The Town FilesMilton-Freewater, Oregon
City in Umatilla County · population 7,151 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $240,000
- Household income
- $52,183
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 32.9
Milton-Freewater is a city of 7,151 people in Umatilla County, Oregon. The median home is worth $240,000, below the typical Oregon town ($394,200). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 80% of Oregon towns, more walkable than 77% of Oregon towns, more vibrant than 75% of Oregon towns.
How Milton-Freewater 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 Milton-Freewater is worth $240,000, below the typical Oregon town ($394,200). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $52,183, which is more affordable than 66% of Oregon towns. Median rent is $877 a month. 48.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Milton-Freewater | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $240,000 | $394,200 |
| Median rent | $877 | $1,312 |
| Median household income | $52,183 | $76,221 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 48.0% | 71.1% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.8% | — |
Who lives in Milton-Freewater
| People | Milton-Freewater | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.9 | 41.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.5% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.0% | 23.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.6% | 10.8% |
| Veterans | 3.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.3% | — |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 12.2% |
| Average commute | 17.2 min | 23.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.5% | 92.4% |
Weather in Milton-Freewater
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 30.3°F. About 16.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.2 inches of snow (typical Oregon town: 3.1 in). Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 74 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Milton-Freewater since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Oregon town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on March 5, 2024 about 4.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 5, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 6, 1991.
Severe weather in Umatilla County since 1996
Umatilla County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 9, 2026 | Fire | FM-5664: Hagen Fire |
| July 16, 2026 | Fire | FM-5645: Lower Dry Creek Fire |
| January 1, 2025 | Fire | DR-4854: Wildfires |
| July 21, 2024 | Fire | FM-5514: Battle Mountain Fire Complex |
| April 3, 2020 | Flood | DR-4519: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Umatilla County
Umatilla County had 33,030 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,594 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Milton-Freewater itself the ACS puts it at 7.3%.
Public schools in Milton-Freewater
4 public schools with 1,534 students, about 16.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gib Olinger Elementary School | K-3 | 498 | 14.6 |
| McLoughlin High School | 9-12 | 460 | 18.4 |
| Central Middle School | 6-8 | 343 | 16.3 |
| Ferndale Elementary School | 4-5 | 233 | 14.6 |
Towns near Milton-Freewater
- College Place, WA7.4 mi · 9,902 people · home $366,600
- Walla Walla, WA9.5 mi · 34,060 people · home $393,600
- Pendleton, OR27.3 mi · 17,107 people · home $287,100
Milton-Freewater questions
Is Milton-Freewater, Oregon a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Milton-Freewater scores better for retirees than 8% of Oregon towns and quieter than 8%. 16.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.9).
How much does a house cost in Milton-Freewater?
The median owner-occupied home in Milton-Freewater is valued at $240,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,183, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $877 a month.
What is the weather like in Milton-Freewater?
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 30.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 16.1 inches of precipitation a year and 7.2 inches of snow.
Does Milton-Freewater get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Milton-Freewater since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on March 5, 2024. 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)