The story of this market
The typical home in Polk County, Oregon sells for about $484,883, or $255 per square foot.
Prices are up +1.3% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 59 days to sell. Over the long run, values in this county have grown 184% since 2000. Last year 13 of 15 neighborhoods saw prices rise, so the story isn't the same street to street. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,692 a month.
HUD sets the fair market rent for a 2-bedroom at $1,692 a month. FEMA's National Risk Index rates overall hazard risk here as Relatively Low.
Price climate
Every year of price change, 2000–2025
+3.6%
2025
Each stripe is one year's median price change across the area's census tracts (FHFA repeat-sales index). Deep blue is a strong gain year, red a falling year. Best: 2006 (+16.1%). Worst: 2010 (-8.4%). Hover to read a year.
Monthly price momentum
Home values since 2015
+0.3%
OR · past 12 months
Freddie Mac House Price Index, single-family homes, monthly through 2026-08. Each line starts at 100 in January 2015, so a reading of 180 means prices are up 80% since then.
Rent benchmark
Fair market rent by size
$2,341
3-bed / month
HUD Fair Market Rents, fiscal 2027, for this county. A typical rent for a modest unit, used to set housing-voucher payments.
Neighborhood price trend
Long-run price trend, 2000–2025
+3.6%
2025 change
FHFA repeat-sales index, median of 15 census tracts in this county (2000 = 100). Bars are each year's median change.
Natural hazard exposure
The area's risk shape
67
Relatively Low
FEMA National Risk Index. Each spoke is a hazard ranked nationally, where 100 is the most exposed. Expected annual loss: $37,923,021.
Mortgage activity
Home lending in this county
79.5%
2018 approval rate
| Year | Applications | Loans made | Approval | Investor share | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 5117 | 2806 | 79.5% | 4.8% | $295,000 |
CFPB Home Mortgage Disclosure Act records: every mortgage application reported by lenders for homes in this county. Approval rate is approved ÷ decided (withdrawn and incomplete files excluded). Investor share and home value are the median census tract.
Polk County, Oregon
The Polk County housing market is showing signs of stabilization with modest year-over-year price growth. Inventory levels remain constrained, keeping upward pressure on prices despite a slight increase in days on market.
2 distress filing(s) on the ARED verified county foreclosure ledger. Key-figure check: median price corroborated by the published ten-year series (2024) (within 12.5%).
Select a city to expand its ZIP intel reports beneath · 8 cities · 8 ZIP reports
Median prices moved up 0.1% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 109 days on market with 0.1 months of supply — a balanced-paced market.
1% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 95.22% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 4.2% · poverty 10.5% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Deterministic aggregate of 8 researched ZIP reports — sales_count-weighted (population fallback); per point, children lacking the value or its weight are excluded. Tax rates, sentiment and context notes are tier-native and never roll.
Polk County, Oregon — researched county-level history with a deterministic 1 / 3 / 5-year projection
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 7.9%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
No researched properties in this county yet — the property base layer populates as property research runs, and each property feeds its ZIP's roll-up.
researched Sep 26
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| 97304 | Salem | $590,000 | $230 | +5.1% | 22 | 98.5% | 15% | 3.2 | 178 | $1,910 | researched Sep 26 |
| 97338 | Dallas | $466,534 | $266 | +1.5% | 28 | — | — | — | 102 | $1,692 | researched Sep 26 |
| 97344 | Falls City | $449,655 | $266 | -0.1% | 56 | 98.5% | 24% | 2.4 | 1,280 | $1,300 | researched Sep 26 |
| 97347 | Grand Ronde (CDP) | $249,500 | $145 | +2.1% | 76 | 98.5% | 12% | 5.2 | 42 | $1,150 | researched Sep 26 |
| 97351 | Independence | $444,500 | $319 | — | 116 | 100% | — | — | 20 | $1,300 | researched Sep 26 |
| 97361 | Monmouth | $549,900 | $373 | -0.8% | 76 | 98% | — | 3.3 | 66 | $1,300 | researched Sep 26 |
| 97371 | Rickreall | $450,000 | $266 | -0.1% | 117 | 85% | — | — | — | $1,584 | researched Sep 26 |
| 97396 | Willamina (part) | $365,000 | $206 | +4.9% | 47 | — | — | — | 196 | $1,692 | researched Sep 26 |
Figures are each ZIP report's own latest research — the county roll-up aggregates them sales_count-weighted (population fallback); ZIPs cycle quarterly.
Polk County generally experiences lower crime rates compared to the more urbanized areas of the Willamette Valley, with property crime being the primary concern in residential areas.
The county is served by several school districts, including Central and Dallas, which are generally characterized as providing stable, community-focused educational environments.
The county faces moderate wildfire risks in its forested western regions and seasonal flood risks along the Willamette River corridor.
Economic momentum is driven by proximity to Salem's government and healthcare sectors, with ongoing residential development in the eastern portion of the county.
Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. State (Oregon) — Active-Duty Military Property Tax Exemption: Allows for the exemption of a portion of the assessed value of a primary residence from local property taxes for a period of three to five years in standard zones, or up to 15 years in rural zones. State (Oregon) — Disabled Veteran or Surviving Spouse Property Tax Exemption: Provides a reduction in the assessed value of the primary residence, effectively lowering the property tax burden based on the exemption amount set by statute. State (Oregon) — Ad Valorem Property Tax: Tax is calculated on the lesser of Real Market Value (RMV) or Maximum Assessed Value (MAV). MAV is limited to a 3% annual growth rate unless physical changes occur to the property. The tax is the product of the taxable assessed value and the local taxing district's millage rate.
The economy is anchored by agriculture, government services in nearby Salem, and a growing light manufacturing sector.
The county is served by major corridors including Highway 99W and Highway 22, connecting residents to the Salem-Keizer metropolitan area.
The Polk County Assessor maintains property records and manages the assessment process in accordance with Oregon state law.
The county includes various special districts for fire protection, water, and soil conservation that levy taxes independently of the county general fund.
Property insurance premiums are rising due to increased wildfire risk assessments in the western portions of the county.
- Enchanted Forest4.724.5 mi
- Wings & Waves Waterpark4.125.4 mi
- Get Air Trampoline Park4.324.9 mi
- Chuck E. Cheese4.125.1 mi
- Osborn Aquatic Center4.226 mi
- Spirit Mountain Casino4.210.1 mi
- Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center4.323.7 mi
- North American Aerospace Museum4.825.6 mi
- Reser Stadium4.627.4 mi
- Salem Convention Center4.622.1 mi
- Spirit Mountain Casino4.210.1 mi
- Drift Creek Falls Trail 1378 (Trail Head)4.717.8 mi
- Cristom Vineyards4.719.6 mi
- Independence4.515.8 mi
- Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge4.612.1 mi
- North American Aerospace Museum4.825.6 mi
- Neskowin Ghost Forest4.526.9 mi
- Gilbert House Children's Museum4.622.1 mi
- Bush's Pasture Park4.722.4 mi
- Willamette Heritage Center4.722.8 mi
- Drift Creek Falls Trail 1378 (Trail Head)4.717.8 mi
- Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge4.612.1 mi
- Moonshine Park4.719.7 mi
- Dallas City Park4.68.3 mi
- Beazell Memorial Forest4.819.4 mi
- Illahe Hills Country Club4.618.8 mi
- Cross Creek Golf Course4.49.6 mi
- Safeway48.8 mi
- Waremart4.214.6 mi
- Farmer John's Produce & Nursery4.419.1 mi
- Dollar General4.115.2 mi
- Central Plaza4.314.9 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
The amenity base that shapes daily life and property demand in this county — what residents actually live with, and what the pipeline is adding.
A significant habitat for migratory birds and wildlife, offering trails and bird-watching opportunities.
Provides extensive recreational access for boating, fishing, and riverside parks throughout the county.
Data retrieved from data.census.gov
applies when — Members of the Oregon National Guard or Reserve who are deployed.
Allows for the exemption of a portion of the assessed value of a primary residence from local property taxes for a period of three to five years in standard zones, or up to 15 years in rural zones.
Business Oregon Enterprise Zone statutes
applies when — Qualified disabled veterans or their surviving spouses meeting specific disability or service-connected criteria.
Provides a reduction in the assessed value of the primary residence, effectively lowering the property tax burden based on the exemption amount set by statute.
ORS 307.250
Tax is calculated on the lesser of Real Market Value (RMV) or Maximum Assessed Value (MAV). MAV is limited to a 3% annual growth rate unless physical changes occur to the property. The tax is the product of the taxable assessed value and the local taxing district's millage rate.
Oregon Constitution; ORS Chapter 308
applies when — Delinquency of property taxes for a period of three years from the earliest date of delinquency.
The county may initiate foreclosure proceedings to seize the property to satisfy the tax lien. Owners have redemption rights prior to the judgment of foreclosure.
ORS 312.010
Governance registry — every jurisdiction re-researches on a rolling 90-day cycle. Property reports compose these inherited burdens into a per-parcel ledger with conditional determinations. Informational only — not legal advice.