CountyScore

Malheur County

Oregon · OR

#14 in Oregon
68.9
County Score

County Report Card

About Malheur County, Oregon

Malheur ranks above national median

Malheur County's composite score of 68.9 significantly exceeds the national median of 50.0, placing it in the upper 22nd percentile of U.S. counties. This reflects meaningful livability advantages, particularly in affordability and tax efficiency.

Above Oregon's state average

With a score of 68.9 versus Oregon's average of 66.6, Malheur ranks in the upper tier of Oregon counties. This 2.3-point advantage positions it among the state's more livable communities.

Unmatched affordability for housing

Malheur County delivers the lowest cost-of-living metrics in this group, with a cost score of 80.6, median rent of $819/month, and median home value of $221,300. The tax score of 79.4 with an effective rate of 0.813% further enhances household purchasing power.

Income and health lag significantly

The income score of 16.0 is the lowest across all counties reviewed, reflecting a median household income of just $49,902. Health outcomes also rank lower at 61.7, suggesting limited access to medical services and lower overall community wellness levels.

Best for budget-first, rural-minded families

Malheur County suits families and retirees willing to prioritize rock-bottom costs and agricultural/rural lifestyle over wages and healthcare sophistication. It's ideal for remote workers, pension-dependent retirees, and those relocating from expensive metros who can supplement local income or accept limited services.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax79.4Cost80.6SafetyComing SoonHealth61.7SchoolsComing SoonIncome16Risk65.3WaterComing Soon
🏛79.4
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠80.6
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼16
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤61.7
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡65.3
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Malheur County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Coffee County
Alabama
68.9
Median income: $64,672
Walker County
Alabama
68.9
Median income: $54,509
Arkansas County
Arkansas
68.9
Median income: $60,831
Jackson County
Arkansas
68.9
Median income: $41,215
Sevier County
Arkansas
68.9
Median income: $51,641

Deep Dives

Malheur County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Malheur County

via TaxByCounty

Malheur County taxes run slightly above national average

Malheur County's 0.813% effective tax rate exceeds the national median of 0.75%, placing it in the top 45% nationwide. At $1,799 median tax, residents pay 33% less than the national median of $2,690, reflecting lower home values.

Malheur County ranks eighth among Oregon tax rates

Malheur's 0.813% rate runs 5% above Oregon's 0.775% state average, placing it in the middle-to-upper tier statewide. The median tax of $1,799 remains 34% below Oregon's median of $2,745 due to cheaper homes.

Malheur taxes remain moderate for eastern Oregon

Malheur's 0.813% rate exceeds Lake (0.641%) and Klamath (0.678%) counties in the south-central region. Eastern Oregon generally enjoys lower home values, which keeps annual tax bills manageable despite moderate rates.

Median Malheur home costs $1,799 annually in tax

With a median home value of $221,300 and a 0.813% effective rate, Malheur homeowners pay roughly $1,799 per year in property taxes. Adding a mortgage raises that to approximately $2,058.

Malheur homeowners can reduce taxes through appeals

Many Malheur County properties are assessed above fair market value, creating an opportunity for savings. The county assessor accepts free appeals—verify your assessment aligns with comparable sales in your area.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Malheur County

via CostByCounty

Malheur: Cheapest Housing, Lowest Incomes

Malheur County delivers Oregon's lowest median rent at just $819 monthly, with a rent-to-income ratio of 19.7%—matching Oregon's state average despite the nation's lowest household income at $49,902. This combination reflects a rural agricultural economy where affordable housing pairs with limited earning potential.

Balanced Affordability on Tight Incomes

Malheur's 19.7% rent-to-income ratio equals Oregon's state average of 19.4%, placing it squarely in the middle affordability-wise despite the state's lowest median household income. The county's low absolute rents offset income constraints, preserving reasonable housing cost burdens.

Lowest Absolute Rents in Comparison

Malheur's median rent of $819 undercuts all regional peers—even Lake County ($861)—making it the state's cheapest rental market in this analysis. However, household incomes of $49,902 run $11,320 below Lake County, meaning renters here face genuine earning limitations despite favorable rent levels.

Affordable Rent, Limited Incomes

Monthly rent averages just $819 while homeownership runs $860, with median homes valued at $221,300—the state's most affordable. Despite these low costs, household income of $49,902 limits overall financial flexibility, meaning renters spend proportionally the same as better-earning counties despite lower absolute housing expenses.

Affordability Without Employment Anchors

Malheur offers the state's lowest housing costs, ideal for retirees or remote workers unconcerned with local employment; traditional job-seekers may struggle with limited regional opportunities. Those relocating here should prioritize income stability independent of local markets to fully capitalize on exceptional housing affordability.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Malheur County

via IncomeByCounty

Malheur faces steepest income gap

Malheur County's median household income of $49,902 represents the state's lowest and falls a dramatic 33% below the national median of $74,755. This $24,853 shortfall—the largest among the featured counties—reflects a rural economy dependent on agriculture and ranching with limited wage diversity. Nationally, Malheur ranks among the poorest-earning U.S. counties.

Oregon's lowest county income

At $49,902, Malheur County trails Oregon's state median of $69,965 by $20,063—a gap more than twice as large as any other featured county. This $20,000 disparity places Malheur at the bottom of Oregon's 36-county income ranking, creating unique economic hardship. The isolation of eastern Oregon and dependence on commodity agriculture drive this disadvantage.

Isolated economic distress in eastern Oregon

Malheur's $49,902 income trails the lowest other featured county, Josephine ($59,097), by $9,195, creating a widening gap suggesting severe regional isolation. No featured county comes close to Malheur's poverty level, reflecting eastern Oregon's distinct economic crisis. The county's remoteness from job centers compounds income challenges.

Affordable housing offers survival cushion

Malheur's rent-to-income ratio of 19.7% is among the state's most favorable, with a median home value of $221,300 offering true housing affordability. Yet this advantage becomes irrelevant when median household income falls this far short of meeting basic needs beyond housing. Water, food, healthcare, and transportation costs create acute affordability stress.

Economic development focus over individual wealth

For Malheur households earning $49,902, household financial stability precedes wealth building—focusing on emergency savings and debt reduction first proves more urgent. Many households may qualify for low-income assistance programs (LIHEAP, SNAP, Medicaid) that free up limited income for savings. Community development initiatives and local workforce training programs offer pathways to wage growth beyond individual investment strategies.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Malheur County

via HealthByCounty

Oregon's most urgent health crisis

Malheur County residents live to just 75.1 years, nearly 4.2 years shorter than the U.S. average of 79.3 years. Over 1 in 4 residents (25.9%) report poor or fair health—Oregon's worst rate and well above the national average of 21%. Malheur County faces compounding economic, healthcare access, and population health challenges.

Worst health burden in Oregon

Malheur County's 75.1-year life expectancy is 1.9 years below Oregon's 77.0-year average, and its 25.9% poor/fair health rate exceeds the state average by 5 percentage points—highest in Oregon. The county's agricultural economy, isolation, and limited healthcare infrastructure create a perfect storm of health disadvantage. Malheur ranks last among Oregon counties on health burden.

Isolation and provider shortage

Malheur County's 75.1-year life expectancy and 25.9% poor/fair health rate are far worse than all regional peers, including Lake County (75.7 years, 21.2% poor/fair). Its primary care provider density is catastrophically low at 25 per 100,000—less than one-third of most Oregon counties. The 10.0% uninsured rate ties Lake County as Oregon's highest, adding financial barriers to care-seeking.

Crisis-level provider shortage

Malheur County has just 25 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—the lowest in Oregon—forcing many to travel hours for basic medical services. The 10.0% uninsured rate means 1 in 10 residents cannot afford to seek care, even when available. Mental health providers number 556 per 100,000, but the severe primary care gap means many with mental illness cannot access any healthcare.

Get covered now

Malheur County's 10.0% uninsured rate and provider shortage create a dual crisis—coverage is essential but not sufficient. Visit healthcare.gov or Oregon's health marketplace immediately to check Medicaid eligibility and find affordable plans. In Malheur County, insurance is often the only lever residents can pull to improve health access.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Malheur County

via RiskByCounty

Malheur sits below national risk average

Malheur County's composite risk score of 34.76 places it well below the national average for natural disaster exposure. The Very Low risk rating makes Malheur one of America's safer counties overall. However, wildfire risk of 91.44 deserves serious attention despite the county's favorable low-hazard profile.

Oregon's second-safest county

At 34.76, Malheur ranks second-lowest among Oregon's 36 counties—significantly below the state average of 63.43. Only Lake County (19.08) shows lower composite risk in Oregon. Malheur's remote southeastern location and sparse development explain much of this favorable standing.

Safer than most of eastern Oregon

Malheur (34.76) sits between Lake County's very low 19.08 and Klamath's moderate 77.93. Malheur's wildfire risk of 91.44 is high, but other hazard exposures remain minimal compared to western Oregon counties. This creates an unusual profile: low overall risk with one significant wildfire vulnerability.

Wildfire dominates Malheur's hazards

Malheur County's wildfire risk of 91.44 is the overwhelming concern, while flood (52.00), earthquake (71.56), and tornado (8.78) risks remain low. The county's arid high-desert climate creates extended fire seasons and rapid spread potential. This single vulnerability dominates Malheur's disaster preparedness calculus.

Prioritize wildfire protection measures

Malheur homeowners should focus preparedness on wildfire mitigation—maintaining defensible space and using fire-resistant materials is more critical than additional insurance riders. Standard homeowners coverage typically addresses wildfire exposure, but review your policy for any local exclusions. Given the county's low overall risk, earthquake and flood insurance are optional unless you have specific property vulnerabilities.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.