City Report · OR

La Grande

Pop. 13,058·64th most expensive in Oregon·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,145/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
-0.7%
vs US Median
-$787
Reported rents
Falling (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
La Grande · $1,145
More affordable than 94% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
24% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,145/mo, rent takes about 24% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$46,000/yr
Local median income
$58,427/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using La Grande's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$750
1 BR
$860
2 BR
$1,100
3 BR
$1,540
4 BR+
$1,850
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,100/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,145 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($58,427) is $1,461 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,100); a 3-bedroom is $1,540.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for La Grande. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$13,740/yr
At $1,145/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Balanced Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -0.7% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

La Grande, OR is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 26.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
13,058
Median income
$58,427
Median age
32.9
Renters
48.9%
Age distribution
21.6%
31.3%
19.5%
18.7%
Under 1821.6%
18–3431.3%
35–5419.5%
55–648.9%
65+18.7%
Gender
46.8%
53.2%
Male46.8%
Female53.2%
Race & ethnicity
85.8%
White85.8%
Black1.3%
Hispanic6%
Asian2%
Other4.8%
Education (25+)
30.6%
37.8%
26.8%
No HS diploma4.8%
HS diploma30.6%
Some college37.8%
Bachelor's+26.8%
Housing tenure
51.1%
48.9%
Owner51.1%
Renter48.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How La Grande, OR has changed in 5 years

Income
$44,868 → $58,427
up 30.2%
Population
13,212 → 13,058
down 1.2%
Renter share
45.6% → 48.9%
+3.3 pts
Bachelor's+
22.5% → 26.8%
+4.3 pts
Median age
34 → 32.9
-1.1 yrs

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $44,868 in 2021 to $58,427 more recently. The population has contracted by 1.2% since 2021, moving from about 13,212 residents to roughly 13,058. Renters now make up 48.9% of households, compared with 45.6% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 26.8% of adults here, versus 22.5% in 2021.

Community

Discussions about La Grande

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View La Grande rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in La Grande on your salary?

At $1,145/mo, how La Grande rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

La Grande rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in La Grande. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in La Grande

About renting in La Grande, OR

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in La Grande is $1,145/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $750/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,100/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $860/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,540/mo.

At 24% of local median household income ($58,427/yr), La Grande ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in La Grande?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $46,000/year (about $22/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,145/mo in La Grande. The local median household income is $58,427/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in La Grande?

Rent in La Grande has been roughly flat over the past year, a 0.0% change.

How does La Grande rent compare to other cities in Oregon?

La Grande is one of the more affordable among Oregon cities for rent, ranking #64 of 64 tracked cities at $1,145/mo.
Income Affordability
24%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,145/mo, rent takes ~24% of La Grande's median household income ($58,427/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

La Grande 24%Benchmark 30%
State income tax4.75–9.9%
Run the La Grande affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near La Grande, OR

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