Hood River County, Oregon Eviction Risk: High

Hood River County averages a 7/10 (Moderate) eviction-risk score across its 8 cities, placing it at rank 27 of 36 counties in Oregon eviction laws. That position puts it in the lower-risk third of the state: 26 counties carry higher risk, and only 9 are less risky. For landlords operating here, the headline number suggests a workable market, but the intra-county spread from 4.6 to 6.2 is wide enough that the specific city you invest in matters considerably. Average rent sits at $1,382, and renters make up 36.8% of households, with an average rent burden of 32% of income.

The county's moderate rating reflects a tenant base that is, on average, financially stretched but not severely so, with a 10% poverty rate that keeps demand for rental housing real without producing the acute non-payment pressure seen in higher-risk Oregon eviction laws markets. Investors sizing up a new acquisition should treat the county average as a starting point rather than a conclusion, because risk here is genuinely hyper-local.

The cities inside Hood River County

Cascade Locks is the county's highest-risk market at 6.2/10, with a population of 1,378. That score stands meaningfully above the county average and signals heightened non-payment and turnover risk relative to the rest of the county. Hood River, the county seat and largest city at 8,361 residents, scores 5.3/10, a result consistent with its mix of tourism-economy renters and year-round workforce housing demand. Rowena and Government Camp share the same 5.3/10 score, while Chenoweth comes in at 5.1/10 and Parkdale at 5.0/10.

The lowest-risk options in the county are Odell at 4.6/10 (population 2,218) and Mount Hood at 4.7/10. Landlords who prioritize lower eviction risk and steadier tenancy patterns will find meaningfully different operating conditions in Odell compared with Cascade Locks, even though both fall within the same county boundary. That gap of 1.6 score points within a single county underlines why city-level data should drive underwriting decisions, not county averages alone.

State-level laws that apply here

Every rental in Hood River County operates under Oregon eviction laws state law, specifically ORS § 90 (Residential Landlord and Tenant). For nonpayment of rent, landlords must issue a 14-day notice (ORS 90.394) before filing. A material non-curable violation requires only a 3-day notice (ORS 90.396). No-cause terminations in the first year of tenancy require 30 days notice, while landlord-based no-fault terminations after the first year require 90 days (both under ORS 90.427). Oregon eviction laws requires just cause to terminate most tenancies after the first year, and statewide rent increases are capped at 7% plus CPI, up to a maximum of 10%. Understanding the full Oregon eviction laws eviction process before your first filing here is essential, because uncontested cases still take 30 to 60 days and contested matters can run 60 to 150 days.

On the cost side, court filing fees run $165 to $275, sheriff lockout fees add $50 to $175, and attorney fees typically range from $750 to $3,500, making even a routine eviction a meaningful line item. Oregon eviction costs can reach several thousand dollars once all components are tallied, which is one more reason careful tenant screening at the front end reduces total risk. Oregon eviction laws also protects source of income as a fair housing category, administered through the Oregon eviction laws Bureau of Labor and Industries, Civil Rights Division, and retaliation against tenants is prohibited under ORS § 90.385.

With a 10% poverty rate and renters comprising 36.8% of households, Hood River County sits in a moderate band where most landlords can operate successfully with disciplined screening. The city-by-city grid above shows exactly where within the county that risk concentrates.