USDA eligibility map: Oregon
About 99.1% of Oregon's area is in USDA-eligible rural areas, by HeritageDeed's estimate from USDA Rural Development's published eligibility map, the 9th highest share among the 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico. 25 of 36 counties have no ineligible area at all. 57 Census places in Oregon lie mostly inside ineligible areas, including Portland city, Hillsboro city, Damascus CDP, Salem city and Corvallis city.
Check a Oregon address
USDA eligible area by county
The share of each county's area that is USDA eligible, and the places (cities, towns and census-designated places) at least half inside ineligible areas. These are estimates; check any single property with the lookup.
| county | Area eligible | Mostly ineligible places |
|---|---|---|
| Baker County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Benton County | 95.4% | Corvallis city |
| Clackamas County | 92.1% | Damascus CDP, Happy Valley city, Lake Oswego city, Oregon City city, West Linn city, Wilsonville city, Stafford CDP, Milwaukie city, and 6 more |
| Clatsop County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Columbia County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Coos County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Crook County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Curry County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Deschutes County | 97.5% | Bend city, Tetherow CDP |
| Douglas County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Gilliam County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Grant County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Harney County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Hood River County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Jackson County | 98.8% | Medford city, Central Point city |
| Jefferson County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Josephine County | 99.3% | Grants Pass city |
| Klamath County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Lake County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Lane County | 98.3% | Eugene city, Springfield city, Santa Clara CDP, River Road CDP |
| Lincoln County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Linn County | 99.3% | Albany city |
| Malheur County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Marion County | 94.6% | Salem city, Keizer city, Hayesville CDP, Four Corners CDP |
| Morrow County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Multnomah County | 46.1% | Portland city, Gresham city, Troutdale city, Fairview city, Dunthorpe CDP, Orient CDP, Wood Village city, Maywood Park city |
| Polk County | 98.7% | None mostly inside; part of the area is ineligible |
| Sherman County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Tillamook County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Umatilla County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Union County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Wallowa County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Wasco County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Washington County | 79.7% | Hillsboro city, Beaverton city, Tigard city, Tualatin city, Aloha CDP, Bethany CDP, Sherwood city, Cedar Mill CDP, and 12 more |
| Wheeler County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Yamhill County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
How USDA decides what is rural
The rural-area definition is section 520 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490): open country and places not part of or associated with an urban area with up to 2,500 people, up to 10,000 if rural in character, or up to 20,000 outside a metropolitan statistical area with a serious lack of mortgage credit for lower and moderate-income families. Areas that lost rural status in the 1990 to 2020 censuses stay rural until 2030 census data arrive if they have 10,000 to 35,000 people and meet the same conditions. Income is a separate test, applied to the household by the lender and USDA.
For other address-level designations in Oregon, the free census tract lookup shows the income level and QCT and DDA status, and Oregon has 86 designated Opportunity Zone tracts (Opportunity Zone lookup).
Questions
Is Oregon eligible for USDA loans?
Much of it is. About 99.1% of the state's area is outside USDA's ineligible areas (865 of about 96,851 square miles are ineligible). 25 counties are entirely eligible. Most people live in the larger towns, which are often ineligible, so check the specific address.
Which Oregon counties have the least USDA eligible area?
Multnomah County (46.1% eligible), Washington County (79.7% eligible), Clackamas County (92.1% eligible), Marion County (94.6% eligible), Benton County (95.4% eligible). The share is of land area, by HeritageDeed's estimate from USDA's map; eligibility is decided for each property.
Which Oregon towns are not eligible for USDA loans?
Places USDA's map shows as mostly inside an ineligible area include Portland city, Hillsboro city, Damascus CDP, Salem city, Corvallis city, Bend city, Eugene city and Medford city. The county table on this page lists every place that is mostly ineligible. Edges matter: part of a town, or land just outside it, can be on the other side of the line, so check the address.
How do I check a Oregon address for USDA eligibility?
Enter the street address in the lookup on this page. It locates the address and checks it against USDA's published rural eligibility map. It is a screening: Rural Development makes the final determination on a complete application, and household income is a separate test (USDA's income eligibility tool).
When was the USDA eligibility map for Oregon last updated?
The ineligible areas on USDA's map for Oregon carry an effective date of July 25, 2023. USDA updates the map from ineligible-area changes sent in by its state offices. The statute keeps formerly rural areas of 10,000 to 35,000 people rural until data from the 2030 census arrive, if they still meet its conditions.
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Legal references
- 42 U.S.C. 1490, definition of rural area (Housing Act of 1949, section 520)
Areas are computed by HeritageDeed: estimates, not USDA figures. USDA's map is not a final determination; Rural Development decides on a complete application. HeritageDeed is not affiliated with USDA.
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