheur County | Oregon Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 77.8 | 78.8 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 19.3% | 15.8% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 19.4% | 17.0% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Oregon:
Benton County (0.8), Washington County (0.8), Clackamas County (0.8).
Lowest:
Josephine County (0.8), Malheur County (0.8), Lake County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Malheur County, Oregon.
What is the population of Malheur County, Oregon?
The population of Malheur County, Oregon is 31,506, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Malheur County, Oregon?
The population density of Malheur County, Oregon is 3.2 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Malheur County, Oregon?
The median household income in Malheur County, Oregon is $49,902, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Malheur County, Oregon?
The median home price in Malheur County, Oregon is $787,879, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Malheur County, Oregon?
The unemployment rate in Malheur County, Oregon is 5.0%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.