The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 97830 sells for about $246,000, or $145 per square foot.
Prices are down 1.2% from a year ago, which gives buyers more room to negotiate. Homes take about 98 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $950 a month.
ZIP 97830 — Fossil
The housing market in 97830 is characterized by low liquidity and limited inventory, with prices reflecting a rural, slow-growth economy. Market activity is driven by local demand rather than speculative investment, resulting in a stable but stagnant price environment.
This ZIP is best suited for those seeking a quiet, rural lifestyle, retirees, or outdoor enthusiasts, rather than commuters or investors looking for high-velocity appreciation.
Median prices moved down 1.2% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 98 days on market with 6.0 months of supply — a slower-moving market.
15% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 96.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 5.2% · poverty 14.8% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 6.0%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 6.1%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
ZCTA 97830, Wheeler County OR
ACS 2024 5-year estimates. Aggregate published statistics for this ZIP — never individual records, and never an attribute of any individual property or resident.
Crime rates in Fossil are generally low and consistent with rural Eastern Oregon trends, though specific localized data is limited.
Schools in the area are served by the Wheeler County School District, which provides small-class-size education typical of rural Oregon communities.
The area faces moderate wildfire risk common to the high desert environment of Wheeler County, necessitating standard fire-mitigation practices for property owners.
Economic momentum is limited, with the local economy primarily driven by agriculture, government services, and tourism related to the John Day Fossil Beds.
Property taxes are assessed by Wheeler County based on real market value; there are no local municipal income taxes, though special district levies for schools and emergency services apply.
Commuting is primarily local or involves long-distance travel to larger regional hubs like Condon or The Dalles, as there is no public transit infrastructure.
The area is known for outdoor recreation, including proximity to the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, hunting, fishing, and hiking trails.
The rental market is characterized by low inventory and limited turnover, with demand driven primarily by local workforce needs.
The economy is heavily reliant on agriculture, ranching, and public sector employment within Wheeler County.
Transportation is entirely dependent on private vehicles, with no public transit or major highway corridors passing through the ZIP.
There are no major commercial or residential developments currently in the pipeline for this rural area.
The Wheeler County Assessor manages property valuations, focusing on agricultural and residential land assessments.
Parcels are subject to Wheeler County School District and local fire district levies.
Property insurance premiums are influenced by the high wildfire risk profile of the region.
Net domestic migration to Oregon remains positive, though rural Wheeler County experiences stable or slightly declining population trends.
Oregon is a non-judicial foreclosure state, with specific notice and redemption periods defined by state statute.
Oregon law requires sellers to provide a property disclosure statement covering material defects, with limited exemptions.
Data retrieved from census.gov ZCTA-level tables for 97830.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
A major regional attraction featuring significant paleontological sites.
A local nine-hole course serving the community.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.