PlainZIP

Joseph, OR · standard

ZIP Code 97846

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

1,891
1/sq mi
$71,471
Median income
$383,200
Median home value
45.0%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Joseph pairs a below-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

49th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 22%
home value, US ZIPs
1
people per sq mi
72%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 97846 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 97846 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 1891.0 square miles in Joseph, Wallowa County, Oregon. The area is home to 1,891 residents, producing a population density of 1 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 97846 against Oregon and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 97846 sits at $71,471 (8% below the Oregon average), while per-capita income is $39,466. The poverty rate stands at 4.1% and the unemployment rate at 3.1%. On housing, the median home value is $383,200 (11% below the state average) with median rent at $1,238 per month, and 72.1% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 97846 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 45.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 55.9, and the average commute is —. Use the benchmarks above to see where 97846 sits relative to Oregon and the national baseline rather than viewing the numbers in isolation. 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 97846

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 97846.

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 97846, Joseph, 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

1,891

Population

1891.0

Area (sq mi)

1

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 97846?

55.9

Median Age

49.2%

Male

50.8%

Female

5.0%

Foreign-Born

White 87.9%
African American 0.0%
Asian 0.8%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 4.8%
Hispanic or Latino 7.2%

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?

$71,471

Median Household Income

-8% vs state

$39,466

Per Capita Income

4.1%

Poverty Rate

3.1%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 97846 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$71,471 49th percentile higher than 49% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $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 72.6%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 45.0%

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

What does housing look like?

1,487

Total Housing Units

1,040

Occupied Units

447

Vacant Units

1.95

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 72.1%
Renter 27.9%

$383,200

Median Home Value

-11% vs state

$1,238

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

+20.3%

YoY Change (2024)

348

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+248%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 97846 have increased 20.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +248% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2019 +12.8% 223
2020 -0.2% 223
2021 +14.0% 254
2022 +20.3% 306
2024 — 348

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 116 business establishments in ZIP 97846, employing approximately 447 people with a combined annual payroll of $16,565,000.

116

Businesses

447

Employees

$16.6M

Annual Payroll

11

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 19 16.4%
Retail trade 19 16.4%
Accommodation and food services 19 16.4%
Real estate and rental and leasing 11 9.5%
Other services (except public administration) 9 7.8%
Health care and social assistance 7 6.0%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 7 6.0%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 6 5.2%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 5 4.3%
Manufacturing 3 2.6%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 3 2.6%

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

More ZIP Codes in Wallowa County

97828 standard
Enterprise, OR
Pop: 3,124
97885 standard
Wallowa, OR
Pop: 1,383
97857 standard
Lostine, OR
Pop: 457
97842 standard
Imnaha, OR
Pop: 153

Related Areas

Wallowa County Joseph, OR Oregon

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 97846 in? ▼
ZIP code 97846 (Joseph) is located in Wallowa County, Oregon. Wallowa County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/wallowa-or.
What is the population of ZIP code 97846? ▼
ZIP code 97846 in Joseph, OR has a population of 1,891 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 97846? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 97846 is $71,471, which is 6% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 97846? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 97846 is $383,200, which is 38% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 97846? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 97846 is White at 87.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 7.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 97846? ▼
ZIP code 97846 has 116 business establishments employing approximately 447 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 97846? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 97846 are: Construction (19), Retail trade (19), Accommodation and food services (19). There are 11 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 97846? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 97846 increased by 20.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 248%. 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 97846? ▼
In ZIP code 97846, 72.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 45.0% 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 97846? ▼
In ZIP code 97846, approximately 72.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 27.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 97846? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 97846 is 4.1% 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 Joseph, 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.