USDA Loans in Oregon: 2026 Income Limits, Eligible Areas & $0 Down
USDA income limits in Oregon start at $122,800 for a 1-4 person household and $162,100 for 5-8 in 2026, with $0 down. Eligibility begins just outside Portland, Salem, and Eugene, in the commuter ring.
We read the live USDA map for the exact address. Informational only. USDA makes the final call on a complete application.
USDA income limits in Oregon for 2026
The 2026 USDA income floor in Oregon is $122,800 for a household of one to four people and $162,100 for five to eight, effective July 13, 2026 under USDA Procedure Notice 657. Some higher-cost Oregon counties carry limits above that floor, so confirm your own county and household size on the USDA income tool. The limit counts your whole household's adjusted income after USDA's deductions, not your gross pay. From Handbook HB-1-3555:
"Income from all adult household members, not just parties to the note, must be considered."
Oregon's median household income is about $85,220 (Census, 2024), roughly $37,000 under the floor, so in most eligible Oregon towns the map is the deciding factor, not the paycheck.
How far from Portland does USDA start? Not far
The Portland city footprint is fully outside the USDA map. But eligibility begins right in the exurban commuter ring, roughly 20 to 40 minutes out. USDA-eligible towns on Portland's edge include Estacada, Scappoose, Sandy, Forest Grove, Banks, and North Plains. You do not have to move to the far side of the state to buy with $0 down. The same pattern holds around the other Willamette Valley metros: the Salem and Eugene-Springfield urban cores are excluded, but the ring towns around them contain eligible areas.
What's eligible in Oregon
Beyond the Willamette Valley metros, most of Oregon is eligible. Eastern Oregon's high desert, the southern counties, and the coast are predominantly USDA-eligible. The excluded zones are the urban cores of Portland, Salem, and Eugene-Springfield. One load-bearing detail: eligibility is set by the exact street address, not the town or ZIP, and a USDA boundary can run down the middle of a street. Always check the specific address.
Real eligible Oregon towns
Verified median household income and median home value (Census, 2024):
Near Portland:
- St. Helens (14,258, income $82,865, value $394,200), Scappoose (8,179, $97,708, $455,700), Molalla (10,186, $89,318, $447,100), Estacada (5,152, $94,435, $509,800)
Near Salem:
- Dallas (17,531, $71,549, $389,100), Independence (10,199, $85,375, $378,800), Silverton (10,456, $79,960, $484,800), Stayton (8,292, $78,268, $409,700)
Near Eugene:
- Cottage Grove (10,698, $80,875, $346,600), Junction City (6,947, $85,595, $421,900), Creswell (5,621, $100,385, $435,500)
The coast, more affordable:
- Coos Bay (15,925, $56,524, $306,900), Tillamook (5,218, $58,176, $298,800)
Affordability: the map, not the money
Oregon's statewide median home value is about $497,500 (Census, 2024) against a median income near $85,000, and homeownership sits at 63.3%. The eligible towns run from the high $290,000s on the coast to the low $500,000s near Portland, all covered by USDA's 100% financing. In nearly every eligible town, the local median income falls under the USDA ceiling, so the binding test is the address-level map, not your income. USDA sets no maximum loan amount.
Oregon down-payment assistance
Oregon Housing and Community Services runs its Flex Lending program, with a FirstHome product for first-time buyers and a NextStep product open to any buyer, both able to pair with down-payment assistance. Terms change, and USDA's own 100% financing often removes the need for separate help, so confirm current layering rules and figures on the OHCS site or with a specialist. Many third-party pages still call this the older "Oregon Bond Residential Loan"; the current branding is Flex Lending.
Oregon USDA requirements at a glance
- Down payment: $0.
- Credit: no hard USDA minimum; 620-640 is the practical range.
- Income: adjusted household income within $122,800 (1-4) or $162,100 (5-8), higher in some counties.
- Location: outside the Portland, Salem, and Eugene-Springfield cores; verify the exact address.
- No first-time-buyer requirement; primary residence only.
Common questions
What are the 2026 USDA income limits in Oregon?
The 2026 USDA income floor in Oregon is $122,800 for a household of one to four people and $162,100 for five to eight, effective July 13, 2026. Some higher-cost Oregon counties carry limits above that floor, so confirm your own county and household size on USDA's income tool. The limit is based on your adjusted household income, not gross pay.
Can I use a USDA loan near Portland?
Not inside the Portland city footprint, which is outside the USDA map, but yes in the commuter ring just beyond it. Eligible towns include Estacada, Scappoose, Sandy, Forest Grove, Banks, and North Plains, all roughly 20 to 40 minutes out. You do not have to move to the far side of the state to buy with $0 down.
Is Salem eligible for USDA loans?
The Salem urbanized core is excluded from the USDA map, but nearby towns contain eligible areas, including Dallas, Independence, Silverton, and Stayton. Eligibility is set by the exact street address rather than the city name, so confirm the specific property on USDA's map before assuming a Salem-area home qualifies.
Is Eugene-Springfield eligible for USDA?
The Eugene-Springfield urban core is excluded, but the surrounding towns of Junction City, Creswell, and Cottage Grove have USDA-eligible areas. Median home values in those towns run from the mid $300,000s to the mid $400,000s, all within USDA's 100% financing. Verify the exact address, since boundaries can run mid-street.
How far from Portland do I have to buy for USDA?
Not far. Eligibility begins in the exurban ring roughly 20 to 40 minutes from the city, in towns like Estacada, Scappoose, Sandy, and Forest Grove. The Portland city footprint itself is fully ineligible, but the eligible commuter towns keep you within reach of the metro's jobs while qualifying for $0 down.
Are the Oregon coast towns USDA-eligible?
Much of the Oregon coast is eligible and more affordable than the Willamette Valley. Coos Bay and Tillamook, for example, have median household incomes near $57,000 and median home values around $300,000, comfortably within USDA's 100% financing. As always, confirm the exact address on USDA's map, since coastal boundaries can vary block by block.
Does my income qualify for USDA in Oregon?
In most eligible Oregon towns, yes. Local median incomes run from the mid $50,000s on the coast to about $100,000 near Portland, and the USDA floor is $122,800 for a one-to-four-person household. In the large majority of eligible towns the deciding factor is the address-level map, not your paycheck. USDA uses adjusted household income after deductions.
How do you check if an Oregon address is USDA-eligible?
Enter the exact street address into USDA's property eligibility map at eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov, or use the checker at the top of this page. In Oregon, most addresses outside the Portland, Salem, and Eugene-Springfield cores qualify, but because a USDA boundary can run down the middle of a street, always verify the specific property rather than the town.