Real Estate Investing in Dufur, Oregon (97021)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Wasco County • Population: 1,457 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 97021 (Dufur, OR)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (52/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 13.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Dufur, OR (97021)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $421,935
Avg Monthly Rent $1,773
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $73,021
% Renters 32.5%

Market Analysis: 97021 Dufur

ZIP 97021 in Dufur, OR carries a healthy set of headwinds. Home values near $422K and rents of $1,773/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 97021 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Within OR, ZIP 97021 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Wasco County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and sturdy enough to shape underwriting.

The demographic picture in 97021 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Dufur averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

The right play in 97021 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Dufur:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 56/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,773/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
The Dalles, OR Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.9%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from The Dalles, OR metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$439K$390K$341K$291K$242K$192KFeb 2017Nov 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 97021 Compare?

Metric 97021 Dufur The Dalles, OR Oregon
Home Value $421,935 $421,935 N/A $493,884
5-Year CAGR 4.6% 4.6% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,773 $1,773 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.3% 3.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 97021? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 97021 (Dufur, OR). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.6%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on The Dalles, OR metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
0%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $421,935
Monthly Rent $1,773
Price-to-Rent 19.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.0%
Cap Rate 3.3%
5-Year IRR 7.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.3%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
13.4%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 97021

Population: 1,457

💰 Median Household Income
$73,021
This area
$73,021
State
$71,325
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
32.5%
This area
32.5%
State
28.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.1%
This area
1.1%
State
-6.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
21.0%
This area
21.0%
State
13.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.6 years
This area
40.6 years
State
31.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
13.4%
This area
13.4%
State
17.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 87.4%
Other/Mixed 12.5%
Hispanic/Latino 5.1%
👶 Under 18
24.7%
This area
24.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.7%
This area
22.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.6%
This area
3.6%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 97021

A Avg School Grade
1 Schools
16.3:1 Avg Class Size
$20,770 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Dufur School

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
343 Students
👨‍🏫
16.3:1 Class Size
💰
$20,770 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby 314 Off-Campus Students
C
Columbia Gorge Community College
736 students · 14.1 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the smart move for investors in Dufur, OR?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Dufur, OR best. The market produces measured results for that approach at the $422K price point.

What is the typical renter like in Dufur, OR?

Tenant demand in Dufur, OR is solid. The local workforce $1,773/mo rents across most rental classes.

What is the investability score for Dufur, OR?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Dufur, OR reflects its $422K prices and $1,773/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within OR.

Does house hacking work in Dufur, OR?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Dufur, OR reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

How high is vacancy risk in Dufur, OR?

Dufur, OR sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader OR rental market.

You know 97021 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 97021 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 97021 ranks in The Dalles, OR

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation →
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