John Day city, Oregon Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

John Day city is a small community located in Oregon. The total population is 1,543. It ranks as the 189th most populous out of 419 cities and towns in Oregon.

Age Demographics

The median age in John Day city is 42.9 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in John Day city is $75,917. This is 6% lower than the state median of $80,426. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 3% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.0%. This is 26% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 2.9%. This is 46% lower than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $199,400. Housing costs are 56% lower than the state median of $454,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, John Day city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 59.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% lower than the state average of 63.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

John Day city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.2% of all residents. Asian residents account for 3.0%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 1.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 14.3%.

Education

22.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 38% lower than the state rate of 36.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for John Day city, Oregon is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Oregon state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 419 Census-designated places in Oregon. For official data, visit data.census.gov.