Photo: Sam Beebe · CC BY 2.0Hood River spent more per resident in 2022 than 94% of similar cities
Hood River’s city government spent $22.7 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $2,717 per resident. Water and other utilities ($2.7 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Hood River is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$1,972 per resident in 2022: more than 94% of them
Hood River’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,972 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 35 Oregon cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $991, and the middle half spent $701–$1,263. Hood River spent more than 94% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($4 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Oregon cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Hood River itself left out).
About $2,717 per resident a year, or $7.44 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 24%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is up 48% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Hood River reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $1,972 · 2024: $2,717. Per resident it went from $1,972 to $2,717 (up 38%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 7,793 to 8,352.
full-time in March 2025, up from 63 in 2022.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $4,261 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.62% of the home’s value, vs 0.81% across Oregon.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Hood River’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to Hood River’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Hood River →
Who’s in charge in Hood River
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Hood River’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on ci.hood-river.or.us ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 108 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (8,352).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Hood River County School District 1
Hood River’s K–12 school district, shared with Cascade Locks. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $19,750 per pupil, $11,145 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
Oregon districts overall: 38% local, 52% state, 10% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
Hood River’s votes are counted by county
Oregon reports official results by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Hood River alone, and we don’t estimate them. These are Hood River County’s results.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat65.8%8,364 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican30.3%3,854 votesOthers: 3.8% (489 votes).
Most votes in Hood River County: Kamala D Harris
Oregon: Harris 55.3%, Trump 41.0%
100% of Hood River lies in Hood River County. Every 2024 race in Hood River County is on the county’s page.
Hood River County’s 2024 results →Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Hood River.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: ci.hood-river.or.us ↗
- 2Oregon HouseState representatives
- 3Oregon SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Oregon
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
Reach Hood River’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Hood River’s government
How much does Hood River spend per resident?
About $2,717 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,972 was more than 94% of 35 Oregon cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Hood River?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,261 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.62% of the typical home’s value, vs 0.81% across Oregon. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see ci.hood-river.or.us.
Who runs Hood River’s government?
See ci.hood-river.or.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Hood River yet.
How did Hood River vote in 2024?
Oregon counts votes by county and precinct, not by city, so there are no official results for Hood River alone. Hood River County, where 100% of Hood River lies, voted Harris 65.8%, Trump 30.3% for president; its page has every race.
How many people work for Hood River?
77 full-time and 3 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $610,608 (about $7.3M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Hood River in the state legislature?
State Senate District 26 (Christine Drazan) and State House District 52 (Jeff Helfrich). The House district also covers four other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Hood River’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →