The Town Files

Malheur County, Oregon

31,954 people. The median home is worth $248,900 (typical Oregon town: $394,200) and the median household earns $54,519.

Towns in Malheur County

Towns in Malheur County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Ontario11,645$236,300$46,30835.2
Nyssa3,198$204,300$69,18325.1
Vale1,894$173,300$50,31337.5

People and housing

Malheur CountyTypical Oregon town
Median home value$248,900$394,200
Median rent$821$1,312
Median household income$54,519$76,221
Median age36.141.7
Bachelor's degree or higher15.2%23.2%
Below the poverty line17.6%10.8%

Jobs and pay

13,488 jobs in 2024, average pay $48,708 a year.

Largest industries in Malheur CountyRetail2,261 jobs · $37,138Hotels & restaurants1,276 jobs · $21,391Manufacturing1,087 jobs · $49,674Wholesale trade486 jobs · $56,450Transportation & warehousing329 jobs · $59,332Construction303 jobs · $47,104
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Malheur County0%2%4%6%8%10%12%2000200420082012201620202023 3.7%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 156 storm events in Malheur County from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Malheur County by type since 1996Hail22Flood8Tornado2Wildfire5High Wind11Heavy Rain9Heavy Snow43Debris Flow1Flash Flood18Funnel Cloud2
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Malheur County has been included in 7 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
July 22, 2024FireFM-5516: Durkee Fire
March 28, 2020BiologicalDR-4499: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3429: Covid-19
September 7, 2005Coastal StormEM-3228: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation
February 19, 2004Severe StormDR-1510: Severe Winter Storms
April 29, 1977DroughtEM-3039: Drought
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).