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La Grande, Oregon Demographics & Population 2026

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, La Grande, Oregon had a total population of 13,058, the 50th largest city in Oregon, with a median household income of $58,427, which is 30% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 20.9%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

La Grande Quick Facts

Population 13,058
Median Household Income $58,427
Median Home Value $278,700
Poverty Rate 20.9%
Unemployment Rate 6.1%
Median Age 32.9 years
Homeownership Rate 51.1%
Affordability Ratio 4.8x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 26.8%
High School Graduation Rate 95.2%
Diversity Index 30/100
Population 13,058 50th of 420
Median Income $58,427 bottom 30%
Poverty Rate 20.9% 68% higher than national
Median Home Value $278,700 bottom 30%

How La Grande Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population13,05913,058-0.0%
Median household income$56,409$58,427+3.6%
Median home value$244,200$278,700+14.1%

How La Grande Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 21.1%
$25K-$50K 23.4%
$50K-$100K 27.4%
$100K+ 28.0%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
6.4%
$10K-$15K
5.9%
$15K-$20K
5.7%
$20K-$25K
3.1%
$25K-$30K
2.7%
$30K-$35K
6.7%
$35K-$40K
3.7%
$40K-$45K
5.7%
$45K-$50K
4.5%
$50K-$60K
6.9%
$60K-$75K
7.6%
$75K-$100K
12.9%
$100K-$125K
10.3%
$125K-$150K
7.0%
$150K-$200K
6.5%
$200K+
4.3%

Employment

6.1% Unemployment Rate State: 5.4%|National: 5.2%
62.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 51.1%
Renter 48.9%
Affordability Index Moderate
4.8x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $968/mo 19.9% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

30out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 46 | National average: 61

Education

La Grande Rankings in Oregon

#50 Population of 420
#277 Median Income of 379
#159 Education of 420
#273 Home Value of 381

Other Cities in Union County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Union 2,290 $65,047 18.9% $231,400
Elgin 1,549 $57,750 10.4% $191,300
Island City 1,145 $66,563 14.0% $295,100
Cove 651 $82,500 12.8% $328,000
North Powder 563 $52,273 10.5% $142,200
Imbler 189 $66,250 27.5% $275,000
Summerville 106 $120,417 3.9% $275,000

Cities Similar to La Grande

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Ontario11,842$46,308$236,30015.7%21.0%
Coos Bay15,925$56,524$306,90022.9%15.3%
Monmouth11,428$69,170$413,20027.3%16.1%
Newport10,583$60,568$441,40031.3%16.2%
The Dalles15,917$62,614$360,80022.7%11.0%

Population Overview

La Grande is a small city located in Oregon, within Union County. The total population is 13,058. It ranks as the 50th most populous out of 420 Census-designated places in Oregon.

Age Demographics

The median age in La Grande is 32.9 years. This is 19% lower than the state median of 40.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in La Grande is $58,427. This is 30% lower than the state median of $83,011. It is also 28% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.9%. This is 75% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 6.1%. This is 14% higher than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $278,700. Housing costs are 42% lower than the state median of $477,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.8x. 51.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% lower than the state average of 63.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in La Grande is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (6.0%) is well below the state average of 14.7%. The Asian population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 4.4%.

Education

26.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 27% lower than the state rate of 36.8%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for La Grande, Oregon is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Oregon state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 420 Census-designated places in Oregon. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.

Free data download: Get all Oregon city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of La Grande, Oregon?

La Grande, Oregon has a population of 13,058 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in La Grande, OR?

The median household income in La Grande is $58,427, which is 28% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in La Grande, OR?

The poverty rate in La Grande is 20.9%. This means approximately 2,656 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of La Grande, Oregon?

La Grande's population is 83.1% White, 1.1% Black, 6.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.8% Asian.

What is the median home value in La Grande, OR?

The median home value in La Grande is $278,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.8x.

How educated is La Grande, Oregon?

26.8% of adults (25+) in La Grande hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 10.2% hold a graduate or professional degree.