City profile · Oregon · Census ACS 2023

Vale, OR

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

2,259
Residents
$48,854
Median income
$162,500
Median home
$1,047
Median rent (state)

Vale - the verdict

Nationally, Vale sits in the 18th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

18th
percentile, household income
31st
percentile, home value
24th
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: Vale, OR

Oregon's Vale is a small town, with 2,259 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Vale brings in $48,854 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 22.4%. Typical homes in Vale are valued around $162,500, and the median resident age is 32.9 years. Educational attainment runs 14.9% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 50.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 49.9°F with 10.0 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. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,047 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $185 across Oregon, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 48.2 out of 100 (Low).

Population

2,259 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Oregon

Median Household Income

$48,854 /yr

Poverty 22.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.4 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Oregon average

How does Vale compare to other US cities?

Vale measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 18% higher than other cities
Home value 31% pricier than other cities
Median rent 24% 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 Vale'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.

18thIncome percentile

18th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Vale's home value compares nationally

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

$162,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 69% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Vale $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 - Vale, OR Vale, OR's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Vale, 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 Vale, OR median $48,854/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%
Vale, 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 Vale, OR. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 14.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 22.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 50.3%

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

Population
2,259
Median Income
$48,854
Median Home Value
$162,500
Median Age
32.9
Poverty Rate
22.4%
Labor force participation
50.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
14.9%

Climate

Avg Temperature
49.9°F
Annual Precipitation
10.0"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,850 residents1,900 residents1,950 residents2,000 residents2,050 residents2,100 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,904 residents 2,055 residents ▲ +7.9%
Vale's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
82.3%
Carpool
5.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
8.8%
Work from Home
3.0%

Based on 830 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 Vale sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.4
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,047/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
48.2 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Oregon

Heceta Beach
2,220 people
Willamina
2,216 people
Culver
2,211 people
Clatskanie
2,198 people
Harbor
2,154 people
Mulino
2,146 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Vale's 2,259 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Mount Vernon, KY
2,259 people
Eastport, NY
2,259 people
Biscoe, NC
2,259 people
Commerce, OK
2,259 people
Electra, TX
2,259 people
Plainfield, CT
2,260 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Vale's $48,854 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Benson, AZ
$48,854 median income
Sedan, KS
$48,854 median income
Vernon, TX
$48,855 median income
Three Rivers, MI
$48,852 median income
Masaryktown, FL
$48,857 median income
Grass Valley, CA
$48,850 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Vale, 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 Vale, OR - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 81.3% 6.9% 9.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 19.0% White 81.3% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 1.8% American Indian 0.5% Native Hawaiian 0.3% Some other race 6.9% Two or more races 9.3% 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 Vale 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
Vale (this city) 2,259 $48,854
Heceta Beach 2,220 $77,778
Willamina 2,216 $56,211
Culver 2,211 $85,481
Census ACS 5-year FIPS OR NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Vale, OR?

What is the population of Vale, OR? +

Vale, OR has a population of 2,259 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Vale, the typical household earns $48,854 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Vale? +

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

The median home value in Vale is $162,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Vale? +

Climate normals put Vale's yearly average temperature at 49.9°F, 10.0 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 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.