City profile · Oregon · Census ACS 2023

Fossil, OR

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Fossil - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

448
Residents
$48,438
Median income
$143,800
Median home
$1,010
Median rent (state)

Fossil - the verdict

Fossil ranks in the 17th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

17th
percentile, household income
25th
percentile, home value
21st
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Fossil, OR

448 people live in Fossil, Oregon - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $48,438 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 12.0%. Typical homes in Fossil are valued around $143,800, and the median resident age is 53.7 years. Educational attainment runs 23.0% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 35.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 47.4°F with 15.1 inches of precipitation per year.

Oregon carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 103.4 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,010 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $185 across Oregon, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 7.2 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

448 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Oregon

Median Household Income

$48,438 /yr

Poverty 12.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.4 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Oregon average

How does Fossil compare to other US cities?

Where Fossil sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 17% higher than other cities
Home value 25% pricier than other cities
Median rent 21% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Fossil against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Oregon only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Oregon-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Fossil near the bottom of Oregon's cities

Among the 395 Oregon cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Fossil ranks #390 - the 1st percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Fossil only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#314 of 364
14th percentile in Oregon
Median Gross Rent
#390 of 395
1st percentile in Oregon
Median Home Value
#352 of 366
4th percentile in Oregon
Poverty Rate
#82 of 395
78th percentile in Oregon
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#190 of 395
51st percentile in Oregon

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Oregon only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

17thIncome percentile

17th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Fossil's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$143,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 75% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Fossil $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. 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 · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Fossil, OR Fossil, OR's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Fossil, OR-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Fossil, OR median $48,438/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Fossil, OR's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Fossil, OR. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 23.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 12.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 35.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
448
Median Income
$48,438
Median Home Value
$143,800
Median Age
53.7
Poverty Rate
12.0%
Labor force participation
35.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
23.0%

Climate

Avg Temperature
47.4°F
Annual Precipitation
15.1"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
440 residents445 residents450 residents455 residents460 residents 202020212022202320242025 454 residents 456 residents ▲ +0.4%
Fossil's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
64.9%
Carpool
2.7%
Public Transit
8.1%
Walk
13.5%
Work from Home
10.8%

Based on 148 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Oregon - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$85
avg/month
Natural Gas
$50
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$185
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Oregon state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Oregon state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Fossil sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.4
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,010/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
7.2 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Oregon

Wimer
449 people
St. Paul
450 people
Butte Falls
445 people
Gates
451 people
Weston
445 people
Chiloquin
459 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Fossil's 448 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Ravenden, AR
448 people
Paloma, CA
448 people
Maynard, IA
448 people
Thompson, IA
448 people
Benton, MS
448 people
Dodge, NE
448 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Fossil's $48,438 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Weldona, CO
$48,438 median income
Sky Valley, GA
$48,438 median income
Wadena, IA
$48,438 median income
Clearbrook, MN
$48,438 median income
Wolbach, NE
$48,438 median income
Twin Rocks, PA
$48,438 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Fossil, OR Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Fossil, OR - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 94.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.3% White 94.6% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.2% Two or more races 3.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Fossil compares to nearby Oregon cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Fossil (this city) 448 $48,438
Wimer 449 $37,639
St. Paul 450 $113,000
Butte Falls 445 $39,821
Census ACS 5-year FIPS OR NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Fossil, OR?

What is the population of Fossil, OR? +

448 people live in Fossil, OR according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Fossil, OR? +

In Fossil, the typical household earns $48,438 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Fossil? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Fossil; the closest available measure is the Oregon state average, a cost of living index of 103.4 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Oregon vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Fossil, OR? +

Homes in Fossil carry a median value of $143,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Fossil? +

Climate normals put Fossil's yearly average temperature at 47.4°F, 15.1 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

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

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.