What are the schools like in Vale, OR?

Vale is served primarily by Vale SD 84. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.1:1.

What is the median household income in Vale?

The median household income in Vale, OR is $43,456 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 10.2%.

What is the weather like in Vale, OR?

Vale has an average high temperature of 35.4°F in January and 92.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 10.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 15.4 inches.

Vale, OR Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Vale, OR affordable or expensive?

Vale's cost of living index is 95, where 100 represents the national average. This means Vale is 5% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $142,700 and the median rent is $808 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Vale, OR?

Vale has a violent crime rate of 65.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 487.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Vale, OR a Good Place to Live?

Vale is a small town of 2,037 in Oregon, with a median household income of $43,456 and a 10.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

Strengths: Vale stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Vale is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Vale 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: 95.0

Vale's overall cost of living index is 95.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Vale costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.

Metric	Vale, OR	National Avg
Median Home Value	$142,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$808	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	58.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$43,456	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Vale's violent crime rate is 65.4 per 100,000 residents — 83% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

65.4 /100k

Property Crime

487.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Vale is served primarily by Vale SD 84. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Vale, OR	National Avg
School District	Vale SD 84	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	12.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	83.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Vale sees average highs of 35.4°F in January and 92.7°F in July, with 10.0 inches of annual precipitation and 15.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Vale, OR
Average High — January	35.4°F
Average High — July	92.7°F
Annual Precipitation	10.0"
Annual Snowfall	15.4"

Demographics

Metric	Vale, OR	National Avg
Population	2,037	—
Median Age	30.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	10.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	85.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	11.3%	18.9%
Asian	1.2%	6.3%
Under 18	32.2%	22.2%
65 and over	19.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Ontario, OR 14 mi Nyssa, OR 14 mi Fruitland, ID 16 mi Payette, ID 17 mi Adrian, OR 19 mi

ZIP Codes in Vale

Vale, OR is covered by 1 ZIP code:

97918

Vale vs Other Cities

Vale, OR vs Ontario, OR Vale, OR vs Nyssa, OR Vale, OR vs Fruitland, ID Vale, OR vs Payette, ID Vale, OR vs Adrian, OR

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Vale, OR affordable or expensive?

Vale's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Vale roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $142,700 and median rent is $808/month.

What is the crime rate in Vale, OR?

Vale's violent crime rate is 65.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 487.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Vale?

Public schools in Vale are operated by Vale SD 84. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1. 12.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Vale, OR a good place to live?

Vale, OR has a population of 2,037, a median household income of $43,456, and an unemployment rate of 10.2%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Vale?

Vale averages 35.4°F in January and 92.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 10.0 inches with about 15.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Vale?

Vale, OR is covered by 1 ZIP code: 97918.

What is the population of Vale?

The population of Vale, Oregon is 2,037 with a median age of 30.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Vale?

Key numbers for living in Vale: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $142,700, median household income $43,456, crime index 20 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Vale side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.