County · Oregon
Wheeler County, Oregon
Wheeler County, Oregon. Wheeler County had 1,472 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.6% since 2020, faster than Oregon (+0.9%). It holds 3 places (3 cities, villages and boroughs) and 1 census tract. GEOID 41069.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,472
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,451 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,485 ±152
Median household income
$55,284
±$4,440 (90% margin)
Oregon: $83,011
Median home value
$272,400
±$19,117 (90% margin)
Oregon: $477,600
Median gross rent
$870
±$182 (90% margin)
Oregon: $1,525
How many people live in Wheeler County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 1,451 residents in Wheeler County. The Census Bureau estimates 1,472 for July 1, 2025, up 1.6% since 2020, faster than Oregon (+0.9%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 1,485 over 1,716 square miles of land.
| Measure | Wheeler County | Oregon | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,485±152 | 4,254,293 | no clear change |
| Households | 703±70 | 1,718,422 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.08±0.18 | 2.42 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 908±66 | 1,857,992 | no clear change |
Wheeler County's population since 2000
From 1,547 in 2000 to 1,472 in 2025: down 4.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Wheeler County?
Wheeler County holds 3 places: 3 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Fossil with 456 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Fossil | 447 | $54,167 |
|---|---|---|
| SprayGEOID 4169450 | 139 | not published |
| MitchellGEOID 4149150 | 138 | $42,891 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Wheeler County?
The median resident of Wheeler County is 59.3 years old; 11.8% are under 18 and 38.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 83.3%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 10.2%. 3.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Wheeler County | Oregon | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.3±3.7 | 40.4 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 11.8%±3.8 pts | 19.9% | – |
| 65 years and over | 38.9%±4.9 pts | 19.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4.8%±2.9 pts | 14.7% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 83.3%±3.9 pts | 71.4% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±2.7 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.5%±0.8 pts | 4.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±2.7 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 10.2%±3.0 pts | 6.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.1%±1.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.4%±1.9 pts | 9.8% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 4.5%±2.8 pts | 15.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 11.9%±3.2 pts | 7.2% | – |
| With a disability | 32.7%±5.7 pts | 15.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.2%±1.7 pts | 5.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 91.0%±4.7 pts | 91.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 18.8%±4.7 pts | 36.8% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.1%±3.5 pts | 14.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.0%±1.4 pts | 3.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Wheeler County earn?
Half of Wheeler County's 703 households earn less than $55,284 a year (±$4,440), against $83,011 in Oregon. In 2015-2019 it was $50,367 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 10.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Wheeler County | Oregon | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $55,284±$4,440 | $83,011 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $82,805±$19,232 | $111,542 | – |
| Per capita income | $39,179±$8,984 | $45,612 | +$12,470 |
| People below the poverty line | 10.8%±3.9 pts | 11.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 10.3%±8.4 pts | 13.2% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.1%±4.1 pts | 16.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 81.5%±6.6 pts | 92.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Wheeler County?
Owners occupy 71.8% of Wheeler County's occupied homes and renters 28.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $272,400 by its owner (±$19,117). The median renter pays $870 a month including utilities, and 49.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Wheeler County | Oregon | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $272,400±$19,117 | $477,600 | +$81,273 |
| Median gross rent | $870±$182 | $1,525 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 49.1%±17.8 pts | 43.1% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,472±$109 | $2,157 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 71.8%±7.6 pts | 63.3% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 908±66 | 1,857,992 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±7.5 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.3%±5.7 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 85.1%±4.0 pts | 62.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 14.0%±3.9 pts | 7.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.6%±0.9 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 27.9%±5.8 pts | 10.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Wheeler County get to work?
66.3% of Wheeler County's workers drive alone and 19.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.0 minutes.
| Measure | Wheeler County | Oregon | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 45.3%±5.9 pts | 62.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.6%±3.0 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 66.3%±7.8 pts | 64.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.5%±4.2 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 3.9%±5.3 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Walked | 4.3%±4.0 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 19.9%±7.1 pts | 19.0% | +11.8 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 24.0 min±6.1 | 23.0 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What are Wheeler County's census tracts?
Wheeler County is a single census tract.
| Tract 960141069960100 | 1,485±152 | $55,284 |
|---|
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Wheeler County compare with Oregon's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 36th of 36 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 15th of 36 |
| Residents per square mile | 35th of 36 |
| Median household income | 34th of 36 |
| Median home value | 29th of 36 |
| Median gross rent | 32nd of 36 |
| Poverty rate | 29th of 36 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30th of 36 |
| Median age | 1st of 36 |
Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Wheeler County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.