Pendleton receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Liberal
Pendleton
Opportunity
46 · Bottom 27%
vs45 · Bottom 26%
Growth
36 · Bottom 25%
vs43 · Bottom 38%
Climate
60 · Bottom 16%
vs67 · Bottom 39%
Physical resilience
46 · Bottom 36%
vs55 · Bottom 47%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 8%
vs85 · Top 42%
Access
0 · Bottom 1%
vs7 · Bottom 1%
Economic stability
54 · Bottom 38%
vs36 · Bottom 12%
Measured values
| Metric | Liberal | Pendleton | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,316 | 16,950 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $63,706 | $66,563 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $29,479 | $31,052 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,607/sq mi | 1,464/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $137,100 | $287,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $900 | $956 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 59.4% | 56.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 5.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.5% | -0.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.8% | 24.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | 15.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 15 | 19 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.8 | 1.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -25.0% | 72.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 93°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 20°F | 28°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 21.1" | 12.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 133 mi | 109 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 15.2 min | 15.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 30.6 | 36.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Liberal
Elevated or high exposure: drought, wildfire, hail.
Pendleton
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, earthquake, heat wave.
Full profiles: Liberal, KS · Pendleton, OR · How this is calculated: methodology