Spray, Oregon Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 89, Spray'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

Spray is a small community located in Oregon, within Wheeler County. The total population is 89. It ranks as the 401st most populous out of 420 Census-designated places in Oregon.

Age Demographics

The median age in Spray is 67.6 years. This is 67% higher than the state median of 40.4 years. Only 11.2% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 18.0% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The poverty rate stands at 21.1%. This is 77% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. This is 33% lower than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $269,400. Housing costs are 44% lower than the state median of $477,600. 86.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 36% higher than the state average of 63.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Spray is White (non-Hispanic), making up 73.0% of the population. Asian residents account for 7.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 14.7%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (7.9% vs 4.4%).

Education

7.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 81% lower than the state rate of 36.8%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Spray, 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.