1st Advantage MortgageMedian rent in Josephine County is $1,194 a month against a median household income of $60,098, about 24% of income (ACS 2020-24). Use those as context only. A lender looks at your own documented income and debts; compare APR and total repaid on every Josephine County offer.
On this page
- 88,179 residents: Josephine County basics
- What Josephine County households earn
- How Josephine County residents earn a living
- Housing costs in Josephine County
- Where Josephine County differs from the rest of Oregon
- The communities that make up Josephine County
- Josephine County next to its neighbors
- Josephine County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for Josephine County
- What a median Josephine County budget can carry
- Steps before you apply in Josephine County
- Who licenses lenders for Josephine County residents
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
88,179 residents: Josephine County basics
With an estimated 88,179 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Josephine County ranks 13th of 36 in Oregon for population. Josephine County spans 1,639 square miles; with 88,179 people, that is 53.8 per square mile. Metro area: Grants Pass, OR (OMB, 2023). Grants Pass is the biggest of its 10 Census places, at roughly 39,311 people (45% of the county total).
What Josephine County households earn
The median household income in Josephine County is $60,098; statewide it is $83,011, so Josephine County runs 28% below Oregon as a whole. That places it 31st among Oregon's 36 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Josephine County | Difference from Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.5% | +8.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.8% | +4.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.8% | -7.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.0% | -4.8 pts |
On the low end, 29% of Josephine County households report under $35,000; at the top, 29% report $100,000-plus. Poverty rate, Josephine County: 15.6%; Oregon: 11.9%. Gini index for Josephine County: 0.477. A household earning below the $60,098 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
How Josephine County residents earn a living
Top Josephine County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 24%; second, retail trade, 14%. The sharpest difference from the state is in retail trade, at 14% locally and 12% for Oregon. 6.4% of Josephine County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. About 74% drive to work alone and 12% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 4.8% of the total (7.1% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Josephine County | Gap to Oregon |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.2% | +0.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.4% | +2.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.2% | -0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.9% | -2.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.0% | +0.2 pts |
| Construction | 8.0% | +1.1 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Housing costs in Josephine County
A typical Josephine County rental runs $1,194 a month including utilities, which is 22% below Oregon. About 6 in 10 Josephine County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. Median value $404,300; median income $60,098; ratio 6.7. In Josephine County, 72% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Median construction year: 1982. Against the median U.S. county, Josephine County rent is 36% above.
| Housing | Josephine County | Oregon statewide | Josephine County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burdened owners | 41% | 31% | +10.6 pts |
| Owners | 72% | 63% | +8.4 pts |
| Mobile homes | 14.2% | 7.1% | +7.1 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 56% | 52% | +3.5 pts |
| Median gross rent | $1,194/mo | $1,525/mo | 22% lower |
| Median home value | $404,300 | $477,600 | 15% lower |
With rent burdens at 56%, keep any Josephine County loan to the smallest amount that solves the problem.
Where Josephine County differs from the rest of Oregon
The 3 Josephine County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Oregon, and what each means for a borrower:
- Few Oregon counties match Josephine County on the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 56% here, 52% for the state, ranking 3rd highest of 36. Make sure a consolidation loan lowers what you pay each month.
- On median household income, Josephine County sits near the bottom of Oregon at $60,098, 6th lowest of 36. A lean local median makes the size of the loan the most important choice.
- Josephine County ranks 7th highest of 36 Oregon counties for the ACS unemployment rate: 6.4%, against 5.4% statewide. If work is uncertain, keep any loan small and the term short.
The communities that make up Josephine County
10 Census places fall mainly inside Josephine County; the 10 biggest are below. They account for 50,140 residents, leaving about 43% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $44,985, Williams over Takilma. From Grants Pass to the smallest crossroads, Josephine County residents share this guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grants Pass | city | 39,311 | $59,646 | $1,217 | 13 mi |
| Redwood | CDP | 3,721 | $68,125 | $1,165 | 9 mi |
| Cave Junction | city | 1,691 | $39,291 | $965 | 16 mi |
| Merlin | CDP | 1,617 | $71,806 | n/a | 12 mi |
| New Hope | CDP | 1,296 | $65,000 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Williams | CDP | 760 | $78,094 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Takilma | CDP | 658 | $33,109 | n/a | 24 mi |
| Selma | CDP | 520 | $43,372 | n/a | 8 mi |
| O'Brien | CDP | 379 | $29,252 | n/a | 22 mi |
| Kerby | CDP | 187 | $28,686 | n/a | 13 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Josephine County next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 33 to 77 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Richest neighbor: Jackson County, $73,999. Poorest: Siskiyou County, $59,095. Josephine County: $60,098. The list crosses into California, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josephine County | - | $60,098 | $1,194/mo | 72% |
| Curry County, OR | 33 mi | $62,244 | $1,241/mo | 74% |
| Jackson County, OR | 46 mi | $73,999 | $1,358/mo | 66% |
| Del Norte County, CA | 49 mi | $67,058 | $1,233/mo | 70% |
| Coos County, OR | 61 mi | $62,143 | $1,042/mo | 71% |
| Douglas County, OR | 66 mi | $61,310 | $1,055/mo | 73% |
| Siskiyou County, CA | 77 mi | $59,095 | $1,091/mo | 69% |
Josephine County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 20% of the adult population. About 7% go without health insurance.
| Josephine County | vs Oregon | vs U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.3 | +6.9 yrs | +5.8 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.7% | -17.1 pts | -2.5 pts |
| No high school diploma | 9.6% | +1.4 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.6% | +0.7 pts | -1.3 pts |
| No vehicle | 4.8% | -2.3 pts | -0.6 pts |
| Work from home | 12.1% | -6.9 pts | +3.4 pts |
| Poverty rate | 15.6% | +3.7 pts | +2.4 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.4% | +1.0 pts | +2.0 pts |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.1% |
| 60+ min | 5.0% |
Local borrowing considerations for Josephine County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Josephine County borrowers.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 14% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Age 47.3 at the median. Many Josephine County applicants document income with award letters; ask about early payoff.
- Tight rental budgets. With 56% of Josephine County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
What a median Josephine County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Josephine County's medians:
- Start: $5,008 gross per month ($60,098 / 12)
- Less median rent of $1,194, which is 24% of it
- Under a 40% cap, $2,003 total minus rent leaves $809
A household below the $60,098 median has less room than this, often none.
Steps before you apply in Josephine County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Verify the Oregon license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask a Josephine County credit union about member loans.
Who licenses lenders for Josephine County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Josephine County resident can confirm its license with the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. If a Josephine County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. State-level detail for Josephine County borrowers is in the Oregon guide.
Keep exploring
Next step up from Josephine County:
Frequently asked questions
Is Josephine County a high-income county?
Its $60,098 median ranks 31st of 36 Oregon counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Josephine County rent compare with Oregon?
$1,194 locally versus $1,525 for the state, 22% below.
I own my home in Josephine County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 72% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Is Kerby covered?
Yes. Kerby is one of 10 Census places in Josephine County, and this guide covers all of them.
Does living in Josephine County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Josephine County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.