Moving to Dufur, Oregon

by btobers · Published June 27, 2019 · Updated November 18, 2024

Dufur, Oregon is a small city located in the northern part of the state. It is situated in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains and is surrounded by beautiful fields and forests. The city has a semi-arid climate with hot summers, cold winters, and mild spring and autumn seasons. The average annual temperature is around 52°F (11°C).

The town’s history dates back to 1873 when it was founded as an agricultural community. Over the years, Dufur has grown into a prosperous small city with a population of around 1,400 people. The local economy is largely based on agriculture and tourism. There are several small businesses in town that provide goods and services to local residents. There are also many recreational activities available such as fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, biking, horseback riding, golfing and more.

The local government consists of a mayor and five council members who are elected every four years by the citizens of Dufur. The town also has its own police department that helps keep citizens safe while they enjoy all that Dufur has to offer.

Dufur is home to one public school district that serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The district focuses on providing quality education for its students while maintaining an environment where everyone can feel safe and respected. It also offers many extra-curricular activities so that all students can be involved in something outside of school hours if they choose to do so.

Some popular landmarks in Dufur include the Historic Dufur Schoolhouse Museum which houses artifacts from early settlers in this area as well as exhibits about local history; Dufur City Park which offers recreational activities for families; and Mt Hood National Forest which provides breathtaking views of the surrounding area for visitors to enjoy year round.

Population: 588. Estimated population in July 2024: 582 (-1.0% change)
Males: 299 (50.9%), Females: 289 (49.1%)

Wasco County

Zip code: 97021

Demographics

Median resident age: 42.7 years
Median household income: $37,500
Median house value: $94,700

Population by Race

Races in Dufur:

White Non-Hispanic (96.4%)
American Indian (1.9%)
Two or more races (1.5%)
Hispanic (1.4%)

Ancestries: German (25.2%), English (14.5%), Irish (12.1%), United States (8.7%), Norwegian (5.6%), French (5.4%).

Elevation: 1320 feet

Land area: 0.6 square miles

Population by Education

Dufur, Oregon is a small town located in Wasco County, with a population of just over 600 people. The majority of the population is made up of white individuals, with a small percentage of African Americans, Asians, Native Americans and Hispanics. The median age in Dufur is 40 years old with most of the population being over the age of 25. The median household income is just over $41,000 per year and the poverty rate stands at 15%. Education levels are relatively high in Dufur as almost two-thirds of adults have graduated from high school and about one-third have earned a college degree or higher.

The economy in Dufur is largely based on agriculture and forestry. Many residents work for local farms and ranches or for timber companies. There are also some businesses that provide goods and services to the local community such as grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and other retail establishments. Despite its small size, Dufur has a number of recreational opportunities available to its residents including camping at nearby parks and fishing on the Deschutes River. There are several churches in town as well as a library which offers educational programs to children throughout the year.

For population 25 years and over in Dufur

High school or higher: 87.4%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.4%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.3%
Unemployed: 4.2%
Mean travel time to work: 22.4 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Dufur city

Never married: 18.3%
Now married: 57.2%
Separated: 2.3%
Widowed: 6.7%
Divorced: 15.6%

1.5% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: +76 (+14.8%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Dufur:

MID-COLUMBIA MEDICAL CENTER (about 11 miles; THE DALLES, OR)
PROVIDENCE HOOD RIVER MEMORIAL HOSP (about 33 miles; HOOD RIVER, OR)
SKYLINE HOSPITAL (about 34 miles; WHITE SALMON, WA)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Dufur:

ROBERTS FIELD (about 83 miles; REDMOND, OR; Abbreviation: RDM)
YAKIMA AIR TERMINAL/MCALLISTER FIELD (about 87 miles; YAKIMA, WA; Abbreviation: YKM)
PORTLAND INTL (about 102 miles; PORTLAND, OR; Abbreviation: PDX)

Other public-use airports nearest to Dufur:

COLUMBIA GORGE REGIONAL/THE DALLES MUNI (about 12 miles; THE DALLES, OR; Abbreviation: DLS)
HOOD RIVER (about 32 miles; HOOD RIVER, OR; Abbreviation: 4S2)
GOLDENDALE (about 33 miles; GOLDENDALE, WA; Abbreviation: S20)

Amtrak stations near Dufur:

11 miles: THE DALLES (201 E. FEDERAL ST.) – Bus Station. Services: enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, free short-term parking, free long-term parking, call for taxi service.
18 miles: WISHRAM (WEST END OF RAILROAD AVE.). Services: partially wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public payphones, free short-term parking, free long-term parking.

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Dufur:

PORTLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 87 miles; Portland, OR; Full-time enrollment: 12,132)
YAKIMA VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 90 miles; YAKIMA, WA; Full-time enrollment: 2,906)
MT HOOD COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 91 miles; GRESHAM, OR; Full-time enrollment: 4,867)
CENTRAL OREGON COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 95 miles; BEND, OR; Full-time enrollment: 2,274)
CLACKAMAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 102 miles; OREGON CITY, OR; Full-time enrollment: 3,446)
CLARK COLLEGE (about 107 miles; VANCOUVER, WA; Full-time enrollment: 5,106)
LEWIS AND CLARK COLLEGE (about 110 miles; PORTLAND, OR; Full-time enrollment: 2,795)

Public primary/middle school in Dufur:

DUFUR SCHOOL (Students: 267; Location: 802 NE 5TH ST; Grades: KG – 12)

Libraries

Library in Dufur:

DUFUR SCHOOL/COMMUNITY LIBRARY (Operating income: $45,979; Location: 802 N.E. FIFTH ST; 21,112 books; 110 audio materials; 961 video materials; 19 serial subscriptions)