PlainZIP

Merlin, OR · standard

ZIP Code 97532

Josephine County, Oregon — Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

2,378
15/sq mi
$81,167
Median income
$445,400
Median home value
16.7%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Merlin pairs an above-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 37%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 17%
home value, US ZIPs
15
people per sq mi
87%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 97532 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 97532 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 154.4 square miles in Merlin, Josephine County, Oregon. The area is home to 2,378 residents, producing a population density of 15 people per square mile, and falls within the Los Angeles time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 97532 against Oregon and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 97532 sits at $81,167 (4% above the Oregon average), while per-capita income is $37,008. The poverty rate stands at 11.3% and the unemployment rate at 1.3%. On housing, the median home value is $445,400 (3% above the state average) with median rent at $860 per month, and 86.8% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 97532 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 16.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 53.4, and the average commute is —. We also surface 1 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Josephine County, so you can benchmark 97532 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 97532

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 97532.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 97532, Merlin, OR · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

2,378

Population

154.4

Area (sq mi)

15

People / sq mi

Los Angeles

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 97532?

53.4

Median Age

56.8%

Male

43.2%

Female

5.6%

Foreign-Born

White 86.4%
African American 0.0%
Asian 0.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 9.9%
Hispanic or Latino 5.8%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$81,167

Median Household Income

+4% vs state

$37,008

Per Capita Income

11.3%

Poverty Rate

1.3%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 97532 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income — the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$81,167 Top 37% higher than 63% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 46.9%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 16.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

1,122

Total Housing Units

996

Occupied Units

126

Vacant Units

2.59

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 86.8%
Renter 13.2%

$445,400

Median Home Value

+3% vs state

$860

Median Rent

1985

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+3.5%

YoY Change (2023)

284

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+184%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 97532 have increased 3.5% over the past year (2023). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +184% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2019 +1.9% 192
2020 +6.3% 204
2021 +17.1% 239
2022 +14.7% 275
2023 +3.5% 284

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2023. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 55 business establishments in ZIP 97532, employing approximately 323 people with a combined annual payroll of $16,197,000.

55

Businesses

323

Employees

$16.2M

Annual Payroll

8

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 8 14.6%
Accommodation and food services 8 14.6%
Other services (except public administration) 7 12.7%
Manufacturing 6 10.9%
Retail trade 5 9.1%
Health care and social assistance 4 7.3%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 3 5.5%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 3 5.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 97532 vs 97497 →

ZIP Code City Population Distance
97497 Wolf Creek, OR 1,523 9.3 mi

More ZIP Codes in Josephine County

97526 standard
Grants Pass, OR
Pop: 34,205
97527 standard
Grants Pass, OR
Pop: 33,713
97523 standard
Cave Junction, OR
Pop: 6,264
97544 standard
Williams, OR
Pop: 2,206
97538 standard
Selma, OR
Pop: 2,063
97497 standard
Wolf Creek, OR
Pop: 1,523

Related Areas

Josephine County Merlin, OR Oregon

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 97532 in? ▼
ZIP code 97532 (Merlin) is located in Josephine County, Oregon. Josephine County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/josephine-or.
What is the population of ZIP code 97532? ▼
ZIP code 97532 in Merlin, OR has a population of 2,378 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 97532? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 97532 is $81,167, which is 6% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 97532? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 97532 is $445,400, which is 60% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 97532? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 97532 is White at 86.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 97532? ▼
ZIP code 97532 has 55 business establishments employing approximately 323 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 97532? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 97532 are: Construction (8), Accommodation and food services (8), Other services (except public administration) (7). There are 8 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 97532? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 97532 increased by 3.5% in 2023. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 184%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 97532? ▼
In ZIP code 97532, 46.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 16.7% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 97532? ▼
In ZIP code 97532, approximately 86.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 13.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 97532? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 97532 is 11.3% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
How to interpret population, income, and education data from the Census Bureau.
Understanding ZIP Code Data
What ZIP codes are, how ZCTAs differ, and what the data reveals.
Best ZIP Codes for Families
Key factors to evaluate when choosing a family-friendly neighborhood.
ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for Merlin, OR

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.