Is The Dalles, OR a Good Place to Live?
The Dalles is a small city of 15,988 in Oregon, with a median household income of $59,714 and a 7.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 100 (US average = 100), which is 0% below the national average.
Strengths: The Dalles stands out for short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether The Dalles is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All The Dalles city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 99.5The Dalles's overall cost of living index is 99.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in The Dalles costs roughly 0% less than the average American city.
| Metric | The Dalles, OR | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $284,100 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $925 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.0% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $59,714 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Near National AverageThe Dalles's violent crime rate is 369.1 per 100,000 residents — 3% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
The Dalles is served primarily by North Wasco County SD 21. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.8:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | The Dalles, OR | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | North Wasco County SD 21 | — |
| Elementary Schools | 4 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | 1 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 16.8:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 85.9% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
The Dalles sees average highs of 42.1°F in January and 88.4°F in July, with 13.7 inches of annual precipitation and 5.5 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | The Dalles, OR |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 42.1°F |
| Average High — July | 88.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.5" |
Demographics
| Metric | The Dalles, OR | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 15,988 | — |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 14.5 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 82.9% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 0.3% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 11.6% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.5% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 19.8% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in The Dalles
The Dalles, OR is covered by 1 ZIP code: