The Town FilesJohn Day, Oregon
City in Grant County · population 1,664 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $212,100
- Household income
- $57,891
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 44.7
John Day is a city of 1,664 people in Grant County, Oregon. The median home is worth $212,100, below the typical Oregon town ($394,200). It ranks quieter than 93% of Oregon towns, better for first-time buyers than 89% of Oregon towns, better for retirees than 84% of Oregon towns.
How John Day 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 John Day is worth $212,100, below the typical Oregon town ($394,200). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $57,891, which is more affordable than 88% of Oregon towns. Median rent is $910 a month. 50.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | John Day | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $212,100 | $394,200 |
| Median rent | $910 | $1,312 |
| Median household income | $57,891 | $76,221 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 50.8% | 71.1% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in John Day
| People | John Day | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 41.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.8% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.0% | 23.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.9% | 10.8% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.2% | — |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 12.2% |
| Average commute | 16.7 min | 23.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.6% | 92.4% |
Weather in John Day
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 21.2°F. About 12.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.6 inches of snow (typical Oregon town: 3.1 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of John Day since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Oregon town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on November 5, 2023 about 2.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 5, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 2, 1998.
Severe weather in Grant County since 1996
Grant County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2025 | Fire | DR-4854: Wildfires |
| September 7, 2024 | Fire | FM-5534: Rail Ridge Fire |
| July 21, 2024 | Fire | FM-5513: Boneyard Fire |
| July 21, 2024 | Fire | FM-5514: Battle Mountain Fire Complex |
| July 18, 2024 | Fire | FM-5512: Falls Fire |
Jobs and pay in Grant County
Grant County had 2,498 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,057 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in John Day itself the ACS puts it at 6.9%.
Public schools in John Day
1 public school with 204 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grant Union Junior/Senior High School | 7-12 | 204 | 11.3 |
Towns near John Day
- Canyon City, OR1.8 mi · 660 people · home $200,700
- Mount Vernon, OR7.7 mi · 548 people · home $143,000
- Prairie City, OR12.5 mi · 841 people · home $205,900
John Day questions
Is John Day, Oregon a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, John Day scores better for retirees than 84% of Oregon towns and quieter than 93%. 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.7).
How much does a house cost in John Day?
The median owner-occupied home in John Day is valued at $212,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,891, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $910 a month.
What is the weather like in John Day?
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 21.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 12.3 inches of precipitation a year and 9.6 inches of snow.
Does John Day get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of John Day since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on November 5, 2023. The typical Oregon town has had 2.
- 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)