Wheeler County, Oregon Demographics 2026

Name: Wheeler County, Oregon Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Wheeler County, Oregon has a population of 1,434, the 36th most populous county in Oregon. The median household income is $51,250 and the median home value is $259,000. The poverty rate is 10.0%.

Wheeler County Quick Facts

Population 1,434

Median Household Income $51,250

Median Home Value $259,000

Poverty Rate 10.0%

Unemployment Rate 3.3%

Median Age 57.3 years

Homeownership Rate 69.2%

Affordability Ratio 5.1x

Bachelor's Degree+ 20.4%

High School Graduation 91.4%

Cities/Places 3

Population 1,434 36th of 36

Median Income $51,250 36% lower than state

Poverty Rate 10.0%

Unemployment 3.3%

Median Household Income

Wheeler

$51,250

$80,426

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Wheeler

$259,000

$454,200

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 23.7%

$25K-$50K 25.5%

$50K-$100K 33.9%

$100K+ 16.9%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

1.7%

$10K-$15K

4.2%

$15K-$20K

11.8%

$20K-$25K

6.0%

$25K-$30K

0.9%

$30K-$35K

5.6%

$35K-$40K

10.6%

$40K-$45K

5.0%

$45K-$50K

3.5%

$50K-$60K

15.4%

$60K-$75K

12.1%

$75K-$100K

6.5%

$100K-$125K

2.4%

$125K-$150K

9.3%

$150K-$200K

1.2%

$200K+

3.9%

Employment

3.3% Unemployment Rate State: 5.4%|National: 5.2%

41.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 69.2%

Renter 30.8%

Affordability Index Expensive

5.1x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

15.1%

18-34

11.4%

35-54

20.4%

55-74

33.7%

75+

19.3%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 45 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Wheeler County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Fossil	448	$48,438	9.2%	$143,800
Mitchell	211	$44,196	5.7%	$198,400
Spray	151	N/A	13.4%	$267,600

Explore Oregon Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Wheeler County is located in Oregon with a total population of 1,434. It is the 36th most populous county out of 36 in Oregon. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wheeler County is 57.3 years. This is 43% higher than the state median of 40.1 years. 19.3% 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 Wheeler County is $51,250. This is 36% lower than the state median of $80,426. It is also 35% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 10.0%. This is 16% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 3.3%. This is 39% lower than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $259,000. Housing costs are 43% lower than the state median of $454,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.1x. 69.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% higher than the state average of 63.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Wheeler County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population (4.5%) is well below the state average of 14.3%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 4.4%.

Education

20.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 44% 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 91.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Wheeler County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against Oregon and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Wheeler County, Oregon?

Wheeler County has a population of 1,434, making it the 36th most populous county in Oregon.

What is the median income in Wheeler County?

The median household income in Wheeler County is $51,250 with a poverty rate of 10.0%.

How many cities are in Wheeler County, Oregon?

Wheeler County contains 3 Census-designated places.