At a Glance
Median Income
$48,438
$31,690 per capita
Home Value
$143,800
Zillow: $257,725
Median Rent
$752/mo
19.8% of income on rent
Violent Crime
0/100K
0/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
23.0%
85.7% high school+
Unemployment
1.2%
12.0% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
36.6%
15.9% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
47°F
311 sunny days/yr
How Fossil Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Fossil's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Fossil a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.8 / 5.0 — Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Fossil residents earn a median household income of $48,438 , which is 36% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $31,690. The unemployment rate stands at 1.2% (67% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 12.0% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 72 business establishments, including 4 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Fossil is $143,800 , 49% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $257,725. Median rent is $752/month, with 19.8% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 103.4 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1980.
Safety & Crime
Fossil reports 0 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 100% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 0/100K.
Education
23.0% of adults in Fossil hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(32% below the national average).
85.7% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.3/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Fossil has an average annual temperature of 47°F (9°C).
Winters average 34°F in January while summers reach 65°F in July. The area gets 311 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 15.1 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 32.
Data Overview
People
Population448
Median Age53.7 yrs
Density574/mi²
Male / Female43% / 57%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans15.9%
Economy
B+
Median Income$48,438
Per Capita$31,690
Unemployment1.2%
Poverty12.0%
County GDP$52M
Avg Weekly Wage$820
Housing
A+
Home Value$143,800
Rent$752
Ownership77.6%
Zillow$257,725
Housing Units268
Rent Burden19.8%
Crime
Violent0/100K
Property0/100K
Health
Obesity36.6%
Diabetes10.4%
Smoking15.9%
Heart Disease6.1%
Premature Death4,380/100K
Climate
Avg Temp47°F
Sunny Days311/yr
Rain15.1 in/yr
AQI32 (Good)
Elevation2,658 ft
Education
C+
Bachelor's+23.0%
High School+85.7%
Graduate+10.1%
School Score5.3/10
Community
2024 VoteR 71% / D 24%
Commute11 min
Broadband70.0%
Internet Speed30 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries1
Did You Know?
Fossil was founded in 1891.
The median home in Fossil was built in 1980.
The nearest airport is Columbia Gorge Regional/The Dalles Municipal (63 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.398 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
32.0% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
The county recorded 1 fatal vehicle crashes.
91 declared natural disasters on record.
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