© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Pendleton.
About
Life in Pendleton
Living in Pendleton means accepting a town built around tourism and gaming rather than a diverse job market, but getting genuinely affordable housing and a real sense of community in return. The economy here has shifted significantly toward hospitality work around Wildhorse Resort & Casino—nearly one in five jobs are now in accommodation and food services—which means lower wages and economic vulnerability, especially when tourism dips. Many residents have adapted by commuting to nearby Hermiston where better-paying jobs have concentrated, and with an average commute of just under 13 minutes, that's actually manageable if you can find work there.
Pendleton at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
15.0%
Foreign-Born
2.9%
Broadband Internet
86.3%
of households
Population Growth
-0.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.9% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Pendleton: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Pendleton, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (66.5%), and 7.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.4%
of residents
65 and Older
17.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
36.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.6%
of households
Married Couples
42.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.43
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 37% below OR average
Rent, home values, and income in Pendleton
In Pendleton, rent runs 37% below the OR average, and home values are 40% below the OR average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.9%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$2,871
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
56.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1963
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $301,449 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts above OR average
Unemployment in Pendleton
Unemployment in Umatilla County, which includes Pendleton, is 0.4 percentage points higher than the OR average.
Unemployment rate
Pendleton: Umatilla County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Umatilla County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Pendleton Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute14.2 min avg
How Pendleton residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Pendleton, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 88% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
Eastern Oregon Regional Airport at Pendleton (PDT)
Regional airport · few flights6,683 passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 18% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Pendleton runs 18% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
387.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,190.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Pendleton Police Department
Natural DisastersHeavy Snow most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
82.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Umatilla County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Umatilla County, which includes Pendleton, the most common type is heavy snow, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2024 | 20 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 20 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 24 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2021 | 14 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2020 | 21 | Heavy Snow | $39.7M |
| 2019 | 12 | Heavy Snow | $14.0M |
| 2018 | 11 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Umatilla County, county-wide
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Umatilla County, which includes Pendleton, is typically good — 260 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
260
per year
Moderate Days
105
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Umatilla County, county-wide
Climate86°F summers, 29°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Pendleton has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 29°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
64°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/56°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
43°/29°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
12.9"
Annual Snowfall
18.0"
Hot Days/Year
45
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
109
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
105
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°F | 28°F | 1.54" |
| Feb | 47°F | 30°F | 1.15" |
| Mar | 56°F | 35°F | 1.38" |
| Apr | 63°F | 40°F | 1.27" |
| May | 72°F | 46°F | 1.50" |
| Jun | 79°F | 52°F | 1.11" |
| Jul | 90°F | 59°F | 0.30" |
| Aug | 89°F | 58°F | 0.30" |
| Sep | 79°F | 50°F | 0.56" |
| Oct | 65°F | 41°F | 1.11" |
| Nov | 50°F | 33°F | 1.41" |
| Dec | 41°F | 28°F | 1.50" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Pendleton
Pendleton has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
St Anthony Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education19.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Pendleton
Pendleton's student/teacher ratio is 19.2:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 24.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
24.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Pendleton
Blue Mountain Community College
Public · 2-year · 962 students · in-state tuition $7,211 · 37% graduate · median earnings $43,936 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Whitman Mission National Historic Site, 31 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Pendleton
Pendleton has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Whitman Mission National Historic Site (31 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Whitman Mission National Historic Site
National Historic Site
31 mi awayIce Age Floods National Geologic Trail
National Geologic Trail
62 mi awayJohn Day Fossil Beds National Monument
National Monument
89 mi awayPublic Libraries in Pendleton
Pendleton Public Library
502 Sw Dorion Ave, Pendleton
Cities Near Pendleton
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Pendleton?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Pendleton FAQ
Is Pendleton, Oregon affordable?⌄
Pendleton's median rent is $956/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $66,563/year. Median home value is $287,100.
Is Pendleton, Oregon safe?⌄
Pendleton's violent crime rate was 388 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2190 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Pendleton, Oregon?⌄
Umatilla County, which includes Pendleton, has an unemployment rate of 5.6%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Pendleton, Oregon?⌄
The cost of living in Pendleton is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $956/month and median household income is $66,563/year. The median home value is $287,100. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Pendleton, Oregon?⌄
The average commute in Pendleton is 14 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from