Zip code 97538: Selma, Oregon

Q: What city is zip code 97538?

97538 is assigned to Selma, Oregon. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 97538 in?

97538 is in Josephine County, Oregon.

Q: What is the population of 97538?

About 1,865 people live in 97538, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 97538?

The median household income in 97538 is $44,099.

Q: What zip codes are near 97538?

The closest zip codes to 97538 are 97543, 97531, 97532, 97523, 97527.

Residential delivery areaJosephine CountyPacific Time

Population

1,865

Median household income

$44K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$312K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$788/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

40.7

U.S. 38.9

Land area

191 sq mi

10 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 97538

97538 is a rural zip code in Selma, Oregon (Josephine County), covering 191 sq mi of land. About 1,865 people live here, or 10 per square mile. The median resident is 40.7 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $44,099 a year, about 55% of the national median of $80,734. 22.3% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $312,200, or 7.1 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively expensive for local earners. 87% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $788 a month.

20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 29.9 minutes each way, and 3% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in education; sales; and transportation and moving goods. 17% of them are self-employed (U.S.: 10%).

How 97538 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Unemployment rate16.1%
99th
WeaknessU.S. 5.2% · OR 5.4%14th of 393 in OR
Government workers46.2%
99th
U.S. 14.5% · OR 14.5%9th of 393 in OR
Housing vacancy22.2%
95th
U.S. 10.1% · OR 7.5%76th of 392 in OR
Self-employed workers17.3%
95th
U.S. 10% · OR 11.1%99th of 393 in OR
Homeownership rate87%
92nd
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · OR 63.3%57th of 392 in OR
Veterans10.2%
90th
U.S. 6.2% · OR 7.2%140th of 395 in OR
Poverty rate22.3%
89th
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · OR 11.9%55th of 393 in OR
Residents under 1826.8%
85th
U.S. 22% · OR 19.9%27th of 395 in OR
Residents 65 and older21.3%
80th
U.S. 17.2% · OR 19.1%214th of 395 in OR
Average commute29.9 min
73rd
U.S. 26.4 min · OR 23 min81st of 368 in OR
Median age40.7
63rd
U.S. 38.9 · OR 40.4267th of 395 in OR
Broadband access93%
58th
U.S. 91% · OR 92.4%147th of 392 in OR
Healthcare workers9.9%
57th
U.S. 9.7% · OR 10.4%172nd of 393 in OR
Median home value$312,200
46th
U.S. $332,700 · OR $477,600286th of 371 in OR
Bachelor's degree or higher20.2%
21st
U.S. 35.7% · OR 36.8%257th of 395 in OR
Diversity index27.5
21st
U.S. 61.4 · OR 46.3250th of 395 in OR
Foreign-born residents3.3%
20th
U.S. 14.1% · OR 9.8%230th of 395 in OR
Income inequality (Gini)0.395
17th
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · OR 0.463263rd of 392 in OR
Median gross rent$788
6th
U.S. $1,413 · OR $1,525304th of 329 in OR
Median household income$44,099
5th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · OR $83,011350th of 373 in OR
Uninsured rate1.7%
4th
StrengthU.S. 8.4% · OR 5.9%345th of 394 in OR
Population1,865
3rd
U.S. 334,922,499 · OR 4,254,293237th of 395 in OR
Per capita income$20,123
3rd
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · OR $45,612386th of 395 in OR
Rent-burdened renters26.1%
3rd
StrengthU.S. 51.1% · OR 52.5%314th of 379 in OR
Work from home3%
2nd
U.S. 15.1% · OR 19%356th of 392 in OR
Population density10/sq mi
1st
U.S. 95/sq mi · OR 44/sq mi291st of 395 in OR
Median earnings per worker$22,295
1st
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · OR $50,030377th of 386 in OR
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · OR 3.7%322nd of 393 in OR

Measure	97538	Josephine	OR	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in OR
Unemployment rateWeakness	16.1%	6.4%	5.4%	5.2%	99th	14th of 393
Government workers	46.2%	14.3%	14.5%	14.5%	99th	9th of 393
Housing vacancy	22.2%	7.1%	7.5%	10.1%	95th	76th of 392
Self-employed workers	17.3%	15.9%	11.1%	10%	95th	99th of 393
Homeownership rateStrength	87%	71.7%	63.3%	65.2%	92nd	57th of 392
Veterans	10.2%	11.4%	7.2%	6.2%	90th	140th of 395
Poverty rateWeakness	22.3%	15.6%	11.9%	12.5%	89th	55th of 393
Residents under 18	26.8%	19.2%	19.9%	22%	85th	27th of 395
Residents 65 and older	21.3%	27.2%	19.1%	17.2%	80th	214th of 395
Average commute	29.9 min	21.5 min	23 min	26.4 min	73rd	81st of 368
Median age	40.7	47.3	40.4	38.9	63rd	267th of 395
Broadband access	93%	91.3%	92.4%	91%	58th	147th of 392
Healthcare workers	9.9%	13.7%	10.4%	9.7%	57th	172nd of 393
Median home value	$312,200	$404,300	$477,600	$332,700	46th	286th of 371
Bachelor's degree or higher	20.2%	19.7%	36.8%	35.7%	21st	257th of 395
Diversity index	27.5	30.2	46.3	61.4	21st	250th of 395
Foreign-born residents	3.3%	3.8%	9.8%	14.1%	20th	230th of 395
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.395	0.477	0.463	0.483	17th	263rd of 392
Median gross rent	$788	$1,194	$1,525	$1,413	6th	304th of 329
Median household incomeWeakness	$44,099	$60,098	$83,011	$80,734	5th	350th of 373
Uninsured rateStrength	1.7%	6.6%	5.9%	8.4%	4th	345th of 394
Population	1,865	88,179	4,254,293	334,922,499	3rd	237th of 395
Per capita incomeWeakness	$20,123	$35,179	$45,612	$44,673	3rd	386th of 395
Rent-burdened rentersStrength	26.1%	55.9%	52.5%	51.1%	3rd	314th of 379
Work from home	3%	12.1%	19%	15.1%	2nd	356th of 392
Population density	10/sq mi	54/sq mi	44/sq mi	95/sq mi	1st	291st of 395
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$22,295	$39,596	$50,030	$49,666	1st	377th of 386
Tech workers	0%	1.7%	3.7%	3.8%	1st	322nd of 393

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

22%

5–17

18–24

25–34

19%

35–44

12%

45–54

12%

55–64

12%

65–74

75+

Median age

40.7

Under 18

26.8%

65 and over

21.3%

Race and ethnicity

White85%
Black0%
Hispanic3%
Asian3%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.4%
Multiracial9%

Diversity index

27.5

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

3.3%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

30.6%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

94%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 761
Average household size: 2.5
Family households: 67%
Married couples: 49.5%
Living alone: 33%
Veterans (of adults): 10.2%
Male / female: 45% / 55%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

27%

$25–50k

30%

$50–75k

15%

$75–100k

24%

$100–150k

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

97538

$44,099

Josephine Co.

$60,098

Oregon

$83,011

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$20,123

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

22.3%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

1.1%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.395

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

97538

$312,200

Josephine Co.

$404,300

Oregon

$477,600

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

97538

$788

Josephine Co.

$1,194

Oregon

$1,525

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

66%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

29%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 978
Owner-occupied: 87%
Vacant: 22.2%
Median year built: 1983
Median rooms: 5
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 26.1%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 0%
Home value to income: 7.1× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

87%

Carpooled

10%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

46%

20–29

30–44

23%

45–59

10%

60+

14%

Average commute

29.9 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

16.1%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

46.8%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Education

44%

Sales

11%

Transportation and moving

10%

Healthcare

10%

Management

10%

Office and admin

Construction and repair

Business and finance

Cleaning and personal care

Police and fire

0.7%

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Food service

Farming, fishing and forestry

Production

Industries

Education

40%

Retail

18%

Other services

12%

Construction

12%

Admin, support and management

Information

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Public administration

Arts and recreation

Health care and social assistance

Finance, insurance and real estate

Manufacturing

Professional and technical services

Restaurants and hotels

Wholesale

Agriculture and mining

Median earnings per worker

$22,295

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

17.3%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

46.2%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

6.9%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	97538	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$21,756	$74,888
Service	$80,125	$26,804
Sales and office	$29,083	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$31,042	$49,199
Production and transportation	$11,250	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

28%

Some college

38%

Associate's

Bachelor's

15%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 94.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 20.2%
Graduate or professional degree: 5.6%
Households with broadband: 93%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 54.8%
No internet access: 1.6%
Without health insurance: 1.7%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Selma
State: Oregon
County: Josephine County
Center point: 42.3144° N, 123.6676° W
Land area: 191 sq mi
Water area: 0.2 sq mi
Time zone: Pacific Time (UTC-8, UTC-7 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Selma (unincorporated)3% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 97538

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
97543	Wilderville, OR	7 mi	598	—	$641,600
97531	Kerby, OR	7.3 mi	187	$28,686	$241,000
97532	Merlin, OR	14 mi	2,578	$81,167	$445,400
97523	Cave Junction, OR	15 mi	7,172	$47,589	$329,800
97527	Grants Pass, OR	15 mi	37,330	$66,975	$429,700
97533	Murphy, OR · PO box	17 mi	—	—	—
97528	Grants Pass, OR · PO box	19 mi	—	—	—
97544	Williams, OR	20 mi	1,860	$55,583	$563,700
97534	O Brien, OR	21 mi	892	$39,194	—
97526	Grants Pass, OR	23 mi	36,036	$61,019	$399,700
97415	Brookings, OR	27 mi	14,586	$69,152	$394,800
97497	Wolf Creek, OR	27 mi	1,174	$36,210	$321,800

Zip codes like 97538 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 97538

What city is zip code 97538?

97538 is assigned to Selma, Oregon. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 97538 in?

97538 is in Josephine County, Oregon.

What is the population of 97538?

About 1,865 people live in 97538, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 97538 in?

97538 is in Pacific Time.

What is the median household income in 97538?

The median household income in 97538 is $44,099.

What zip codes are near 97538?

The closest zip codes to 97538 are 97543, 97531, 97532, 97523, 97527.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 97538, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.