City profile · Oregon · Census ACS 2023

Gearhart, OR

Gearhart's Census ACS profile: residents, income, housing, and the joined public-record layers available for this place.

1,959
Residents
$85,966
Median income
$522,100
Median home
$1,425
Median rent (state)
View my watchlist

Compare or rank this city

Side-by-side metrics and state or size-class ranks use the same Census and FBI fields shown on this profile. Results stay in the URL so you can bookmark or share them.

Compare with another city

Starting with Gearhart, OR - add up to three more cities on the compare page.

See how it ranks

State rank, size-class rank, and four peer cities for Gearhart.

Place dossier plate

Sheet OR-GEARHART-OR · Gearhart, OR 1,959 pop · income 67th pct

POP-VILLAGE · INC-HIGH · COL-PAR · SAFE-UNK · RANK-UPPER · PHOTO-FINISH · HOME-HIGH · BOOK-UNK

  • POP-VILLAGE 1,959
  • INC-HIGH $85,966
  • COL-PAR 103.4
  • SAFE-UNK Safety pending
  • RANK-UPPER 67th
  • PHOTO-FINISH ≈ Brooklyn Park
  • HOME-HIGH $522,100
  • BOOK-UNK Tracts pending

Nearest income peer: Brooklyn Park, MN ( $2 income $)

Instrument codes from this place’s ACS population and household income, BEA state COL, FBI safety, national income percentile, photo-finish peer city, home-value band, and matched Census-tract book - not a moving recommendation.

Income neighbourhood around Gearhart

Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest Gearhart on median household income. Full ladder: /browse and /rankings.

median HH income

What this shows Neighbourhood peers only - not a full nationwide city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the spread is wide.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2026-08-08

Compare beyond this state

Nationwide peers by population, income

Out-of-state nearest neighbors for Gearhart on ACS population and median household income . Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not a forecast that peers share a labor market or climate.

Similar population

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS population. This city: 1,959.

4 peers

Similar household income

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS median household income. This city: $85,966. Population peers are excluded.

4 peers

Gearhart - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Gearhart places in the 67th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

67th
percentile, household income
86th
percentile, home value
66th
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: Gearhart, OR

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 1,959 residents in Gearhart, a small town within Oregon. Gearhart households earn a median of $85,966 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 4.9%. Home values in Gearhart run a median of $522,100, and the median resident age is 47.5 years. Educational attainment runs 41.5% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 56.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 9 residential building permits were authorized in Gearhart (Construction Slowdown), down 68% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

Oregon carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Oregon scores 103.4 (Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,425 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Oregon's average monthly utility costs around $185 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 63.4 out of 100 (Moderate).

A decision-led reading path

Useful questions to ask of Gearhart's data

How this reading path is ordered

This is not a composite city score. It is a city-specific route through the available public records, ordered for this profile so the page starts with questions the joined data can actually answer. The route here runs from housing and income to work and mobility to comparison shortlist to population change; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.

For Gearhart, city-specific coverage includes annual population history, commute-mode shares, local building permits. No matched row is reported here for within-city Census tract profiles, FBI reported-crime rates, matched public-school count; the page leaves those layers out instead of substituting a statewide or national value.

Question 1

How far does income reach against housing in Gearhart?

The home-value-to-income reference is comparatively stretched: the ACS median home value is 6.1 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 4.9%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.

This is a citywide price-to-income reference, not a mortgage-affordability test; it does not include interest rates, taxes, insurance, household size, or an individual buyer's down payment. Housing value is high relative to the citywide income median. That flags a question for comparison, not a verdict: tenure, household composition, financing costs, and the age of the ACS estimate can all change what a resident actually pays.

Compare the housing trade-off →

2. Work and mobility

What does the journey to work look like in Gearhart?

Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. Remote work has a visible role in the local pattern. That can reduce commute exposure for some workers, but it says nothing about job availability or broadband quality; read it alongside income and housing rather than as a stand-alone lifestyle score.

Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 61.7%. A reliable mean commute time is not available for this row, so the mode shares carry the comparison.

Compare commute patterns →

Question 3

Which cities make useful reference points for Gearhart?

Within Oregon, the closest population matches are Stanfield (1,956 residents, $65,909 income); Brownsville (1,949 residents, $82,750 income); Amity (1,972 residents, $93,438 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are Port Byron, IL (1,959 residents); Hazen, AR (1,960 residents); Liberty, IN (1,958 residents). A third, income-matched reference set of 6 out-of-state cities sits in the income neighbourhood chart near the Place Dossier plate. These are mechanical peer sets, not claims that the places share a labor market, climate, culture, or metro context.

Use the in-state set to hold state policy and broad price conditions more nearly constant. Use the nationwide size set to ask whether cities with a similar resident count produce different housing, income, or commute outcomes. The income set is a third lens, deliberately separate from population matching.

Open a side-by-side comparison →

4. Population change

Is Gearhart growing, shrinking, or holding steady?

Recent estimates point upward. Growth can increase housing demand and service needs, but the permit record must move in the same direction before calling it a supply response; the two series measure different things.

Census PEP estimates show the population grew by +57 residents from 2020 to 2025, a +3.2% change. Separately, Census BPS recorded 9 housing units authorized in 2024. PEP and ACS are different Census series, so the trend is kept separate from the headline ACS population.

See the national growth ranking →

Population

1,959 residents

Micro place (under 10k)

Median Household Income

$85,966 /yr

Above median income · poverty 4.9% (Below-median poverty)

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.4 (US=100)

Above-average cost · BEA RPP 2024, Oregon average

City profile score · Gearhart, OR

57/100

4 published dimensions · ACS/FBI 2023

Comparative score against U.S. cities with population of 1,000 or more on Census ACS medians (income, poverty, bachelor's share, cost of living) and FBI UCR violent-crime rates when published. Higher means a stronger standing on those published figures, not a livability rating, not a recommendation to move, buy, or pick a "best" city. Missing inputs drop out and redistribute weight. How it is calculated.

Bachelor's+ share B+
41.5%

Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher; ACS.

Poverty rate B-
4.9%

Share of residents below the poverty line; lower scores better on this axis.

Household income B-
$85,966

Median household income vs U.S. cities (pop ≥1,000); ACS.

Cost of living F
103.4 index

BEA state Regional Price Parities index (100 ≈ national average); lower is stronger on this axis. Same value for every city in the state.

Violent crime N/A
N/A

No FBI UCR violent-crime rate for this place (coverage is incomplete).

Gearhart profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions) 4-axis radar comparing 1 series across Bachelor's+ share, Poverty rate, Household income, Cost of living. Bachelor's+ sharePoverty rateHousehold incomeCost of living 57 C
Gearhart profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)
Read the chart values
  • Bachelor's+ share: 76/100 (B+) · 41.5%
  • Poverty rate: 66/100 (B-) · 4.9%
  • Household income: 65/100 (B-) · $85,966
  • Cost of living: 25/100 (F) · 103.4 index

How does Gearhart compare to other US cities?

Here's how Gearhart stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 67% higher than other cities
Home value 86% pricier than other cities
Median rent 66% 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 Gearhart 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 Gearhart near the bottom of Oregon's cities

Among the 395 Oregon cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Gearhart ranks #1 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Gearhart only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#107 of 364
71st percentile in Oregon
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 395
0th percentile in Oregon
Median Home Value
#64 of 366
83rd percentile in Oregon
Poverty Rate
#237 of 395
39th percentile in Oregon
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#65 of 395
84th percentile in Oregon
How in-state ranks are ordered

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.

67thIncome percentile
Gauge source note

67th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Gearhart's home value compares nationally

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

$522,100 14th percentile more affordable than 14% of 15,600 US cities

Show national distribution $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%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Gearhart $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

Gearhart's home-value-to-income ratio: 6.1×

ACS median home value divided by median household income.

Band
pressured
> 5.0×
National rank
#14,151 of 15,516
More affordable than 9% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#10,493 of 11,323
Micro cities (under 10,000)

At 6.1×, Gearhart sits in the pressured band: national rank #14,151 of 15,516 and #10,493 of 11,323micro cities (under 10,000). Housing value is high relative to the citywide income median, a comparison flag, not a verdict on any household.

How this ratio is calculated

Ratio = Census ACS 2023 median home value ÷ median household income for cities with both fields and population ≥ 1,000. Rank 1 = lowest ratio (most compact). Bands match the fleet affordability thresholds used on guides (<3.0 / 3.0–5.0 / >5.0). This is not a mortgage payment estimate and does not include rates, taxes, insurance, or down payment.

Income distribution context

$85,966 Gearhart, OR median household income (Census ACS)

Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Household income distribution - Gearhart, OR Gearhart, OR's median household income ($85,966) against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern. The Lorenz curve and quintile bars are national context, not Gearhart, OR-specific shares. $ Household Income Distribution Gearhart, OR median $85,966/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%
Gearhart, OR median household income (Census ACS 5-year) with U.S. national quintile shares for context. Diagonal = equality; the curve is national, not computed for Gearhart, OR.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 41.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 56.0%

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

Population
1,959
Median Income
$85,966
Median Home Value
$522,100
Median Age
47.5
Poverty Rate
4.9%
Labor force participation
56.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
41.5%

Population Change

PEP vintage

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,750 residents1,800 residents1,850 residents1,900 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,804 residents 1,861 residents ▲ +3.2%
Gearhart's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.
Read the chart as text
Period Population
2020 1,804 residents
2021 1,859 residents
2022 1,866 residents
2023 1,865 residents
2024 1,871 residents
2025 1,861 residents

Housing Supply

BPS source

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
9
housing units authorized
Single-Family
6
detached homes
Multifamily
3
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
4.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 28
2020 30
2021 30
2022 27
2023 13
2024 9

Permit volume decreased 68% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

Commute source

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
61.7%
Carpool
8.7%
Public Transit
0.6%
Walk
7.0%
Work from Home
21.5%

Based on 885 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

Oregon statewide monthly utility average (EIA 2023): $185

EIA 2023 residential energy data puts average monthly utilities across Oregon at $185 (electricity about $85 , water and sewer about $50 ).

These are Oregon statewide averages, not a meter reading for Gearhart. Actual bills vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Oregon's BEA cost-of-living index is 103.4 (Above Average; US average = 100, RPP 2024). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in the county around Gearhart is $1,425/mo. FEMA's National Risk Index, averaged to Oregon statewide on PlainCities, rates natural-hazard exposure at 63.4 / 100 (Moderate).

Cost/risk geography note

Cost of living is a Oregon statewide BEA average; rent is a county-level HUD Fair Market Rent for the county Gearhart sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.

How Gearhart compares to similar-size Oregon cities

Same-state peer method

Closest same-state population matches, not geographic neighbors. Population + median household income come from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 and B19013.

City Population Median Household Income
Gearhart (this city) 1,959 $85,966
Stanfield 1,956 $65,909
Brownsville 1,949 $82,750
Amity 1,972 $93,438
Census BPS 2024
Primary sources on this page

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census BPS 2024, 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.

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

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES. Joins use OMB Bulletin 23-01 / FIPS keys.

Browse all city profiles → · Explore city rankings →

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Estimate caveats

ACS and UCR figures are citywide estimates with vintage lags; they do not replace a local visit, school visit, or insurance quote.

Editorial standards, provenance, and how to cite this page

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.

Share or download this profile