42% of renters here can't afford a 2-bedroom apartment

Deschutes County

Deschutes County, the largest County in Central Oregon, is the economic powerhouse east of the Cascades. It has a broadly diversified economy. The major employment sectors are tourism, retail, healthcare, government, professional and business services, construction, manufacturing and financial services.

The median household income for the county is 95.9 percent of the statewide median income, and educational attainment rates tend to be high. Despite these symbols of prosperity, however, the county still has a subpopulation of “have nots.” Employment is still cyclical and average wages and income struggle to keep pace with the statewide averages. Out of a population of 153,694, a total of 15.4 percent of individuals live below the federal poverty line while 11.4 percent of families live below the federal poverty line. For more information about key indicators of community poverty, see the chart below.

Key Poverty Indicators

Deschutes

State

Nation

Percent of individuals living in poverty1

15.4%

15.8%

15.3%

Percent of families living in poverty1

11.4%

11.0%

11.3%

Number of individuals receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (food stamps), October 20116

44,039

785,668

n/a

Percent of households receiving TANF (cash assistance), all categories, October 20116

1,126

33,763

n/a

Median household income1

$44,680

$46,560

$50,046

Per capita income1

$25,131

$24,753

$26,059

Percent of personal income from government transfers, 20097

20%

19%

18%

Percent of population 25 and older lacking a high school diploma1

6.9%

11.3%

14.4%

Percent of population 25 and older having a bachelor or higher degree1

30.3%

28.8%

28.1%

Average weekly wage for 20102

$730

$852

$971

Unemployment rate for September 2013

12.7%

9.6%

9.1%

Percent of children receiving free & reduced lunch for the 2010 - 2011 school year4

51.9%

49.3%

65.3%

Verified child abuse and neglect cases, rate per 1,000 in 20105

8.1

12.7

9.3

Foster care placements per 1000 children, 20108

3.6

10.1

n/a
 

* Data is a the one-year snapshot, from 2010 census;  the most recent data available.  For comparison,  the state and national numbers for these two counties are also from the 2010 census.
1www.factfinder2.census.gov
2US Dept of Labor:  www.bls.gov (wages)
3www.qualityinfo.org (unemployment)
4Oregon Dept of Education:  www.oregon.gov.ode (lunches)
5Oregon Dept of Human Services:  www.oregon.gov/DHS/abuse (abuse/neglect)


/3-sisters squished2.jpg
GoodSearch - You Search We Give Project Connect Bank on
Central Oregon Take Credit
Tax Assistance