Wasco County, Oregon Income Statistics
Wasco County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Wasco County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Wasco County | Oregon Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $64,105 | $83,617 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,680 | $63,212 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.9% | 5.7% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.2% | 14.2% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.0% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Wasco County is about 23% lower than in Oregon. Income has been growing slower in Wasco County (3.9%/yr) than in Oregon (5.7%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Wasco County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Oregon average of 14%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Wasco County, Oregon grew by 55.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $64,105 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Wasco County
| Metric | Wasco County | Oregon Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.515 | 0.538 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $56,476 | $71,900 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $49,783 | $60,417 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 11.9% | 16.0% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Wasco County, it is 0.515, lower than Oregon's 0.538, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 13% more than women's income in Wasco County, Oregon. Over a 35-year career, a 13% wage gap accumulates to roughly $234,255 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Wasco County, Oregon has narrowed from about 27% to 12% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 30% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $4,445 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Wasco County | Oregon Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7% | 5.3% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 7.9% | 19.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 13 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 988 people are unemployed in Wasco County, Oregon.
The average commute time in Wasco County is 13 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Oregon.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Wasco County, Oregon has risen from 6.9% to 7.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.7% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.4% in 2018.
Wasco County, OR Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Wasco County, OR is typical in size for this group, 26,553 residents against a local median of 23,411, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. The measure that sets Wasco County, OR apart most is unemployment: 7.7%, 100% above the local median of 3.8%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 3.9%/yr against a local median of 6.0%/yr, 35% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, and it is the wrong way: Wasco County, OR reads weaker than its neighbours on all of them. The counties themselves spread 7.0% on unemployment, so Wasco County, OR sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Wasco County, OR has the 5th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wasco County, OR | 26,553 | $64,105 #5/6 | 3.9%/yr #6/6 | 7.7% #5/6 | 0.515 #1/6 |
| Jefferson County, OR | 25,203 | $76,058 | 6.2%/yr | 8.1% | 0.545 |
| Sherman County, OR | 1,937 | $60,469 | 4.6%/yr | 1.0% | 0.538 |
| Hood River County, OR | 23,904 | $90,888 | 6.0%/yr | 3.8% | 0.524 |
| Klickitat County, WA | 23,411 | $70,563 | 4.5%/yr | 5.2% | 0.546 |
| Gilliam County, OR | 1,969 | $65,740 | 6.7%/yr | 2.8% | 0.534 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Wasco County, Oregon has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Oregon, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Wasco County, Oregon.
How Rich Is Wasco County, Oregon?
Wasco County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $64,105, about 23% lower than the Oregon average of $83,617.
Are incomes growing in Wasco County, Oregon?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Wasco County, Oregon rose 55%, from $41,245 to $64,105. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Oregon as a whole: +55% against +71%.
What was the median household income in Wasco County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Wasco County, Oregon was $64,844, up 6% from $61,449 in 2022. The Oregon median that year was $80,917.
What was the median household income in Wasco County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Wasco County, Oregon was $55,613. By 2024 it had risen 15% to $64,105.
Is unemployment high in Wasco County, Oregon?
Unemployment in Wasco County, Oregon is 7.7%, well above the Oregon rate of 5.3%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Wasco County, Oregon?
The Gini coefficient in Wasco County is 0.515. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Wasco County, Oregon?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Wasco County, Oregon has narrowed from about 27% to 12% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 30% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $4,445 since 2009.
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