Wheeler, Oregon Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 448, Wheeler'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

Wheeler is a small community located in Oregon, within Tillamook County. The total population is 448. It ranks as the 298th most populous out of 420 Census-designated places in Oregon.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wheeler is 54.9 years. This is 36% higher than the state median of 40.4 years. Only 7.6% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 18.5% 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 is $64,792. This is 22% lower than the state median of $83,011. It is also 20% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.9%. This is 8% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 8.4%. This is 57% higher than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $414,300. Housing costs are 13% lower than the state median of $477,600. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.4x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 61.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% lower than the state average of 63.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Wheeler is White (non-Hispanic), making up 75.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 16.5%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 4.4%.

Education

39.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 7% higher 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 86.9%. Notably, 19.8% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Wheeler, 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.