Milton Freewater, OR · standard
ZIP Code 97862
Umatilla County, Oregon - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 11,666
- 16/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $54,786
- Median income Below-median income area
- $274,900
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 13.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Milton Freewater pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 21st pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 38%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 16
- people per sq mi
- 61%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 97862 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 97862 (Milton Freewater, OR) rose +4.7% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 304.1 in 2023 to 318.3 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 97862 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Milton Freewater, Umatilla County, Oregon, home to 11,666 residents across 711.3 square miles, a density of 16 people per square mile, in the Los Angeles time zone.
ZIP 97862 reports a modest median household income of $54,786 (30% below the average Oregon ZIP), while per-capita income is $26,862. The poverty rate is 11.1%, with unemployment at 5.3%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $274,900 (36% below the average Oregon ZIP), and median rent is $902; owner occupancy is 60.6%.
Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 13.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37.2, and the average commute is 19 minutes. The page also surfaces 2 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Umatilla County, so 97862 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 97862
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Milton Freewater, OR
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 97862.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
38 establishments
- Construction
Construction
35 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
24 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
24 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
21 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 97862, Milton Freewater, 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
11,666
Population
711.3
Area (sq mi)
16
People / sq mi
Los Angeles
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 97862?
37.2
Median Age
48.2%
Male
51.8%
Female
9.0%
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?
$54,786
Median Household Income
-30% vs state ZIP avg
$26,862
Per Capita Income
11.1%
Poverty Rate
5.3%
Unemployment Rate
18.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 97862 ranks among Oregon ZIPs
Milton Freewater, 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)
$54,786 15th percentile higher than 15% 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
5,219housing units
5,219
Total Housing Units
4,556
Occupied Units
663
Vacant Units
2.65
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$274,900
Median Home Value
-36% vs state ZIP avg
$902
Median Rent
1975
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
+4.7%
YoY Change (2024)
318
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+218%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 97862 have increased 4.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +218% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.2% | 214 |
| 2021 | +19.8% | 257 |
| 2022 | +11.9% | 287 |
| 2023 | +5.8% | 304 |
| 2024 | +4.7% | 318 |
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 210 business establishments in ZIP 97862, employing approximately 1,492 people with a combined annual payroll of $58,252,000.
210
Businesses
1,492
Employees
$58.3M
Annual Payroll
13
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 38 | 18.1% |
| Construction | 35 | 16.7% |
| Health care and social assistance | 24 | 11.4% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 24 | 11.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 21 | 10.0% |
| Manufacturing | 14 | 6.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 10 | 4.8% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 8 | 3.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 7 | 3.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 7 | 3.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 6 | 2.9% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 5 | 2.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 4 | 1.9% |
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 97862 vs 99324 →
ZIP 97862 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 97862
Milton Freewater (97862)
11,666 residents
- 99324
College Place (99324)
9,202 residents
- 97886 1,140
Weston (97886)
1,140 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 97862 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 97862 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 97886
Weston (97886)
$92,955 median income
- 99324
College Place (99324)
$62,839 median income
- 97862
Milton Freewater (97862)
$54,786 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 97862 ranks #3 of 3 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 97862, 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 (11,666 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Umatilla County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 97862 in?
ZIP code 97862 (Milton Freewater) is located in Umatilla County, Oregon. Umatilla County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/umatilla-or.
What is the population of ZIP code 97862?
ZIP code 97862 in Milton Freewater, OR has a population of 11,666 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 97862?
The median household income in ZIP 97862 is $54,786, which is 28% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 97862?
The median home value in ZIP 97862 is $274,900, which is 1% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 97862?
The largest racial group in ZIP 97862 is White at 66.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 29.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 97862?
ZIP code 97862 has 210 business establishments employing approximately 1,492 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 97862?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 97862 are: Retail trade (38), Construction (35), Health care and social assistance (24). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 97862?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 97862 increased by 4.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 218%. 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 97862?
In ZIP code 97862, 42.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 13.8% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 97862?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 97862 is 18.6 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 97862?
In ZIP code 97862, approximately 60.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 39.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 97862?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 97862 is 11.1% 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 97862's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 97862 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Milton Freewater, 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.