The Town FilesOntario, Oregon
City in Malheur County · population 11,645 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $236,300
- Household income
- $46,308
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 35.2
Ontario is a city of 11,645 people in Malheur County, Oregon. The median home is worth $236,300, below the typical Oregon town ($394,200). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 100% of Oregon towns, more vibrant than 77% of Oregon towns, easier by car than 71% of Oregon towns.
How Ontario ranks
Percentile among Oregon towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Oregon towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ontario is worth $236,300, below the typical Oregon town ($394,200). Homes cost about 5.1 times the median household income of $46,308, which is more affordable than 52% of Oregon towns. Median rent is $804 a month. 55.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ontario | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $236,300 | $394,200 |
| Median rent | $804 | $1,312 |
| Median household income | $46,308 | $76,221 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.1× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 55.6% | 71.1% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ontario
| People | Ontario | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.2 | 41.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.1% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.7% | 23.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.0% | 10.8% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.7% | — |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 12.2% |
| Average commute | 14.2 min | 23.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.8% | 92.4% |
Weather in Ontario
July highs average 93.4°F and January lows 22.7°F. About 10.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.4 inches of snow (typical Oregon town: 3.1 in). Expect about 62 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ontario since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Oregon town. The strongest, an F1, struck on April 30, 1997 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 17, 1997.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 26, 2003.
Severe weather in Malheur County since 1996
Malheur County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 22, 2024 | Fire | FM-5516: Durkee Fire |
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4499: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3429: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3228: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| February 19, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1510: Severe Winter Storms |
Jobs and pay in Malheur County
Malheur County had 13,488 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,708 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Ontario itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Public schools in Ontario
9 public schools with 2,652 students, about 15.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario High School | 9-12 | 691 | 16.1 |
| Four Rivers Community School (charter) | K-12 | 362 | 17.2 |
| May Roberts Elementary School | K-6 | 348 | 14.5 |
| Alameda Elementary School | K-6 | 339 | 14.1 |
| Ontario Middle School | 7-8 | 333 | 14.5 |
| Aiken Elementary School | K-5 | 264 | 17.6 |
| Cairo Elementary School | K-5 | 124 | 12.4 |
| Pioneer Elementary School | K-5 | 112 | 14.0 |
| Annex Charter School (charter) | K-8 | 79 | 8.8 |
Towns near Ontario
- Fruitland, ID2.9 mi · 6,072 people · home $329,600
- Payette, ID4.5 mi · 8,127 people · home $276,500
- Nyssa, OR10.2 mi · 3,198 people · home $204,300
- Weiser, ID15.9 mi · 5,630 people · home $223,400
- Emmett, ID26.4 mi · 7,647 people · home $342,000
- Middleton, ID28.3 mi · 9,425 people · home $403,100
- Homedale, ID28.4 mi · 2,881 people · home $238,000
Ontario questions
Is Ontario, Oregon a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ontario scores better for retirees than 10% of Oregon towns and quieter than 18%. 18.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.2).
How much does a house cost in Ontario?
The median owner-occupied home in Ontario is valued at $236,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,308, so homes cost about 5.1 times income. Median rent is $804 a month.
What is the weather like in Ontario?
July highs average 93.4°F and January lows 22.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 10.0 inches of precipitation a year and 15.4 inches of snow.
Does Ontario get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ontario since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on April 30, 1997. The typical Oregon town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)