Fossil

Population: 448
Median household income: $48,438
Median home value: $143,800

Fossil, a community in Wheeler County, Oregon, has 448 residents. Its median household income of $48,438 runs below the Wheeler County figure of $51,250.

Between 2019 and 2023, Fossil's population grew 14.0% from 393 to 448, while its median home value rose 37.5% from $104,600 to $143,800.

64.9% of workers drive to work alone. 80.8% of homes are single-family detached houses.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 448
Median age: 53.7 yrs
Median household income: $48,438
Median home value: $143,800
Median gross rent: $752
Housing units: 265
Homeownership rate: 77.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 23.0%
Unemployment rate: 3.3%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

393448

Median household income

$30,938$48,438

Median home value

$104,600$143,800

Median gross rent

$696$752

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	393	$30,938	$104,600	$696
2020	422	$40,795	$125,400	$733
2021	533	$47,042	$133,600	$706
2022	485	$50,938	$141,100	$686
2023	448	$48,438	$143,800	$752

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 51.3%

5 to 177.4%

18 to 243.8%

25 to 3413.6%

35 to 4412.7%

45 to 5413.2%

55 to 6413.6%

65 to 7415.8%

75 and over18.5%

	Count	Share
Under 5	6	1.3%
5 to 17	33	7.4%
18 to 24	17	3.8%
25 to 34	61	13.6%
35 to 44	57	12.7%
45 to 54	59	13.2%
55 to 64	61	13.6%
65 to 74	71	15.8%
75 and over	83	18.5%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	418	93.3%
Black or African American	0	0.0%
American Indian & Alaska Native	0	0.0%
Asian	0	0.0%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	10	2.2%
Two or more races	14	3.1%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	6	1.3%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma14.3%

High school graduate30.6%

Some college or associate's32.1%

Bachelor's degree12.5%

Graduate or professional degree10.5%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	56	14.3%
High school graduate	120	30.6%
Some college or associate's	126	32.1%
Bachelor's degree	49	12.5%
Graduate or professional degree	41	10.5%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 11 min

Drove alone64.9%

Carpooled2.7%

Public transit8.1%

Walked13.5%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home10.8%

Other means0.0%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	96	64.9%
Carpooled	4	2.7%
Public transit	12	8.1%
Walked	20	13.5%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	16	10.8%
Other means	0	0.0%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	89	67.4%
15 to 29 min	19	14.4%
30 to 44 min	24	18.2%
45 to 59 min	0	0.0%
60+ min	0	0.0%

Households

Average household size: 1.89
Poverty rate: 9.2% (41 of 448)

	Count	Share
Family households	125	52.7%
Nonfamily households	112	47.3%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1973

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	237	89.4%
Vacant	28	10.6%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	184	77.6%
Renter-occupied	53	22.4%

1-unit, detached80.8%

1-unit, attached0.0%

2 to 4 units0.0%

5 to 19 units2.6%

20 or more units0.0%

Mobile home & other16.6%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	214	80.8%
1-unit, attached	0	0.0%
2 to 4 units	0	0.0%
5 to 19 units	7	2.6%
20 or more units	0	0.0%
Mobile home & other	44	16.6%

Geography

Place GEOID: 4126650
Type (LSAD): 25
Land area: 0.78 sq mi
Water area: 0 sq mi
Center point: 44.9981, -120.2146