The Town FilesBaker City, Oregon
City in Baker County · population 10,099 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $271,400
- Household income
- $61,580
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 79 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 42.6
Baker City is a city of 10,099 people in Baker County, Oregon. The median home is worth $271,400, below the typical Oregon town ($394,200). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 98% of Oregon towns, better for cycling than 88% of Oregon towns, hipper than 87% of Oregon towns.
How Baker 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 Baker City is worth $271,400, below the typical Oregon town ($394,200). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $61,580, which is more affordable than 74% of Oregon towns. Median rent is $896 a month. 69.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Baker City | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $271,400 | $394,200 |
| Median rent | $896 | $1,312 |
| Median household income | $61,580 | $76,221 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 69.9% | 71.1% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.7% | — |
Who lives in Baker City
| People | Baker City | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 41.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.9% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.9% | 23.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.0% | 10.8% |
| Veterans | 11.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 10.4% | 12.2% |
| Average commute | 14.1 min | 23.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.5% | 92.4% |
Weather in Baker City
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 20.0°F. About 9.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 78.6 inches of snow (typical Oregon town: 3.1 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 191 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Baker City since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Oregon town. The strongest, an F0, struck on June 23, 2004 about 6.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 23, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on May 16, 2023.
Severe weather in Baker County since 1996
Baker County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 31, 2026 | Fire | FM-5654: Fox Fire |
| July 22, 2024 | Fire | FM-5516: Durkee Fire |
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4499: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3429: Covid-19 |
| September 14, 2015 | Fire | FM-5114: Dry Gulch Fire |
Jobs and pay in Baker County
Baker County had 5,594 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,270 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Baker City itself the ACS puts it at 7.2%.
Public schools in Baker City
11 public schools with 4,801 students, about 23.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baker Web Academy (charter) | K-12 | 2,676 | 24.1 |
| Baker Early College (charter) | 9-12 | 512 | — |
| Baker High School | 9-12 | 492 | 17.6 |
| South Baker Intermediate School | 4-6 | 304 | 17.9 |
| Brooklyn Primary School | 1-3 | 260 | 14.4 |
| Baker Middle School | 7-8 | 238 | 17.0 |
| Haines Elementary School | PK-6 | 150 | 16.7 |
| Baker Early Learning Center | K-K | 76 | 12.7 |
| Eagle Cap Innovative Jr/Sr High School | 7-12 | 72 | 24.0 |
| Keating Elementary School | K-6 | 21 | 10.5 |
| Oregon International School (charter) | 9-12 | — | — |
Baker City questions
Is Baker City, Oregon a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Baker City scores better for retirees than 70% of Oregon towns and quieter than 41%. 24.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.6).
How much does a house cost in Baker City?
The median owner-occupied home in Baker City is valued at $271,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,580, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $896 a month.
What is the weather like in Baker City?
July highs average 88.2°F and January lows 20.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 9.1 inches of precipitation a year and 78.6 inches of snow.
Does Baker City get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Baker City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on June 23, 2004. The typical Oregon town has had 2.
- 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)