Financial profile

Multnomah County, Oregon financial profile

The Multnomah County, Oregon financial profile pulls six federal datasets into one page: what households earn, what housing costs, how prices have moved, how much natural hazard risk sits on a mortgage here, and how often lenders say no.

Median household income

$83,668

Census ACS 2022

Typical home value

$492,100

Census ACS

Median gross rent

$1,515/mo

Census ACS

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent

$1,922/mo

HUD 2026

Median property taxes

$4,853/yr

Census ACS

Unemployment rate

5.5%

Census ACS

Electricity price

15.4¢/kWh

EIA 2025, state average

Mortgage denial rate

14.3%

HMDA 2025

What happens when we cross the datasets

These readings are ours: each one combines two or more federal sources, so you get a number no single agency publishes for Multnomah County.

Rent burden on a median income

27.6%

A two-bedroom at Fair Market Rent takes 27.6% of the median household income here, inside the 30% affordability line.

We use data from HUD Fair Market Rent and data from Census ACS median household income.

Home price to income ratio

5.9×

The typical home costs 5.9 times the median household income — above the 3–4× range lenders traditionally treat as comfortable.

We use data from Census ACS median home value and data from Census ACS median household income.

5-year home price momentum

21.7%

House prices in this county moved 21.7% over five years, which on today's median value is about $87,845 of the price.

We use data from FHFA House Price Index (5-year) and data from Census ACS median home value.

Natural hazard exposure

Relatively High

FEMA’s National Risk Index rates this county “Relatively High” for overall natural hazard risk on its own national scale (composite risk score 98.5), and it has been inside 6 federal disaster declarations in the last 15 years, led by earthquake. That is what drives homeowners insurance pricing.

We use data from FEMA National Risk Index and data from FEMA disaster declarations (15 years).

Mortgage denial gap vs. the country

-3.4 pts

14.3% of mortgage applications here are denied, versus 17.7% nationally — 3.4 points easier than the national picture.

We use data from CFPB HMDA county aggregates and data from CFPB HMDA national aggregates.

Unsubsidised health premium burden

7.5%

The benchmark silver plan for a 40-year-old runs $522 a month here. Before subsidies that is 7.5% of the median household income, across 6 insurers selling on the marketplace.

We use data from CMS Marketplace QHP rate files and data from Census ACS median household income.

Electricity burden on a median income

2.0%

At 15.4¢ per kilowatt-hour, a typical 900 kWh month costs about $138 — 2.0% of the median household income over a year.

We use data from EIA average retail electricity price and data from Census ACS median household income.

Grocery burden for a family of four

16.1%

Feeding two adults and two school-age children at USDA's low-cost plan runs about $1,125 a month (6/2026 prices) — 16.1% of the median household income here, before rent, energy or health cover.

We use data from USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food at Home, June 2026 (June 2026) (household-adjusted) and data from Census ACS median household income.

Rent against the average Social Security cheque

95.4%

The average Social Security payment in this county is $2,014 a month (December 2025), and a two-bedroom at Fair Market Rent is $1,922 — 95.4% of that cheque, a calculation that touches 132,795 beneficiaries locally.

We use data from SSA OASDI beneficiaries by county and data from HUD Fair Market Rent.

Insurance burden on a median income

2.7%

NAIC puts the average Oregon car insurance premium at $1,268 a year and the average owner-occupied HO-3 homeowners premium at $1,003 (2023 data). Together that is 2.7% of the median household income in this county. Both figures are state averages — NAIC does not publish county premiums, so we never break them down further, and an average premium reflects each state's coverage limits, deductibles, risk and regulation rather than the price of cover alone.

We use data from NAIC auto and homeowners insurance reports (state) and data from Census ACS median household income.

Home insurance per $1,000 of home value

$2.04

The Oregon average HO-3 premium of $1,003 works out at $2.04 for every $1,000 of the $492,100 median home value in this county. High-hazard states such as Louisiana, Florida and Oklahoma sit far above the national picture on this measure.

We use data from NAIC homeowners report, HO-3 state average and data from Census ACS median home value.

What health cover actually costs in Multnomah County

The benchmark silver plan for a 40-year-old here is $522 a month before help. Enter an income and we work out where the household sits on the federal poverty line and what the premium tax credit leaves you paying.

Share of the poverty line

524%

Poverty line for this household: $15,960, HHS 2026

Expected contribution

Benchmark plan after credit

Above 400% of the poverty line — the enhanced subsidies that removed this cliff expired after the 2025 plan year, so no premium tax credit applies for 2026.

Sources: CMS Health Insurance Marketplace Public Use Files, plan year 2026; HHS Poverty Guidelines 2026; IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-25 applicable percentage table. An estimate for Oregon residents, not a quote — the marketplace uses your exact ages, tobacco use and plan choice.

Insurance, Medicare and local prices

Average car insurance

$1,268/yr

Oregon state average — NAIC 2023, not a county figure

Average home insurance (HO-3)

$1,003/yr

Owner-occupied HO-3 policy, Oregon state average — NAIC 2023

Dwelling fire policy (DP)

$886/yr

Non-owner-occupied and rental property — a different policy from HO-3. Oregon state average, NAIC 2023

Disaster history and insurance

Multnomah County has been included in 6 federal disaster declarations over the last 15 years, most recently a severe storm declaration dated 2024-04-13. FEMA estimates expected annual losses of $440,430,645 across the county. Hazard history is one of the strongest drivers of homeowners insurance premiums, so quote your insurance before you close, not after.

Housing next steps in Multnomah County

Shown because this profile holds housing costs for Multnomah County. We never place an offer next to a number we do not have.

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