The Town FilesCave Junction, Oregon
City in Josephine County · population 2,071 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $292,900
- Household income
- $39,291
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 53.6
Cave Junction is a city of 2,071 people in Josephine County, Oregon. The median home is worth $292,900, below the typical Oregon town ($394,200). It ranks quieter than 96% of Oregon towns, hipper than 85% of Oregon towns, better for first-time buyers than 74% of Oregon towns.
How Cave Junction ranks
Percentile among Oregon towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Oregon towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Cave Junction is worth $292,900, below the typical Oregon town ($394,200). Homes cost about 7.5 times the median household income of $39,291, which is more affordable than 7% of Oregon towns. Median rent is $965 a month. 71.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cave Junction | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $292,900 | $394,200 |
| Median rent | $965 | $1,312 |
| Median household income | $39,291 | $76,221 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.5× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 71.1% | 71.1% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Cave Junction
| People | Cave Junction | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.6 | 41.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 36.0% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.2% | 23.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.7% | 10.8% |
| Veterans | 16.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.1% | — |
| Work from home | 15.2% | 12.2% |
| Average commute | 28.1 min | 23.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.1% | 92.4% |
Weather in Cave Junction
July highs average 94.2°F and January lows 32.5°F. About 61.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.1 inches of snow (typical Oregon town: 3.1 in). Expect about 73 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 75 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Cave Junction since 1950.
Severe weather in Josephine County since 1996
Josephine County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 14, 2026 | Fire | FM-5670: Fielder Mountain Fire |
| July 22, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4881: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| September 15, 2020 | Fire | DR-4562: Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds |
| September 10, 2020 | Fire | FM-5369: Slater Fire |
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4499: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Josephine County
Josephine County had 31,420 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,117 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in 2023; in Cave Junction itself the ACS puts it at 8.3%.
Public schools in Cave Junction
4 public schools with 1,040 students, about 20.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evergreen Elementary School | K-4 | 385 | 22.6 |
| Illinois Valley High School | 9-12 | 316 | 21.1 |
| Lorna Byrne Middle School | 5-8 | 307 | 21.9 |
| Kalmiopsis Community Arts High School (charter) | 9-12 | 32 | 8.0 |
Towns near Cave Junction
- Kerby, OR2.3 mi · 628 people · home $241,000
- Selma, OR8.0 mi · 661 people · home $231,500
- Williams, OR18.6 mi · 1,102 people · home $592,000
- New Hope, OR20.4 mi · 1,572 people · home $437,900
- Redwood, OR21.9 mi · 2,702 people · home $397,800
- Grants Pass, OR24.5 mi · 39,189 people · home $382,600
- Merlin, OR26.8 mi · 1,690 people · home $435,000
- Happy Camp, CA27.6 mi · 905 people · home $166,400
Cave Junction questions
Is Cave Junction, Oregon a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cave Junction scores better for retirees than 54% of Oregon towns and quieter than 96%. 36.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.6).
How much does a house cost in Cave Junction?
The median owner-occupied home in Cave Junction is valued at $292,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,291, so homes cost about 7.5 times income. Median rent is $965 a month.
What is the weather like in Cave Junction?
July highs average 94.2°F and January lows 32.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 61.2 inches of precipitation a year and 7.1 inches of snow.
Does Cave Junction get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Cave Junction in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)