A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Monthly cost

A typical home costs $160 more a month in Joseph

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Down paymentRate%

Joseph$2,850/mo

Typical home $494K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.64% · or rent about $1,151/mo · Housing →

Wheeler$2,690/mo

Typical home $465K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.67% · or rent about $994/mo · Housing →

The difference: $160 a month, about $1,900 a year, between Joseph and Wheeler.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Oregon ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools

A+JosephBetter than 97% of districts in the state –WheelerNot graded

Health

BJosephHealthier than 59% of U.S. towns –WheelerNot graded

Where they are

323 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

JosephOR WheelerOR

Joseph ↔ Wheeler323 miles apart

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Only big differences vs Oregon average

JosephWheeler

People

Population 1,054Highest 448Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +6.8% OR: +10.6% —

Median age 58±10.5Highest 44% above OR 54.9±17.8Lowest 36% above OR

Joseph and Wheeler are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 15.8%±6.7Highest OR: 19.9% 7.6%±8Lowest OR: 19.9%

Joseph and Wheeler are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 36.6%±7.5Lowest OR: 19.1% 43.1%±10.7Highest OR: 19.1%

Wheeler and Joseph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 51.8%Highest OR: 36.8% 39.3%Lowest OR: 36.8%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.4%±3.6Highest OR: 5.7% 2.9%±4.9Lowest OR: 5.7%

Joseph and Wheeler are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $54,444±$8kLowest 34% below OR $64,792±$23kHighest 22% below OR

Wheeler and Joseph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $334,900±$46kLowest 30% below OR $414,300±$51kHighest 13% below OR

Wheeler and Joseph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,151±$369Highest 25% below OR $994±$116Lowest 35% below OR

Joseph and Wheeler are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $2,157Lowest 44% below OR $2,759Highest 29% below OR

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 42.7%±29Lowest OR: 52.5% 44.9%±32.3Highest OR: 52.5%

Wheeler and Joseph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 5.7%Lowest OR: 11.9% 12.9%Highest OR: 11.9%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 67%Highest OR: 63.3% 61.5%Lowest OR: 63.3%

Typical home builtmedian year 1982Highest 1 yr newer than OR 1957Lowest 24 yrs older than OR

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 16 minLowest 29% below OR 26 minHighest 13% above OR

Work from home 14.8%±9.2Lowest OR: 19% 23%±21.5Highest OR: 19%

Wheeler and Joseph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 20.3%Highest 4.3%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 5.8 miLowest 34.8 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.06Highest 0.71Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Enterprise (32%)Portland (10%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in WheelerFew work in Joseph

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 1.8%Highest 0%Lowest

Trailsmapped miles 0.1 miLowest 0.3 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miLowest 0.6 miHighest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Highest 0Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 112Highest 102Lowest

Oregon average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024

Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Joseph neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Joseph’s Town Square.

Wheeler neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Wheeler’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Towns like Joseph

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Port Orford986 people · $345K homes

Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Oregon towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

Joseph vs Wheeler

Two towns, two different strengths

Where they part ways

Joseph gets 53 more inches of snow a year

A typical home costs $160 more a month in Joseph

Grades and rankings, side by side

323 miles apart

What matters to you?

Ask the people who live there

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Towns like Joseph

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