Overview
Multnomah County is home to 803,863 people (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), making it the most populous county in Oregon and larger than 98% of all U.S. counties. It contains Portland, the state's largest city, and sits at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the northwest corner of the state.
The county's median household income of $86,247 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023) places it higher than 90% of U.S. counties and above most Oregon counties. Nearly half of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 48.6% (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), a rate that surpasses 97% of counties nationally. Home values reflect both the income and the demand: the median sits at $528,000 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), higher than 97% of U.S. counties.
The median age is 38.5 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), younger than about three-quarters of U.S. counties. That younger population, combined with high educational attainment and a large labor force, shapes much of what follows in the economic and health data.
Demographics
Multnomah County skews younger than most of the country. At 38.5 years, the median age falls below roughly 76% of U.S. counties (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023). Oregon's other counties tend to be older; Multnomah ranks in the bottom fifth of the state for median age.
Educational attainment stands out. The 48.6% of residents with a bachelor's degree or higher (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023) is more than double the rate in many rural counties and higher than 97% of all U.S. counties. Within Oregon, only a handful of counties come close.
The racial composition is more diverse than most of the state. White residents make up 66.2%, Hispanic residents 13.1%, Asian residents 7.4%, Black residents 5.4%, and Native residents 0.5% (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023). The Asian population, at 7.4%, ranks higher than 97% of U.S. counties. The Black population, at 5.4%, is above roughly two-thirds of counties nationally and higher than 97% of Oregon counties, reflecting Portland's role as the state's most racially diverse metro.
Education
Per-pupil spending in Multnomah County is $20,489 (Education Data Portal, 2020), well above the national average of roughly $15,000. That level of spending ranks higher than 86% of U.S. counties.
Total enrollment stands at 88,918 students (Education Data Portal, 2021), placing it above 96% of counties nationally. The student-teacher ratio is 17.2:1 (Education Data Portal, 2021), slightly above the national average of about 15.5:1 and higher than 88% of U.S. counties. More students per teacher, despite higher spending, suggests the money goes to factors beyond classroom staffing, whether that's facilities, support services, or cost-of-living adjustments for personnel in an expensive metro.
The graduation rate is 77.7% (Education Data Portal, 2019). That's below the national average of roughly 87% and lower than about 88% of U.S. counties. Within Oregon, Multnomah falls in the bottom quarter. A county that spends significantly more per student than most of the country but graduates fewer of them presents a gap worth watching. The spending data is from 2020 and the graduation rate from 2019, so some lag exists, but the pattern is notable.
Economy & Employment
The labor force totals 470,337 people, with 447,387 employed and 22,950 unemployed as of early 2025 (BLS LAUS, 2025). The unemployment rate of 4.9% sits above roughly 79% of U.S. counties, meaning most counties have lower unemployment. Within Oregon, Multnomah's rate falls in the bottom quarter.
Median household income is $86,247 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023). Per capita income reaches $52,354 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), higher than 96% of U.S. counties. IRS data shows the average adjusted gross income per return was $92,254 in tax year 2021 (IRS Statistics of Income, 2021), based on 410,320 returns with total AGI of $37.9 billion. Average total income per return was $93,340 (IRS Statistics of Income, 2021).
The poverty rate is 12.3% (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), which falls roughly in the middle of U.S. counties. For a county with incomes this high, that rate stands out. The gap between high per capita income and a middling poverty rate points to income inequality: the averages are pulled up by high earners while a meaningful share of residents falls below the poverty line.
Housing & Cost of Living
Housing in Multnomah County is expensive by nearly every measure. The median home value of $528,000 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023) ranks higher than 97% of U.S. counties. Median gross rent is $1,582 per month (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), above 95% of counties nationally.
Fair market rents set by HUD for 2026 reinforce the picture. A studio runs $1,570, a one-bedroom $1,677, a two-bedroom $1,922, a three-bedroom $2,619, and a four-bedroom $3,109 (HUD Fair Market Rents, 2026). Every one of those figures ranks in the top 2 to 3% of U.S. counties.
The vacancy rate is just 5.5% (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), lower than about 93% of U.S. counties. Out of 367,704 total housing units, only 20,312 sit vacant (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023). A tight vacancy rate keeps upward pressure on both rents and home prices.
Consider the math for a household earning the median income of $86,247. A two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent of $1,922 per month costs $23,064 per year, roughly 27% of gross income. That's right at the edge of the 30% affordability threshold that housing analysts use as a benchmark. For households earning below the median, the math gets harder fast. The three-bedroom fair market rent of $2,619 per month would consume more than 36% of the median household's gross income.
Health & Wellness
Multnomah County's health data reveals a split between physical and mental health metrics. On the physical side, the numbers are better than most of the country. The obesity rate is 28.5% (CDC PLACES, 2023), lower than about 96% of U.S. counties. The diabetes rate is 9.1% (CDC PLACES, 2023), below roughly 84% of counties. High blood pressure affects 27.7% of adults (CDC PLACES, 2023), a rate lower than about 94% of U.S. counties.
Mental health tells a different story. The depression rate is 29.9% (CDC PLACES, 2023), higher than 95% of U.S. counties. Poor mental health days affect 18.3% of adults (CDC PLACES, 2023), which falls roughly in the middle nationally but sits in the bottom fifth within Oregon. Poor physical health days at 12.1% (CDC PLACES, 2023) rank better than about 82% of counties.
Health insurance coverage is relatively broad. Only 7.5% of residents lack coverage (CDC PLACES, 2023), a rate lower than roughly 90% of U.S. counties. Annual checkup rates are 70.3% (CDC PLACES, 2023), below roughly 89% of counties, suggesting that despite having insurance, many residents don't see a doctor each year. Cholesterol screening stands at 83.8% (CDC PLACES, 2023), above roughly two-thirds of counties nationally.
The combination of low obesity, low diabetes, and low blood pressure alongside very high depression rates is a pattern common in highly educated, urban counties. The physical health metrics outperform most of the country. The mental health burden, particularly depression, is among the highest.
Climate & Natural Disasters
Rain defines Multnomah County more than any other weather variable. The county gets 53.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA Climate Data Online, 2025), more than 87% of U.S. counties. Temperatures stay mild: average highs reach 62.1°F, lows hold at 45.9°F, and the annual mean is 54.7°F (NOAA Climate Data Online, 2025).
Snow is rare. Only 3.5 inches falls in a typical year (NOAA Climate Data Online, 2025). When it does snow, the county isn't built for it, and even modest accumulations disrupt traffic across the metro.
FEMA has declared 12 disasters in the county since 1964 (FEMA OpenFEMA, 2026). Measured against the full national distribution, that's a relatively low count: the county ranks lower than 86% of U.S. counties, meaning most have recorded more federal declarations. The type of event has shifted over time. Early declarations were almost entirely floods, including events in 1964 and 1972. Fire entered the picture in 2017 with a fire management assistance declaration, then again in 2020 tied to Oregon's Labor Day wildfires. Severe storms have been the most consistent trigger, including the most recent declaration in April 2024 (FEMA OpenFEMA, 2026).
Flooding risk along the Willamette and Columbia corridors has been part of this county's profile for decades. But fire is the accelerating variable. Oregon's fire seasons are getting longer, and the 2020 major disaster declaration shows that statewide wildfire events can reach Portland directly. That's the risk worth watching.
Financial Profile
IRS data from tax year 2021 shows 410,320 returns filed in Multnomah County, with total adjusted gross income of $37.9 billion and total income of $38.3 billion (IRS Statistics of Income, 2021). The average AGI per return of $92,254 ranks higher than 91% of U.S. counties. Average income per return was $93,340 (IRS Statistics of Income, 2021).
The total volume of tax returns and aggregate income both rank above 98% of counties nationally, consistent with Multnomah's large population and high individual incomes.
Social Security beneficiaries total 129,455 (SSA OASDI, 2024), higher than 97% of U.S. counties. That's about 16.1% of the total population. Given the county's younger median age, this ratio is expected. The large absolute number reflects population size rather than an unusually high share of retirees.
FDIC banking data is not available for Multnomah County.
Key Comparisons
Multnomah County sits at the upper end of nearly every economic and housing metric nationally while showing distinct patterns on health and education.
Income and cost: Median household income of $86,247 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023) is roughly 30% above the national median of about $75,000. But median home values of $528,000 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023) are more than double the national median. Rents follow the same pattern. Income is high, but housing costs outpace it.
Education spending vs. outcomes: Per-pupil spending of $20,489 (Education Data Portal, 2020) exceeds the national average by about 37%. The graduation rate of 77.7% (Education Data Portal, 2019) falls roughly 10 points below the national average. Few counties pair such high spending with such low completion rates.
Health: Physical health metrics, including obesity at 28.5%, diabetes at 9.1%, and high blood pressure at 27.7% (CDC PLACES, 2023), consistently rank in the best 5 to 20% of U.S. counties. Depression at 29.9% (CDC PLACES, 2023) ranks in the worst 5%. The gap between physical and mental health outcomes is wider here than in most counties.
Housing vacancy: The 5.5% vacancy rate (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023) ranks lower than 93% of U.S. counties, meaning almost all available housing is occupied. Combined with fair market rents that rank in the top 2 to 3% nationally (HUD Fair Market Rents, 2026), the housing market remains extremely tight.
Employment: The 4.9% unemployment rate (BLS LAUS, 2025) is above most U.S. counties but sits alongside a labor force of 470,337, one of the largest in the country. The county produces significant economic output but carries higher unemployment than its income levels might suggest.
Within Oregon, Multnomah leads on population, income, educational attainment, and diversity. It also has among the state's highest housing costs, lowest vacancy rates, and highest depression rates.
Data Sources
- Census ACS 5-Year, 2023: Population, income, housing, demographics, education attainment, commute times, poverty rate
- BLS LAUS, 2025: Unemployment rate, labor force, employment counts
- CDC PLACES, 2023: Health metrics including obesity, diabetes, mental health, insurance coverage, preventive care
- HUD Fair Market Rents, 2026: Fair market rent by bedroom count
- FEMA OpenFEMA, 2026: Disaster declarations and history
- IRS Statistics of Income, 2021: Tax returns, adjusted gross income, total income
- NOAA Climate Data Online, 2025: Temperature and precipitation averages
- SSA OASDI, 2024: Social Security beneficiary counts
- USDA Census of Agriculture, 2022: Data not available for Multnomah County
- Education Data Portal, 2021: Per-pupil spending, enrollment, student-teacher ratio, graduation rate