Malheur County, Oregon Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Malheur County is located in Oregon with a total population of 31,701. It is the 20th most populous county out of 36 in Oregon.

Age Demographics

The median age in Malheur County is 36.2 years. This is 10% lower than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Malheur County is $49,902. This is 38% lower than the state median of $80,426. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 36% lower. The poverty rate stands at 17.8%. This is 50% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 5.0%. This is 6% lower than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $221,300. Housing costs are 51% lower than the state median of $454,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.4x. 63.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Malheur County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 60.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 33.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (33.5% vs 14.3%). The Asian population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 4.4%.

Education

15.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 57% lower than the state rate of 36.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 83.8%.