During the 1970s and early 1980s, a growing percentage of new construction went for rental units. Between 1970 and 1980, the proportion of the housing stock in single-family units fell from 77% to 68%. In 2002, there were an estimated 1,495,582 housing units in Oregon, of which 1,409,433 were occupied; 63.7% owner-occupied. About 62.6% of all units were single-family, detached homes. Electricity and utility gas were the most common energy sources for heat; about 1,058 units were equipped for solar power. It was estimated that 40,452 units lacked telephone service, 6,950 lacked complete plumbing facilities, and 12,734 lacked complete kitchen facilities. The average household size was 2.44 people.
In 2002, 22,186 new privately owned units were authorized for construction. The median home value was $160,185. The median monthly cost for mortgage owners was $1,217. Renters paid a median of $663 per month. During 2002, Oregon received over $62.3 million in community planning and development aid from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Housing Division of the Department of Commerce offers housing purchase assistance (through interest rates below the prevailing market) and construction subsidies to build units for disabled and for low- and moderate-income renters.