97497 ZIP Code — Wolf Creek, OR

Josephine County, Oregon

ZIP code 97497 is located in Wolf Creek, Oregon, within Josephine County. It covers approximately 165.98 square miles and serves a population of 1,283 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Pacific (PT) timezone, served by area code 541.

About ZIP code 97497

The housing stock consists of a higher-than-average concentration of mobile homes. Most homes were built in the 1970s, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $311,900. Owner-occupancy sits near the national average at 71%.

The gap between median ($35,000) and mean household income suggests income inequality — a small number of higher earners pull the average up. Poverty affects 30% of residents, above the national average. SNAP benefit usage at 31% of households reflects economic stress in the area. 40% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.

The dominant occupation class is management, business, and professional, with agriculture and mining as the leading industry. The average commute of 33 minutes is near the national average.

College attainment at 19% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.

Health indicators show elevated rates of smoking (21%) compared to national benchmarks.

Notable community characteristics include a notable veteran presence at 23% of civilians, above the national average of 7%.

Overall, ZIP code 97497 reflects a community defined by a trades-oriented workforce, economic challenges above the national average, a strong veteran community, a significant Social Security-dependent population, and elevated reliance on food assistance.

1,283

population

165.98

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Pacific (PT)

timezone

97497 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 97497

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 97497. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Wolf Creek	Acceptable
Wolf Creek	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

97532 Merlin (10.3 mi) 97526 Grants Pass (11 mi) 97442 Glendale (14.9 mi) 97537 Rogue River (15.6 mi) 97527 Grants Pass (16.7 mi) 97469 Riddle (18.1 mi) 97410 Azalea (18.3 mi)

Demographics updated 05/2026

Population
Total population	1,283
Population density	8 / sq mi
State FIPS	41
County FIPS	033

Geography
Land area	165.98 sq mi
Water area	0.06 sq mi
Latitude	42.6495
Longitude	-123.3843
Timezone	Pacific (PT)
Area code	541

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 05/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	59.9%	51.6%	38.1%
$50k – $100k	22.3%	31.1%	31.4%
$100k – $200k	15.1%	14.0%	23.2%
Over $200k	2.7%	3.3%	7.2%

Demographics & statistics

1,283

Population

People per sq mi

57.2

Median age

$35,000

Median household income

$29,903

Per capita income

$311,900

Median home value

$490

Median monthly rent

71.0%

Home ownership

30.2%

Poverty rate

17.9%

Unemployment

513

Housing units

18.6%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

Under 5

5–9

10–14

15–19

20–24

25–34

35–44

107

45–54

55–59

60–64

137

65–74

112

75–84

85+

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	169	13.2%
18 and over	1,114	86.8%
65 and over	458	35.7%
Median age	57.2 years

Race & ethnicity

White 87.8%

Two or more races 6.1%

Black or African American 2.5%

Hispanic or Latino 1.8%

Asian 1.2%

American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%

Other race 0.2%

Group	Count	%
White	1,147	87.8%
Two or more races	80	6.1%
Black or African American	32	2.5%
Hispanic or Latino	23	1.8%
Asian	16	1.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native	5	0.4%
Other race	3	0.2%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	59.9%	51.6%	38.1%
$50k – $100k	22.3%	31.1%	31.4%
$100k – $200k	15.1%	14.0%	23.2%
Over $200k	2.7%	3.3%	7.2%

Under $10k 15.0%

$10k–$15k 8.6%

$15k–$25k 8.6%

$25k–$35k 17.9%

$35k–$50k 10.2%

$50k–$75k 12.2%

$75k–$100k 7.8%

$100k–$150k 11.4%

$150k–$200k 5.7%

$200k+ 2.7%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	15.0%
$10k–$15k	8.6%
$15k–$25k	8.6%
$25k–$35k	17.9%
$35k–$50k	10.2%
$50k–$75k	12.2%
$75k–$100k	7.8%
$100k–$150k	11.4%
$150k–$200k	5.7%
$200k+	2.7%
Median income	$35,000

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 8.0%

$50k–$100k 1.1%

$100k–$150k 18.0%

$150k–$200k 5.7%

$200k–$300k 14.6%

$300k–$500k 42.5%

$500k–$1M 7.4%

$1M+ 2.7%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$311,900
Median rent / month	$490
Owner occupied	71.0%
Renter occupied	29.0%
Vacant	5.7%
Single-family detached	66.9%
Large apartment buildings	0.0%
Mobile homes	29.6%
Median rooms	4.7
Avg household size (owned)	1.94

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.0%
2010–2019	17.4%
2000–2009	12.3%
1990–1999	15.4%
1980–1989	12.5%
1970–1979	21.1%
1960–1969	2.7%
1950–1959	8.1%
1940–1949	5.4%
1939 or earlier	5.1%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	2.8%
1 bedroom	31.4%
2 bedrooms	19.1%
3 bedrooms	36.7%
4 bedrooms	7.9%
5+ bedrooms	2.0%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	0.0%
1 vehicle	28.7%
2 vehicles	40.8%
3 or more	30.5%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	0.8%
Electricity	25.7%
Propane / LP gas	20.7%
Fuel oil	4.4%
Wood	45.5%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	292	43.8%
Cohabiting couple	15	2.3%
Male householder, no spouse	236	35.4%
Female householder, no spouse	123	18.5%
Households with children under 18	87	13.1%
Households with seniors (65+)	265	39.8%
Average household size	1.93

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	36.6%	20.3%
Married	46.0%	62.7%
Separated	0.8%	3.6%
Widowed	0.5%	10.2%
Divorced	16.2%	3.2%

Education

Less than 9th grade 0.9%

Some HS, no diploma 4.5%

HS graduate 25.1%

Some college, no degree 40.7%

Associate's degree 10.2%

Bachelor's degree 11.8%

Graduate / professional 6.7%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	94.6%
Bachelor's or higher	18.6%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	3	1.4%
Kindergarten	45	20.5%
Elementary school	89	40.6%
High school	32	14.6%
College / grad school	50	22.8%

Employment

Industry of employment

Agriculture & mining 26.1%

Education & healthcare 26.1%

Transportation & utilities 13.5%

Retail trade 10.3%

Information 6.0%

Manufacturing 4.3%

Arts, food & hospitality 4.3%

Wholesale trade 3.4%

Construction 2.9%

Other services 1.4%

Public administration 1.4%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	50.0%
Service	8.6%
Sales & office	29.0%
Natural resources & construction	3.2%
Production & transportation	9.2%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	56.9%
Government	13.5%
Self-employed	29.6%
Unpaid family workers	0.0%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	72.0%
Carpool	13.4%
Public transit	0.0%
Walk	0.0%
Work from home	14.6%
Other means	0.0%
Avg commute (minutes)	32.5

Poverty

All people 30.2%

Under 18 years 62.7%

18 and over 25.3%

Married-couple families 14.7%

Female-led households 44.2%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	39.8%
Retirement income	28.1%
Supplemental Security	5.1%
Cash public assistance	1.4%
Food stamps / SNAP	30.5%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	32.8%
High blood pressure	38.0%
High cholesterol	36.9%
Diabetes	14.0%
Heart disease	9.8%
Stroke	4.8%
Asthma	11.8%
Arthritis	31.8%
Kidney disease	4.2%
Pulmonary disease	11.1%
Cancer	8.0%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	20.7%
Binge drinking	14.1%
No physical activity	24.2%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	33.2%
Depression	24.8%
Fair or poor health	20.6%
Poor mental health	16.0%
Poor physical health	15.0%
No health insurance	11.5%
Visited doctor (checkup)	76.3%
Visited dentist	61.8%
Cholesterol screening	90.6%
Teeth loss	17.4%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	252	22.6%

Disability	%
Any disability	20.1%
Under 18	2.4%
18–64 years	20.4%
65 and over	26.2%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	37.3%
Public insurance	70.3%
No insurance	13.1%
Uninsured under 19	0.0%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	1,280	99.8%
Spanish	15	1.2%
Other Indo-European	0	0.0%
Asian & Pacific Islander	15	1.2%
Other languages	0	0.0%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	1,261	98.3%
Born in same state	1,253	97.7%
Born in different state	397	30.9%
Foreign born	8	0.6%
Naturalized citizen	22	1.7%
Not a US citizen	20	90.9%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Italian	266	20.7%
French	175	13.6%
Arab	71	5.5%

Ancestry	Count	%
Polish	25	1.9%
Dutch	11	0.9%
English	6	0.5%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	51.9%
Internet access	93.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 97497

What city is ZIP code 97497 in?

ZIP code 97497 is primarily assigned to Wolf Creek, Oregon.

What county is ZIP code 97497 in?

ZIP code 97497 falls within Josephine County, Oregon.

Does ZIP code 97497 have an older population?

36% of residents in ZIP code 97497 are 65 or older, above the national average of ~17%.

What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 97497?

30% of residents in ZIP code 97497 live below the poverty line, above the national average.

Does ZIP code 97497 have a large veteran population?

23% of civilians in ZIP code 97497 are veterans, above the national average of ~7%.

Does ZIP code 97497 have a large retiree population?

40% of households in ZIP code 97497 receive Social Security income, suggesting a significant retiree or disability population.

What timezone is ZIP code 97497 in?

ZIP code 97497 observes the PST timezone.