Union County, Oregon

County Distress Index: Elevated · 50.1 | 25,944 people · 17th most distressed in Oregon
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Union County, OR registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 50.1 — 1572nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Oregon, it ranks 17th of 36 counties. Among its 4 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Union County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 65.9 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 65.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 53
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 65
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 83
Homeownership Rate 85
Structural Poverty 65.5
Unemployment Rate 88
Poverty Rate 50
Income vs. State Median 68
Child Poverty Rate 42
Disability Rate 65
Transfer Income Dependency 75
Economic Vitality 65.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 71
Rent-to-Income Ratio 68
Business Formation Rate 60
House Price Change (YoY) 37
Legal Distress 52.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 52
Consumer Credit Distress 34.9
Debt in Collections 28
Medical Debt 45
Auto Loan Delinquency 36
Credit Card Delinquency 35
Uninsured Rate 39
Subprime Credit Population 33

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Union County
Union County, OR 50.1 Elevated —
Umatilla County, OR 53.5 Elevated +3.4
Baker County, OR 42.9 Normal -7.2
Grant County, OR 41.0 Normal -9.1
Wallowa County, OR 34.2 Healthy -15.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Union County
Crawford County, MI 50.0 Elevated -0.0
Calaveras County, CA 50.1 Elevated +0.1
Meade County, KY 50.0 Normal -0.1
Sanders County, MT 50.1 Elevated +0.1
Lincoln County, NM 50.0 Normal -0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Union County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Union County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Union County.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION OF NORTHEAST OREGON, INC.
La Grande
541-963-3186 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair Housing

See all counselors in Oregon →

Find an Attorney

Oregon State Bar — Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Oregon State Bar — Lawyer Referral Service 503-684-3763 (Portland); 1-800-452-7636 (statewide)

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Union County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid Services of Oregon 503-684-1032 (Portland); 1-800-684-1032 (statewide hotline)
Oregon Law Center 541-672-3429 (Roseburg); 541-485-1017 (Eugene)
Willamette Law Online — Oregon Foreclosure Avoidance Project 503-370-6051

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Oregon →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Union County, Oregon?

    Union County has a County Distress Index score of 50.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,572nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 17th in Oregon out of 36 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Union County?

    The primary driver of distress in Union County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 65.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Union County compare to neighboring counties?

    Union County (50.1) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Umatilla County, OR (53.5); Baker County, OR (42.9); Grant County, OR (41.0).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Elevated zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Union County's score of 50.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

  • What data sources power Union County's CDI score?

    Union County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Union County?

    Union County, Oregon has a population of approximately 25,944 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.