Selma, OR · standard
ZIP Code 97538
Josephine County, Oregon - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 2,063
- 6/sq mi Low-density area
- $44,099
- Median income Below-median income area
- $312,200
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 20.2%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Selma pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 8th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 32%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 6
- people per sq mi
- 87%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 97538 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 97538 (Selma, OR) fell -12.6% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 346.7 in 2023 to 303.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 97538 covers 368.4 square miles in Selma, Josephine County, Oregon (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 2,063 residents on file, a density of 6 people per square mile, in the Los Angeles time zone.
ZIP 97538 reports a modest median household income of $44,099 (43% below the average Oregon ZIP), while per-capita income is $20,123. Economic pressure is pronounced: 22.3% of residents are below the poverty line and unemployment is 16.1%. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $312,200 (28% below the average Oregon ZIP), and median rent is $788; owner occupancy is 87.0%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 20.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.7, and the average commute is -. The page also surfaces 2 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Josephine County, so 97538 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 97538
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Selma, OR
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 97538.
- Construction
Construction
5 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
3 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
3 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, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 97538, Selma, OR · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
2,063
Population
368.4
Area (sq mi)
6
People / sq mi
Los Angeles
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 97538?
40.7
Median Age
45.3%
Male
54.7%
Female
3.3%
Foreign-Born
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?
$44,099
Median Household Income
-43% vs state ZIP avg
$20,123
Per Capita Income
22.3%
Poverty Rate
16.1%
Unemployment Rate
How ZIP 97538 ranks among Oregon ZIPs
Selma, OR household income vs. every Oregon ZIP code
Median household income among 378 reporting Oregon ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$44,099 7th percentile higher than 7% of 378 Oregon ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Oregon 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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
978housing units
978
Total Housing Units
761
Occupied Units
217
Vacant Units
2.45
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$312,200
Median Home Value
-28% vs state ZIP avg
$788
Median Rent
1983
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
-12.6%
YoY Change (2024)
303
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+203%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 97538 have decreased 12.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +203% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +0.5% | 256 |
| 2021 | +30.3% | 334 |
| 2022 | +5.3% | 352 |
| 2023 | -1.4% | 347 |
| 2024 | -12.6% | 303 |
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 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 17 business establishments in ZIP 97538, employing approximately 78 people with a combined annual payroll of $3,507,000.
17
Businesses
78
Employees
$3.5M
Annual Payroll
3
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 5 | 29.4% |
| Retail trade | 3 | 17.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 3 | 17.6% |
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 97538 vs 97543 →
ZIP 97538 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 97538
Selma (97538)
2,063 residents
- 97543 736
Wilderville (97543)
736 residents
- 97531 522
Kerby (97531)
522 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 97538 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 97538, both outside OR so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (2,063 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Josephine County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 97538 in?
ZIP code 97538 (Selma) 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 97538?
ZIP code 97538 in Selma, OR has a population of 2,063 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 97538?
The median household income in ZIP 97538 is $44,099, which is 42% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 97538?
The median home value in ZIP 97538 is $312,200, which is 12% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 97538?
The largest racial group in ZIP 97538 is White at 84.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 97538?
ZIP code 97538 has 17 business establishments employing approximately 78 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 97538?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 97538 are: Construction (5), Retail trade (3), Other services (except public administration) (3). There are 3 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 97538?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 97538 decreased by 12.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 203%. 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 97538?
In ZIP code 97538, 48.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 20.2% 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 97538?
In ZIP code 97538, approximately 87.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 13.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 97538?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 97538 is 22.3% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 97538's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 97538 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Selma, OR ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.