PlainZIP

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
$54,786
Median income
$274,900
Median home value
13.8%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Milton Freewater pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

21th 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.

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 Oregon average), while per-capita income is $26,862. The poverty rate stands at 11.1% and the unemployment rate at 5.3%. Housing costs here run $274,900 for a typical home value (36% below the state average), with rent averaging $902 a month; 60.6% of homes are owner-occupied.

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. To put 97862 in local context, 2 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Umatilla County, for a geography-aware comparison.

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.

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 + 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

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 97862?

37.2

Median Age

48.2%

Male

51.8%

Female

9.0%

Foreign-Born

White 66.9%
African American 0.0%
Asian 0.3%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.7%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.2%
Two or More Ethnicities 11.3%
Hispanic or Latino 29.6%

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

$26,862

Per Capita Income

11.1%

Poverty Rate

5.3%

Unemployment Rate

18.6 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 97862 ranks nationally

Milton Freewater, OR household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$54,786 21st percentile higher than 21% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $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 42.5%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 13.8%

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

What does housing look like?

5,219

Total Housing Units

4,556

Occupied Units

663

Vacant Units

2.65

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 60.6%
Renter 39.4%

$274,900

Median Home Value

-36% vs state

$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.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 97862 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.

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

ZIP 97862 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

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.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
99324 College Place, WA 9,202 9.0 mi
97886 Weston, OR 1,140 9.3 mi

More ZIP Codes in Umatilla County

97838 standard
Hermiston, OR
Pop: 25,346
97801 standard
Pendleton, OR
Pop: 21,521
97882 standard
Umatilla, OR
Pop: 7,760
97875 standard
Stanfield, OR
Pop: 2,610
97868 standard
Pilot Rock, OR
Pop: 1,991
97813 standard
Athena, OR
Pop: 1,302

Related Areas

Umatilla County Milton Freewater, OR Oregon

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.

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