In Lane County, Oregon, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in four dollars of the typical household's income

In Lane County, 25.4% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 85% of U.S. counties.

Photo of Ross Kilburn
Data from
County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026
15th
of 36 counties in Oregon
60score /100

More distressed than 60% of U.S. counties.

What drives Lane County's score

In Lane County, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 89.5. About three in ten renters (28.1%, 2020 to 2024) pay half their income or more in rent, a higher share than in 94% of U.S. counties. Jobs come next, at 68.8.

The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Lane County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.

Lane County does better than most counties on two measures: people with unpaid debt sent to a collector (16.7%, August 2025) and people without health insurance (5.6%, 2020 to 2024).

A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.

  • Housing costs

    Biggest factor
    89.5 of 100

    Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027

    • Renters paying half their income or more in rent
      28.1% · 2020 to 2024
      94th percentile
    • Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income
      25.4% · fiscal year 2027
      85th percentile

  • Jobs

    68.8 of 100

    Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey

    • Unemployment rate, average over the latest year
      5.1% · Oct 2025 to Sep 2026
      84th percentile
    • Adults 25 to 54 not working
      21.3% · 2020 to 2024
      53rd percentile

  • Collections and bankruptcy

    53.9 of 100

    Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025

    • People with unpaid debt sent to a collector
      16.7% · August 2025
      25th percentile
    • Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people
      234 · 2025
      82nd percentile

  • Income and safety net

    43.7 of 100

    Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey

    • People below the poverty line
      14.6% · 2024
      61st percentile
    • Children below the poverty line
      14.7% · 2024
      37th percentile
    • People with a disability
      17.1% · 2020 to 2024
      60th percentile
    • People without health insurance
      5.6% · 2020 to 2024
      26th percentile
    • Median household income (lower income, longer bar)
      $73,137 · 2024
      32nd percentile

  • Late payments

    28.7 of 100

    Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026

    • People with a credit card behind
      4.4% · August 2025
      31st percentile
    • People with a car or retail loan behind
      3.7% · August 2025
      27th percentile
    • People with a subprime credit score
      34.3% · second quarter of 2026
      26th percentile

Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.

Where the money in Lane County comes from

Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Lane County, 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.

Cents of every dollar of income, 2024

Lane County

54 21 25

Oregon

58 21 21

United States

61 21 18
  • Pay from work
  • Investments and rent
  • Benefit checks
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4), shares of all personal income received by residents, 2024. Pay from work is total income minus the other two, so the three add to 100.

In Lane County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 25.1% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks

In Lane County, Oregon, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 25.1%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.

  • Benefit checks
  • Pay from work
0%40%80% 196919741979198419891994199920042009201420192024 0%40%80% 196919791989199920092024
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4), shares of all personal income received by residents, Lane County, Oregon American Default Research · americandefault.org/counties/oregon/lane-county-or/
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The share of households in Lane County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 18.2% in 2011 to 20.5% in 2012.

The share of households in Lane County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2014 and has since fallen to 19.1%

Low on the chart: 14.4% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Lane County, Oregon.

0%15%30% 14.4%19.1% 2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 0%15%30% 14.4%19.1% 20092011201320152017201920212024
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates American Default Research · americandefault.org/counties/oregon/lane-county-or/
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How Lane County has changed

Lane County's population had its largest rise, from 236,565 in 1974 to 267,827 in 1979.

Lane County's population doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 382,396, with no dip in any year shown

Smallest rise: 1979 to 1984, reaching 267,878. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Lane County, Oregon.

0200,000400,000 208,936382,396 196919741979198419891994199920042009201420192024 0200,000400,000 208,936382,396 196919791989199920092024
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts American Default Research · americandefault.org/counties/oregon/lane-county-or/
Download data (CSV)

The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.

The number of jobs located in Lane County rose 38% from 1990 to 2025, reaching its highest on the chart

Biggest rise: 1995 to 2000, reaching 139,239. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Lane County, Oregon.

0100,000200,000 113,424156,948 19901995200020052010201520202025 0100,000200,000 113,424156,948 19901995200020052010201520202025
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages American Default Research · americandefault.org/counties/oregon/lane-county-or/
Download data (CSV)
MeasureThenNowSource
Unemployment rateBLS LAUS 1990 6.1% 2025 5.1% BLS LAUS
People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE 1989 15.0% 2024 14.6% Census SAIPE
Median household incomeCensus SAIPE 1989 $25,691 2024 $73,137 Census SAIPE

Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.

Dated events in Lane County's history

  1. 1853

    Elliott Cutoff opened 1853, wagon train with approximately 250 wagons and 1,027 people doubled Lane County population. Wikipedia

  2. 1996

    A wildfire in August 1996 did $1.7 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database

  3. 1996

    A wildfire in September 1996 did $1.7 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database

  4. 2012

    A flood in January 2012 did $2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database

  5. 2012

    A flood in January 2012 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database

  6. 2020

    The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 382,971, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau

  7. 1851

    Established January 29, 1851. Wikipedia

  8. Since 1964

    22 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Lane County, 11 of them for flooding. FEMA

Lane County beside its neighbors

Of the six counties that border Lane County, four score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Lane County ranks 5th of the seven; Douglas County is highest, at 37.3%.

CountyDistress scoreScoreRank in its state Poverty rateBenefit checks, share of incomeBenefit checks
Klamath County, OR 85 1st of 36 16.6% 35.8%
Lincoln County, OR 76 4th of 36 16.3% 31.7%
Douglas County, OR 73 6th of 36 14.7% 37.3%
Linn County, OR 67 8th of 36 12.8% 31.2%
Lane County, OR 60 15th of 36 14.6% 25.1%
Benton County, OR 33 32nd of 36 14.3% 16.2%
Deschutes County, OR 29 34th of 36 7.5% 17.6%

Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.

Is Lane County the poorest county in Oregon?

No, Lane County's poverty rate was 14.6% in 2024, 10th highest of 36 in Oregon (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Malheur County, at 18.5%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Lane County ranks 15th of 36 in the state.

If you're behind on your mortgage in Lane County

Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.

Oregon foreclosure guide →

The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.

Download the CSV for Lane County · Every U.S. county (CSV)

Cite this Lane County, Oregon, scores 60 on the County Distress Index (data through Sep 2026): more distressed than 60% of U.S. counties · American Default Research · americandefault.org/counties/oregon/lane-county-or/

Sources and method

  • American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
  • Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
  • Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
  • U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Lane County comes from, 2024.
  • History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.