The typical owner-occupied home in Jefferson County is worth about $374,200, 22% below the Oregon median of $477,600 and 12% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,591 a year in property taxes, about 0.69% of their home's value, lower than the Oregon rate of 0.81%. The median household earns $76,260 a year, so the median home costs 4.9 times the median income (5.8 times for Oregon). 72% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 62% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Jefferson County at a glance
| Jefferson County | Oregon | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $374,200 | $477,600 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $2,591 | $3,876 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.69% | 0.81% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $76,260 | $83,011 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 72% | 63% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 62% | 65% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,809 | $2,157 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 23.4% | 22.4% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $941 | $1,525 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 26.1% | 31.3% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1991 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 16.9% | 7.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 25,203 | 4,254,293 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Jefferson County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Jefferson County home of $374,200 with 20% down costs about $2,385 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $3,008, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $102,210 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 38% of the median Jefferson County household income of $76,260; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $279,000.
The median rent here is $941 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,444 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $74,840 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $299,360 |
| Principal and interest | $2,014 |
| Property taxes (0.69% a year) | $215 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $156 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $2,385 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $13,097 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $367,422 |
| Principal and interest | $2,472 |
| Property taxes (0.69% a year) | $215 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $156 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $166 |
| Total per month | $3,008 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Jefferson County
What is the median home value in Jefferson County?
About $374,200 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Jefferson County?
Homeowners pay a median $2,591 a year, which is about 0.69% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Jefferson County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,385 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $102,210 a year.
More about Jefferson County
- Mortgage Refinance in Jefferson County
- Debt Relief in Jefferson County
- Home Equity Loans in Jefferson County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data