City profile · Oregon · Census ACS 2023

The Dalles, OR

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for The Dalles - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

15,973
Residents
$62,830
Median income
$318,400
Median home
$1,600
Median rent (state)

The Dalles - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, The Dalles lands in the 40th percentile for household income and the 17th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

40th
percentile, household income
68th
percentile, home value
64th
percentile, median rent
17th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: The Dalles, OR

Oregon's The Dalles is a small town, with 15,973 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in The Dalles brings in $62,830 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 4.4%. The Dalles's housing stock carries a median value of $318,400, and the median resident age is 38.5 years. 22.3% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 56.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Dalles's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 2927.7 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, above the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 53.5°F with 14.0 inches of precipitation per year and 5.5 inches of snowfall.

Oregon carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 103.4 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,600 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Oregon run around $185, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 67.8 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

15,973 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Oregon

Median Household Income

$62,830 /yr

Poverty 4.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.4 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Oregon average

How does The Dalles compare to other US cities?

The Dalles measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 40% higher than other cities
Home value 68% pricier than other cities
Median rent 64% pricier than other cities
Safety 17% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Oregon, The Dalles ranks #67 of 85 Oregon cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below The Dalles's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Oregon, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

40thIncome percentile
17thSafety percentile

40th percentile nationally for median household income · 17th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

The Dalles's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

The Dalles's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 30 Avg. percentile National median
The Dalles's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How The Dalles's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$318,400 32nd percentile more affordable than 32% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. The Dalles $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - The Dalles, OR The Dalles, OR's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not The Dalles, OR-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution The Dalles, OR median $62,830/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
The Dalles, OR's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for The Dalles, OR. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 22.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 56.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
15,973
Median Income
$62,830
Median Home Value
$318,400
Median Age
38.5
Poverty Rate
4.4%
Labor force participation
56.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
22.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2927.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
369.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2558.6
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
53.5°F
Annual Precipitation
14.0"
Annual Snowfall
5.5"

Schools

Total Schools
6
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
15,700 residents15,800 residents15,900 residents16,000 residents16,100 residents 202020212022202320242025 15,977 residents 15,745 residents ▼ -1.5%
The Dalles's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
82.4%
Carpool
7.0%
Public Transit
0.3%
Walk
1.7%
Work from Home
6.1%
Other
2.5%

Based on 7,224 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Oregon - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$85
avg/month
Natural Gas
$50
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$185
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Oregon state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Oregon state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county The Dalles sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.4
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,600/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
67.8 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Oregon

Troutdale
16,000 people
Coos Bay
15,867 people
Four Corners
16,168 people
Pendleton
17,070 people
Dallas
17,214 people
Oak Grove
17,408 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to The Dalles's 15,973 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Grain Valley, MO
15,967 people
Seven Oaks, SC
15,990 people
Bay, OH
15,992 people
Longwood, FL
15,952 people
Marco Island, FL
15,998 people
La Grange, IL
15,999 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to The Dalles's $62,830 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Paul, ID
$62,830 median income
Aledo, IL
$62,829 median income
Otter Creek, FL
$62,833 median income
Brookfield Center, OH
$62,826 median income
Lawrence, KS
$62,838 median income
New Richland, MN
$62,841 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - The Dalles, OR Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition The Dalles, OR - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 80.1% 13.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 21.7% White 80.1% Black or African American 0.5% Asian 0.5% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.8% Some other race 4.2% Two or more races 13.7% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How The Dalles compares to nearby Oregon cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
The Dalles (this city) 15,973 $62,830
Troutdale 16,000 $84,339
Coos Bay 15,867 $55,292
Four Corners 16,168 $69,232
Census ACS 5-year FIPS OR FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about The Dalles, OR?

What is the population of The Dalles, OR? +

The Dalles, OR has a population of 15,973 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in The Dalles, OR? +

In The Dalles, the typical household earns $62,830 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in The Dalles? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for The Dalles; the closest available measure is the Oregon state average, a cost of living index of 103.4 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Oregon vary by metro area.

Is The Dalles, OR safe? +

The Dalles has a total crime rate of 2927.7 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in The Dalles, OR? +

A typical home in The Dalles is worth $318,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in The Dalles? +

The average annual temperature in The Dalles runs 53.5°F, 14.0 inches of precipitation, and 5.5 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.