The Town FilesGrants Pass, Oregon
City in Josephine County · population 39,189 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $382,600
- Household income
- $59,646
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 40.8
Grants Pass is a city of 39,189 people in Josephine County, Oregon. The median home is worth $382,600, close to the typical Oregon town ($394,200). It ranks more walkable than 88% of Oregon towns, more vibrant than 86% of Oregon towns, hipper than 80% of Oregon towns.
How Grants Pass 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 Grants Pass is worth $382,600, close to the typical Oregon town ($394,200). Homes cost about 6.4 times the median household income of $59,646, which is more affordable than 20% of Oregon towns. Median rent is $1,217 a month. 57.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Grants Pass | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $382,600 | $394,200 |
| Median rent | $1,217 | $1,312 |
| Median household income | $59,646 | $76,221 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.4× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 57.0% | 71.1% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Grants Pass
| People | Grants Pass | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8 | 41.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.4% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.3% | 23.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.4% | 10.8% |
| Veterans | 11.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 12.2% |
| Average commute | 18.2 min | 23.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.0% | 92.4% |
Weather in Grants Pass
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 35.3°F. About 31.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.9 inches of snow (typical Oregon town: 3.1 in). Expect about 55 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 66 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Grants Pass since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on March 13, 2011.
Severe weather in Josephine County since 1996
Josephine County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 14, 2026 | Fire | FM-5670: Fielder Mountain Fire |
| July 22, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4881: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| September 15, 2020 | Fire | DR-4562: Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds |
| September 10, 2020 | Fire | FM-5369: Slater Fire |
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4499: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Josephine County
Josephine County had 31,420 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,117 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in 2023; in Grants Pass itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Grants Pass
21 public schools with 8,483 students, about 18.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grants Pass High School | 9-12 | 1,657 | 20.5 |
| North Middle School | 6-8 | 694 | 19.8 |
| South Middle School | 6-8 | 589 | 18.4 |
| Hidden Valley High School | 9-12 | 523 | 21.8 |
| North Valley High School | 9-12 | 429 | 21.5 |
| Redwood Elementary School | K-5 | 424 | 18.4 |
| Lincoln Elementary School | K-5 | 397 | 17.3 |
| Riverside Elementary School | K-5 | 389 | 15.6 |
| Parkside Elementary | K-5 | 389 | 17.7 |
| Allen Dale Elementary School | K-5 | 384 | 16.7 |
| Fleming Middle School | 6-8 | 336 | 19.8 |
| Highland Elementary School | K-5 | 322 | 18.9 |
Towns near Grants Pass
- Redwood, OR3.2 mi · 2,702 people · home $397,800
- Jacksonville, OR20.3 mi · 3,020 people · home $649,200
- Central Point, OR21.8 mi · 18,997 people · home $389,100
- Medford, OR25.4 mi · 85,824 people · home $417,100
- White City, OR25.5 mi · 9,090 people · home $302,400
- Eagle Point, OR27.1 mi · 9,686 people · home $408,700
- Phoenix, OR28.5 mi · 4,475 people · home $415,300
- Shady Cove, OR28.7 mi · 3,081 people · home $367,900
Grants Pass questions
Is Grants Pass, Oregon a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Grants Pass scores better for retirees than 20% of Oregon towns and quieter than 24%. 22.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.8).
How much does a house cost in Grants Pass?
The median owner-occupied home in Grants Pass is valued at $382,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,646, so homes cost about 6.4 times income. Median rent is $1,217 a month.
What is the weather like in Grants Pass?
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 35.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.9 inches of snow.
Does Grants Pass get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Grants Pass in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)