RANK #932 / 1001 NAT · #16 / 18 OR · POP 79,940
1YR FORECAST: -1.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +16%
Umatilla County, Oregon, is defined by its agricultural heritage and the prominent presence of the Columbia River and Blue Mountains. Pendleton, the county seat, is widely recognized for the annual Pendleton Round-Up rodeo, a major cultural event. Located in northeastern Oregon, the county is roughly equidistant from larger cities like Portland, Oregon, and the Tri-Cities in Washington. Commuting within the county is generally manageable, with an average travel time of 19.1 minutes. The community offers a blend of rural charm and access to outdoor recreation, including hiking, fishing, and camping in areas like the Umatilla National Forest and along the Umatilla River.
Life in Umatilla County often centers around its smaller towns, with Hermiston being the largest and fastest-growing city. The economy, historically rooted in farming and ranching, is diversifying. Recent years have seen significant investment in sectors such as data centers and energy, particularly wind power, contributing to job growth in areas like Greater Hermiston. Public transportation options are available, with fare-free fixed routes connecting communities and providing access to essential services and educational institutions like Blue Mountain Community College.
Umatilla County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +1.7% YoY, population -0.2%, wages +7.3%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 11.5x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Amazon Web Services (AWS) Data Center Campuses
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
|
$1,000M | Operating |
|
Nolin Hills Energy Project (Wind, Solar, Storage)
Capital Power
|
$600M | In Development |
|
Sabey Data Centers Umatilla Campus
Sabey Data Centers
|
$520M | Planned |
|
Wagon Trail Solar and Wheatridge East Wind Projects
NextEra Energy Resources
|
$480M | Proposed |
|
Fourmile Solar Project
1 Energy Renewables
|
$90M | Approved |
|
West End Solar Project
EE West End Solar LLC (subsidiary of Eurus Solar Holdings LLC)
|
$50M | Approved |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Umatilla County scores just 6/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #932 of 1001 counties. Job growth at -0.2% and median household income of $67,728 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Umatilla County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $282,600 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.24 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $997/month on average.
Population and employment in Umatilla County are both close to flat — population -0.2% YoY and jobs -0.2%. Home values shifted +1.7% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.13% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Umatilla County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.