The Town FilesPrairie City, Oregon
City in Grant County · population 841 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $205,900
- Household income
- $47,311
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 49.9
Prairie City is a city of 841 people in Grant County, Oregon. The median home is worth $205,900, below the typical Oregon town ($394,200). It ranks better for cycling than 99% of Oregon towns, quieter than 96% of Oregon towns, better for a vacation home than 92% of Oregon towns.
How Prairie City 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 Prairie City is worth $205,900, below the typical Oregon town ($394,200). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $47,311, which is more affordable than 74% of Oregon towns. Median rent is $916 a month. 84.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Prairie City | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $205,900 | $394,200 |
| Median rent | $916 | $1,312 |
| Median household income | $47,311 | $76,221 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 84.7% | 71.1% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.4% | — |
Who lives in Prairie City
| People | Prairie City | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.9 | 41.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 34.3% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 15.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.5% | 23.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.3% | 10.8% |
| Veterans | 15.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.6% | — |
| Work from home | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| Average commute | 10.9 min | 23.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.9% | 92.4% |
Weather in Prairie City
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
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Prairie City since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 13, 2007.
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 Prairie City itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Prairie City
1 public school with 245 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie City School | K-12 | 245 | 11.7 |
Towns near Prairie City
- John Day, OR12.5 mi · 1,664 people · home $212,100
- Canyon City, OR12.7 mi · 660 people · home $200,700
- Mount Vernon, OR20.2 mi · 548 people · home $143,000
Prairie City questions
Is Prairie City, Oregon a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Prairie City scores better for retirees than 76% of Oregon towns and quieter than 96%. 34.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.9).
How much does a house cost in Prairie City?
The median owner-occupied home in Prairie City is valued at $205,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,311, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $916 a month.
What is the weather like in Prairie City?
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 Prairie City get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Prairie City 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)