The Town FilesHeppner, Oregon
City in Morrow County · population 1,187 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $196,300
- Household income
- $49,521
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 36.7
Heppner is a city of 1,187 people in Morrow County, Oregon. The median home is worth $196,300, below the typical Oregon town ($394,200). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of Oregon towns, better for retirees than 90% of Oregon towns, better for families than 83% of Oregon towns.
How Heppner ranks
Percentile among Oregon towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Oregon towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Heppner is worth $196,300, below the typical Oregon town ($394,200). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $49,521, which is more affordable than 85% of Oregon towns. Median rent is $744 a month. 49.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Heppner | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $196,300 | $394,200 |
| Median rent | $744 | $1,312 |
| Median household income | $49,521 | $76,221 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 49.9% | 71.1% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.2% | — |
Who lives in Heppner
| People | Heppner | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 | 41.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.5% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.4% | 23.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.8% | 10.8% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 12.2% | 12.2% |
| Average commute | 9.6 min | 23.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.3% | 92.4% |
Weather in Heppner
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 27.6°F. About 13.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.8 inches of snow (typical Oregon town: 3.1 in). Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 106 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Heppner since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Oregon town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on April 14, 2011 about 8.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 14, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 17, 2012.
Severe weather in Morrow County since 1996
Morrow County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 21, 2024 | Fire | FM-5514: Battle Mountain Fire Complex |
| July 18, 2024 | Fire | FM-5511: Lone Rock Fire |
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4499: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3429: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3228: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Morrow County
Morrow County had 6,978 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,417 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Heppner itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Heppner
2 public schools with 341 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heppner Elementary School | K-6 | 186 | 18.6 |
| Heppner Junior/Senior High School | 7-12 | 155 | 12.9 |
Heppner questions
Is Heppner, Oregon a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Heppner scores better for retirees than 90% of Oregon towns and quieter than 73%. 18.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.7).
How much does a house cost in Heppner?
The median owner-occupied home in Heppner is valued at $196,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,521, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $744 a month.
What is the weather like in Heppner?
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 27.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 13.1 inches of precipitation a year and 12.8 inches of snow.
Does Heppner get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Heppner since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on April 14, 2011. The typical Oregon town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)