City profile · Oregon · Census ACS 2023

Gearhart, OR

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

1,959
Residents
$85,966
Median income
$522,100
Median home
$1,457
Median rent (state)

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
57th
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. The typical household in Gearhart brings in $85,966 a year, 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 $1,457 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 95.1 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

1,959 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Oregon

Median Household Income

$85,966 /yr

Poverty 4.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.4 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Oregon average

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 57% 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

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Gearhart's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Oregon, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

67thIncome percentile

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

$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

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Gearhart, OR Gearhart, OR's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Gearhart, 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 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'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 Gearhart, OR. Diagonal = perfect equality.

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

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.

Housing Supply

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

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

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 Gearhart sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.4
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,457/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
95.1 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Oregon

Stanfield
1,956 people
Brownsville
1,949 people
Amity
1,972 people
Dunthorpe
1,984 people
Irrigon
1,922 people
Canyonville
1,917 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Gearhart's 1,959 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Port Byron, IL
1,959 people
Hazen, AR
1,960 people
Liberty, IN
1,958 people
North Eastham, MA
1,958 people
Sonoma State University, CA
1,957 people
Sewall's Point, FL
1,961 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Gearhart's $85,966 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Brooklyn Park, MN
$85,964 median income
Reinbeck, IA
$85,962 median income
Jena, LA
$85,955 median income
Reamstown, PA
$85,952 median income
Winneconne, WI
$85,980 median income
Goodwell, OK
$85,982 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Gearhart, 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 Gearhart, OR - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 86.8% 9.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 8.2% White 86.8% Black or African American 0.1% Asian 3.7% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 9.4% 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 Gearhart 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
Gearhart (this city) 1,959 $85,966
Stanfield 1,956 $65,909
Brownsville 1,949 $82,750
Amity 1,972 $93,438
Census ACS 5-year FIPS OR Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Gearhart, OR?

What is the population of Gearhart, OR? +

Gearhart, OR counts 1,959 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Gearhart is $85,966 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Gearhart? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Gearhart; 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 Gearhart, OR? +

A typical home in Gearhart is worth $522,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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.

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 Editorial

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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.