Income needed to buy a home
Polk County, OR
$159,360
a year in household income to buy the typical Polk County home with 10% down.
The monthly math
Typical home value$480,275
Down payment (10%)$48,028
Loan$432,248
Principal and interest (7.40%)$2,993/mo
Property tax (0.76% a year)$305/mo
Homeowners insurance (estimate)$240/mo
Mortgage insurance$180/mo
Total monthly cost$3,718/mo
Income needed keeps housing at 28% of gross income, the lender rule of thumb.
What locals earn
Far off
The typical household here earns $85,118 a year, 53% of what it takes.
In Oregon
Polk County ranks #27 of 36 for the income a home takes, from least to most.
Easiest to afford in Oregon
| County | Typical home | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| Lake County | $196,055 | $63,786 |
| Harney County | $221,363 | $73,024 |
| Gilliam County | $249,477 | $83,011 |
| Grant County | $288,406 | $92,019 |
| Sherman County | $290,073 | $95,731 |
Typical home value from the Zillow Home Value Index, August 2026. Rate is the Freddie Mac 30-year average for Oct 8, 2026. Property tax rate is total taxes paid divided by total home value in the county (U.S. Census, ACS 2020-2024). How it works.