At a Glance
Median Income
$55,833
$31,630 per capita
Home Value
$173,400
Zillow: $384,277
Median Rent
$756/mo
38.1% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
12.7%
80.3% high school+
Unemployment
4.3%
9.6% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
36.7%
15.2% smoking rate
How Rufus Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Rufus's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Rufus a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.5 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Rufus residents earn a median household income of $55,833 , which is 26% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $31,630. The unemployment rate stands at 4.3% (19% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 9.6% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 819 business establishments, including 56 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Rufus is $173,400 , 38% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $384,277. Median rent is $756/month, with 38.1% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 103.4 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1977.
Education
12.7% of adults in Rufus hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(62% below the national average).
80.3% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.1/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Rufus has an average annual temperature of 48°F (9°C).
Winters average 31°F in January while summers reach 68°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 12.5 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population225
Median Age53.9 yrs
Density191/mi²
Male / Female60% / 40%
Foreign Born4.4%
Veterans19.4%
Economy
B+
Median Income$55,833
Per Capita$31,630
Unemployment4.3%
Poverty9.6%
County GDP$2,329M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,250
Housing
A+
Home Value$173,400
Rent$756
Ownership79.8%
Zillow$384,277
Housing Units142
Rent Burden38.1%
Health
Obesity36.7%
Diabetes11.0%
Smoking15.2%
Heart Disease6.3%
Premature Death7,486/100K
Climate
Avg Temp48°F
Rain12.5 in/yr
Elevation256 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+12.7%
High School+80.3%
Graduate+4.0%
School Score5.1/10
Community
2024 VoteR 53% / D 44%
Commute12 min
Broadband91.2%
Internet Speed50 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries3
Did You Know?
Rufus was founded in 1965.
The median home in Rufus was built in 1977.
The nearest airport is Columbia Gorge Regional/The Dalles Municipal (21 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.456 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
30.7% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 8 fatal vehicle crashes.
455 declared natural disasters on record.