The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 97918 sells for about $347,000, or $185 per square foot.
Prices are up +2.4% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 88 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,150 a month.
ZIP 97918 — Vale
The Vale housing market is characterized by low inventory and slow turnover, with prices reflecting a rural discount compared to broader regional trends. Market activity is stable but limited, driven by local demand rather than speculative investment, resulting in a cautious outlook for potential buyers and investors.
This ZIP is best suited for local families and agricultural workers seeking affordable housing, as well as experienced investors comfortable with the risks of a low-liquidity, rural market.
Median prices moved up 2.4% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 88 days on market with 5.2 months of supply — a balanced-paced market.
12% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 97.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 5.8% · poverty 14.2% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 11.1%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
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.
versus the prior ACS vintage
ZCTA 97918, Malheur County OR
ACS 2024 5-year estimates. Aggregate published statistics for this ZIP — never individual records, and never an attribute of any individual property or resident.
Crime rates in Vale are generally lower than the national average, with property crime being the primary concern in this rural Malheur County setting.
Schools in the Vale School District are characterized by small class sizes and a focus on community-integrated education, though they face challenges typical of rural districts with limited tax bases.
The area faces moderate wildfire risk during summer months and is subject to standard regional flood risks near the Malheur River.
Economic momentum is largely tied to regional agriculture and local government services, with limited large-scale industrial development currently underway.
Property taxes are assessed by Malheur County based on real market value; the area lacks significant special district overlays common in urban centers, keeping the effective rate relatively stable.
Commuting is primarily car-dependent, with most residents traveling locally within Vale or to nearby Ontario, OR, for employment and services.
The area offers access to outdoor recreation including fishing and boating on the Malheur River, local parks, and proximity to high-desert hiking trails.
The rental market is tight with limited inventory, often driven by agricultural workers and local service employees; vacancy pressure remains low due to the lack of new multi-family supply.
The economy is heavily reliant on the agricultural sector, including crop production and livestock, supplemented by local government and retail services.
Transportation is almost exclusively via private vehicle, with US Highway 20 serving as the primary arterial route through the region.
There are no major large-scale commercial or residential developments currently approved or under construction in the ZIP.
Malheur County Assessor manages property valuations, typically following a standard annual cycle based on market sales data.
Parcels are primarily served by the Vale School District and local fire/emergency service districts.
Property insurance premiums are rising due to regional wildfire exposure, though the area remains generally insurable.
Data retrieved from data.census.gov ZCTA 97918 profile.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
- Malheur County Fairgrounds4.218.6 mi
- Four Rivers Cultural Center & Museum4.618.6 mi
- Shanghai Restaurant | Chinese417 mi
- Four Rivers Cultural Center & Museum4.618.6 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area from Google Maps, ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
Provides local fishing and recreational access.
Central community green space for local events.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.