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The Dalles, OR

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The Dalles, OR

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Demographics

Predominantly WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 44
Population15,973
Foreign Born6.6%
Population Density2,389people per mi²
Median Age38.5 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
GrowingSince 2010, this city's population has grown with relatively minor shifts in racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

94/100

6% below national average

A

The Real Cost of Living in The Dalles, Oregon

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $15k$29k
Comfortable $62k$91k
Luxury $113k+$176k+
Elite (Top 5%) $166k+$257k+
Affordability Ratio

69%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A+
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean92%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
38
Positive
27
Poor
2
Negative
5

Groceries

10 within 10 miles

0.1mi

Gas

20 within 10 miles

0.1mi

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

1.4mi

Airport

PDX — Portland International

68mi

Post Office

USPS — The Dalles, OR

0.1mi

Critical Amenities

Golf0Nearest 18.1 mi
Camping20Nearest 6.4 mi
Marina4Nearest 0.2 mi
Winery0 
Ice Rink0Nearest 71.2 mi
Gun Range3Nearest 1.4 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
C-
Average

A middle-class area roughly in line with national averages across income, home values, education, and employment.

Median HHI
$63k+5.2%
16% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$1.1M
69% above US avg
College Educated
22.3%
36% below US avg
WFH
6.1%
57% below US avg
Homeownership
62.8%
4% below US avg
Median Home
$318k
13% above US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
B
Safe

Generally safer than 64% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
30.1
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−13.3%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−3.7%
Homicide
0.00 / 1k Residents100% below state avg
Robbery
0.25 / 1k Residents50% below state avg
Aggravated Assault
1.77 / 1k Residents18% below state avg

Property Crime

5yr−22.9%
Burglary
2.84 / 1k Residents16% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
21.38 / 1k Residents31% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
2.52 / 1k Residents19% above state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+14Leans Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for The Dalles, Oregon
Dem Rep
40%50%60%20002004

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
C-
Weak10.8% of income
Property Rights
D+
WeakIJ Grade D+
Firearm Rights
B-
GoodFPC Grade B-
Homeschooling
C+
WeakModerate regulation

Energy independence: Importer (35% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
A-
OpenFarm sales legal
Gambling Laws
B
Broadly OpenTribal · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
A+
Fully LegalRecreational

Homesteading

Hardiness Zone7B~8°F min
Growing Season217 days309 frost-free
Annual Rainfall23.6"
Elevation105 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
B
Defensible

Workable tactical position. Some exposure to population density or targets, but generally defensible in a crisis.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
A-
Good73 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
D-
Poor2,389/sq mi
Fallout Danger
A+
Great0 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
D+
PoorWildfire, Inland Flooding, Earthquake, Cold Wave, Ice Storm
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 235 mi · coast 132 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$28.9M/yrfor the county

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-20T19:12:14.000Z

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