Cape Meares, Oregon Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 225, Cape Meares's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Cape Meares is a small community located in Oregon, within Tillamook County. The total population is 225. It ranks as the 347th most populous out of 420 Census-designated places in Oregon.

Age Demographics

The median age in Cape Meares is 74.6 years. This is 85% higher than the state median of 40.4 years. Only 7.1% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 43.6% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Cape Meares is $88,798. This is 7% higher than the state median of $83,011. It is also 10% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 1.3%. This is 89% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Cape Meares, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $638,500. Housing costs are 34% higher than the state median of $477,600. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.2x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 58% higher than the state average of 63.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Cape Meares has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 97.8% of all residents.

Education

47.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 30% higher than the state rate of 36.8%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample. Notably, 30.6% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Cape Meares, Oregon is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Oregon state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 420 Census-designated places in Oregon. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.