The Town FilesJoseph, Oregon
City in Wallowa County · population 1,154 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $334,900
- Household income
- $54,444
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 58.0
Joseph is a city of 1,154 people in Wallowa County, Oregon. The median home is worth $334,900, below the typical Oregon town ($394,200). It ranks better for retirees than 100% of Oregon towns, better for a vacation home than 100% of Oregon towns, quieter than 95% of Oregon towns.
How Joseph 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 Joseph is worth $334,900, below the typical Oregon town ($394,200). Homes cost about 6.2 times the median household income of $54,444, which is more affordable than 23% of Oregon towns. Median rent is $1,151 a month. 67.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Joseph | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $334,900 | $394,200 |
| Median rent | $1,151 | $1,312 |
| Median household income | $54,444 | $76,221 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.2× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 67.0% | 71.1% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 17.5% | — |
Who lives in Joseph
| People | Joseph | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 58.0 | 41.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 36.6% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 15.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.8% | 23.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.7% | 10.8% |
| Veterans | 16.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.2% | — |
| Work from home | 14.8% | 12.2% |
| Average commute | 16.2 min | 23.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.3% | 92.4% |
Weather in Joseph
July highs average 79.3°F and January lows 18.8°F. About 16.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 54.2 inches of snow (typical Oregon town: 3.1 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 187 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Joseph since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Oregon town. The strongest, an F0, struck on August 21, 2006 about 7.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 21, 2006.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.25 inches on August 29, 2009.
Severe weather in Wallowa County since 1996
Wallowa County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2020 | Flood | DR-4519: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4499: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3429: Covid-19 |
| August 21, 2015 | Fire | FM-5107: Grizzly Bear Fire Complex |
| September 7, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3228: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Wallowa County
Wallowa County had 2,854 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,648 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Joseph itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Public schools in Joseph
1 public school with 273 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph Charter School (charter) | K-12 | 273 | 13.0 |
Towns near Joseph
- Enterprise, OR5.6 mi · 2,052 people · home $319,800
- Wallowa, OR20.9 mi · 796 people · home $336,100
- Cove, OR28.4 mi · 620 people · home $328,000
Joseph questions
Is Joseph, Oregon a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Joseph scores better for retirees than 100% of Oregon towns and quieter than 95%. 36.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 58.0).
How much does a house cost in Joseph?
The median owner-occupied home in Joseph is valued at $334,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,444, so homes cost about 6.2 times income. Median rent is $1,151 a month.
What is the weather like in Joseph?
July highs average 79.3°F and January lows 18.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 16.9 inches of precipitation a year and 54.2 inches of snow.
Does Joseph get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Joseph since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on August 21, 2006. 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)