Wasco County, OR

County

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2023 Population

26,603

0.135% 1-year decline

US Senator

Ron Wyden

Democratic Party

US Senator

Jeff Merkley

Democratic Party

2023 Median Age

40.5

0.248% 1-year increase

2023 Poverty Rate

12.2%

3.96% 1-year increase

2023 Median Household Income

$63,602

3.73% 1-year growth

2023 Median Property Value

$332,500

11.5% 1-year growth

2023 Employed Population

11,904

0.286% 1-year growth

About

In 2023, Wasco County, OR had a population of 26.6k people with a median age of 40.5 and a median household income of $63,602. Between 2022 and 2023 the population of Wasco County, OR declined from 26,639 to 26,603, a −0.135% decrease and its median household income grew from $61,316 to $63,602, a 3.73% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Wasco County, OR are White (Non-Hispanic) (72.3%), Two+ (Hispanic) (9.37%), White (Hispanic) (7.35%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (4.25%), and Other (Hispanic) (2.79%).

None of the households in Wasco County, OR reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

93.8% of the residents in Wasco County, OR are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Wasco County, OR are Columbia Gorge Community College (184 degrees awarded in 2022).

In 2023, the median property value in Wasco County, OR was $332,500, and the homeownership rate was 66.2%.

Most people in Wasco County, OR drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 18.7 minutes. The average car ownership in Wasco County, OR was 2 cars per household.

Wasco County, OR borders Clackamas County, OR, Gilliam County, OR, Hood River County, OR, Jefferson County, OR, Marion County, OR, Sherman County, OR, Wheeler County, OR, and Klickitat County, WA.

About the photo: 3rd Wasco County Courthouse (1914), The Dalles OR

Photo by Keith Ewing

United States Oregon The Dalles, OR

Population & Diversity

Wasco County, OR is home to a population of 26.6k people, from which 93.8% are citizens. As of 2023, 8.61% of Wasco County, OR residents were born outside of the country (2.29k people).

In 2023, there were 7.71 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (19.2k people) in Wasco County, OR than any other race or ethnicity. There were 2.49k Two+ (Hispanic) and 1.95k White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

93.8%

2023 Citizenship

93.4%

2022 Citizenship

As of 2023, 93.8% of Wasco County, OR residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2022, the percentage of US citizens in Wasco County, OR was 93.4%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Wasco County, OR compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Wasco County, OR

White (Non-Hispanic)
19.2k ± 163
Two+ (Hispanic)
2.49k ± 386
White (Hispanic)
1.95k ± 339

19.8%

Hispanic Population

5.26k people

19.8% of the people in Wasco County, OR are hispanic (5.26k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Wasco County, OR as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Oregon.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
143,534 ± 9,142 people
Vietnam
22,912 ± 3,706 people
China
22,028 ± 3,634 people

In 2022, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Oregon was Mexico, the natal country of 143,534 Oregon residents, followed by Vietnam with 22,912 and China with 22,028.

Foreign-Born Population

8.61%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

2.29k people

8.75%

2022 Foreign-Born Population

2.33k people

As of 2023, 8.61% of Wasco County, OR residents (2.29k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.8%. In 2022, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Wasco County, OR was 8.75%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Wasco County, OR compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
603 ± 121
Gulf War (2001-)
407 ± 129
Gulf War (1990s)
309 ± 98

Wasco County, OR has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.48 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Wasco County, OR employs 11.9k people. The largest industries in Wasco County, OR are Health Care & Social Assistance (2,055 people), Retail Trade (1,343 people), and Accommodation & Food Services (1,084 people), and the highest paying industries are Information ($85,357), Finance & Insurance ($80,677), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($70,357).

Males in Oregon have an average income that is 1.28 times higher than the average income of females, which is $64,064. The income inequality in Oregon (measured using the Gini index) is 0.463, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

11.9k

2023 Value

± 738

0.286%

1 Year growth

± 9.22%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Wasco County, OR grew at a rate of 0.286%, from 11.9k employees to 11.9k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Wasco County, OR, are Management Occupations (1,544 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (1,206 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (993 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Wasco County, OR.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Oregon (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

11.9k

2023 Value

± 738

0.286%

1 Year growth

± 9.22%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Wasco County, OR grew at a rate of 0.286%, from 11.9k employees to 11.9k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Wasco County, OR, are Health Care & Social Assistance (2,055 people), Retail Trade (1,343 people), and Accommodation & Food Services (1,084 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Wasco County, OR, though some of these residents may live in Wasco County, OR and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$45,963

Median earning men ± $5,770

$33,201

Median earning women ± $4,220

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2023 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($106,154), Information ($77,153), and Public Administration ($70,299).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2023 are Information ($91,719), Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($50,507), and Public Administration ($43,523).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Oregon.

Y-Axis

2.87%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 1.97M people employed in Oregon. This represents a 2.87% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 13.1%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Oregon.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

56
Construction
48
Other Services (except Public Administration)
42
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

Depending on the option selected, the visualization shows the number of employees or number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$105k
Health Care and Social Assistance
$60.9k
Retail Trade
$34.6k
Information

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Civics

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Wasco County, OR went to Donald J. Trump with 49.8% of the vote. The runner-up was Joseph R Biden Jr. (46.7%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (2.09%).

Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley are the senators currently representing the state of Oregon. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Oregon is currently represented by 6 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

2020 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (49.8%)
Republican Party
Joseph R Biden Jr. (46.7%)
Democratic Party
Jo Jorgensen (2.09%)
Libertarian Party

In the 2020 presidential election, the popular vote in Wasco County, OR went to Donald J. Trump with 49.8% of the vote. The runner-up was Joseph R Biden Jr. (46.7%), followed by Jo Jorgensen (2.09%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Wasco County, OR for each registered party from 1976 to 2020.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Oregon

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Oregon.

Ron Wyden

Senator from Oregon

Assumed office on February 5, 1996
Elected to the seat following the resignation of Bob Packwood.

Jeff Merkley

Senator from Oregon

Assumed office on January 3, 2009

Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley are the senators currently representing Oregon.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Oregon over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Oregon

Oregon is currently represented by 6 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Oregon have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2022, universities in Wasco County, OR awarded 184 degrees. The student population of Wasco County, OR in 2022 is skewed towards women, with 363 male students and 676 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Wasco County, OR are White (99 and 53.8%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (75 and 40.8%), Asian (4 and 2.17%), and Two or More Races (3 and 1.63%).

The largest universities in Wasco County, OR by number of degrees awarded are Columbia Gorge Community College (184 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Wasco County, OR are Liberal Arts & Sciences (72 and 39.1%), General Studies (53 and 28.8%), and Registered Nursing (20 and 10.9%).

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2022 there were 1,039 students enrolled in Wasco County, OR, 34.9% men and 65.1% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in Unknown with 410 records, of which 67.3% were women and 32.7% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Liberal Arts & Sciences
72 degrees awarded
General Studies
53 degrees awarded
Registered Nursing
20 degrees awarded

In 2022, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Wasco County, OR was Liberal Arts & Sciences with 72 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Associates Degree from schools in Wasco County, OR according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Columbia Gorge Community College

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

184 degrees awarded

In 2022, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Columbia Gorge Community College with 184 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2022, 59 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Wasco County, OR, which is 0.472 times less than the 125 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2022 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 99 degrees mean that there were 1.32 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 75 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Public, 2-year ($4,212) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2022.

Public, 2-year ($1,260) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2022.

Public, 2-year ($1,200) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Oregon.

Measure

In 2022, 0.928% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.891% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Oregon.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2022 were Some college (868k), High School or Equivalent (807k), and Bachelors Degree (693k).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Wasco County, OR was $332,500 in 2023, which is 1.1 times larger than the national average of $303,400. Between 2022 and 2023 the median property value increased from $298,200 to $332,500, a 11.5% increase. The homeownership rate in Wasco County, OR is 66.2%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 65%.

People in Wasco County, OR have an average commute time of 18.7 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Wasco County, OR is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Wasco County, OR is $63,602. In 2023, the tract with the highest Median Household Income in Wasco County, OR was Census Tract 9703 with a value of $94,944, followed by Census Tract 9701 and Census Tract 9706, with respective values of $73,409 and $71,448.

In 2023, 15.4% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Wasco County, OR. From 2014 to 2023, the indicator declined 1.32%.

Housing

Property

$332,500

Median Property Value 2023

±$15,649

$6,894

Median Property Taxes

±$464

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Wasco County, OR the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Wasco County, OR compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

66.2%

Homeownership

2023

64.9%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2023

In 2023, 66.2% of the housing units in Wasco County, OR were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 65.1%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Wasco County, OR compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 9703
Census Tract 9701
Census Tract 9706

In 2023, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Wasco County, OR was Census Tract 9703 with a value of $94,944, followed by Census Tract 9701 and Census Tract 9706, with respective values of $73,409 and $71,448.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Wasco County, OR colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$63,602

Median Household Income

± $4,399

10.4k

Number of Households

± 659

In 2023, the median household income of the 10.4k households in Wasco County, OR grew to $63,602 from the previous year's value of $61,316.

The following chart displays the households in Wasco County, OR distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Wasco County, OR is from Oregon.

0.463

2022 Wage GINI in Oregon

0.462

2021 Wage GINI in Oregon

In 2022, the income inequality in Oregon was 0.463 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.21% growth from 2021 to 2022, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even. The GINI for Oregon was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Oregon in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Oregon across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2023

Drove Alone (76.8%)
Carpooled (9.38%)
Worked At Home (6.9%)

In 2023, 76.8% of workers in Wasco County, OR drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (9.38%) and those who worked at home (6.9%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

18.7 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Wasco County, OR have a shorter commute time (18.7 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.6 minutes). Additionally, 2.18% of the workforce in Wasco County, OR have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Wasco County, OR compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Wasco County, OR distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Wasco County, OR have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2023, 15.4% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Wasco County, OR. From 2014 to 2023, the indicator declined 1.32%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

12.2% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Wasco County, OR (3.16k out of 26k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.4%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Males 25 - 34 and then Females 65 - 74.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Wasco County, OR is White, followed by Hispanic and Two Or More.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2023, 18.5% of the children was living in poverty in Wasco County, OR. From 2014 to 2023, the indicator declined 7.3%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

90.5% of the population of Wasco County, OR has health coverage, with 37.7% on employee plans, 23.5% on Medicaid, 14.2% on Medicare, 13.6% on non-group plans, and 1.55% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Wasco County, OR see 1016 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.975% decrease from the previous year (1026 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1336 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 166 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.8% were men and 50.2% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,016 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Wasco County, OR

Primary care physicians in Wasco County, OR see an average of 1,016 patients per year. This represents a 0.975% decrease from the previous year (1,026 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Wasco County, OR in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2023, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 23% under 18 years, 19.5% between 18 and 34 years, 37.4% between 35 and 64 years, and 20.1% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.8% were men and 50.2% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

9.51%

Uninsured

37.7%

Employer Coverage

23.5%

Medicaid

14.2%

Medicare

13.6%

Non-Group

1.55%

Military or VA

Between 2022 and 2023, the percent of uninsured citizens in Wasco County, OR grew by 9.48% from 8.69% to 9.51%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Wasco County, OR changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2023, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 51.2 in Wasco County, OR.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Wasco County, OR.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2023, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 29.4% in Wasco County, OR.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Wasco County, OR.