Untitled photo, 2006
Deer Island’s story
139 years in pictures
The archive holds 5 old photos and papers going back to 2006.
- 1887Deer Island is settled
Deer IslandOR
The town, settled in 1887, counts 199 residents.
Photo: M.O. Stevens · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
199
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$537K
+0.3% in a year
Median age
41.1
years
Jobs based here
28
A commuter town
Is Deer Island a good place to live?
Of the 143 Oregon towns we compare, none has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Deer Island. Deer Island has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
199 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
Moving to Deer Island: who provides what
Deer Island is unincorporated, so Columbia County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerColumbia River Peoples Ut Dist9.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterDeer Island Heights WS water system3 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers92% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesColumbia CountyColumbia County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn Oregon you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person until 21 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereColumbia County Clerk, Elections OfficeColumbia County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023
ZIP code9705497054 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Oct 2, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Deer Island.
Work & commute
A smaller share of working residents work locally in Deer Island than in most of Oregon or the rest of the country
The average commute in Deer Island is 21 minutes. The top destinations are Portland (18%), St. Helens (11%) and Hillsboro (6%). Half the trips to work are shorter than 28 miles.
1%work in town
| Deer Island | Oregon towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 0.5% | 9.8% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 21 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 9% | 11% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Deer Island1%
Portland18%
St. Helens11%
Hillsboro6%
Longview5%
28 mi
median commute distance
28
jobs based in Deer Island
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazards
High risk in Deer Island, with inland flooding at the top
Federal disaster aid has reached households in Deer Island once, in 2007. Compared with 76% of U.S. communities, expected storm and flood damage in the town is higher. Expected losses in Deer Island break down as 44% from inland flooding and 41% from earthquakes.
76risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakesHeat waves
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Mild winters and pleasant summers in Deer Island
A winter brings about 1 inches of snow, with January nights at 35° and July afternoons at 80°.
1″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter34–47°
Spring41–62°
Summer52–78°
Fall43–63°
Nov 7
typical first frost
Apr 18
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Deer Island is
Among adults in Deer Island, 73% had a checkup this year, close to Oregon’s towns (72%) and below U.S. towns (79%). Deer Island: 16% of adults report frequent physical distress. 28% of adults locally have been diagnosed with depression; 16% smoke cigarettes.
| Deer Island | Oregon towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 15% | 14% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 27% | 23% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 13% | 14% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 73% | 72% | 79% |
26 measures vs. Oregon
0 better20 too close to call6 worse
| What stands out | Deer Island | OR |
|---|---|---|
| More smokers | 15.9% | 12% |
| More adults with COPD | 8.2% | 6.8% |
| More adults with arthritis | 32.3% | 27.4% |
Peacehealth St. John Medical Center
14.4 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Housing
The typical home in Deer Island: about $537K
Among households in Deer Island, 83% live in a home they own.
$537KZillow home value
Typical home value
Deer Island$537K
Oregon$493K
+0.3%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Nearby attractions
All 185 attractions →Mount St. Helens and 151 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Deer Island. Close and well known come first.
Big draw37 mi MountainMount St. Helens
29 mi Stadium & arenaModa Center
29 mi Stadium & arenaProvidence Park
27 mi City parkForest Park
29 mi MuseumPittock Mansion
29 mi Stadium & arenaVeterans Memorial ColiseumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Mount St. Helens: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain · Moda Center: Lugnuts, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Providence Park: Pdx.rollingthunder, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Forest Park: EncMstr, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Pittock Mansion: PittockBack.jpg: Cacophony derivative work: Tiptoety talk, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Veterans Memorial Coliseum: Steve Morgan, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Keep exploring
Everything we know about Deer Island
15pages on Deer Island
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Deer Island
About 0 of every 100 Deer Island residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Oregon.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Deer Island for work
Where Deer Island’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
28jobs based in Deer Island
1%of working residents work in town
28 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Deer Island
Unincorporated community in the state of Oregon, United States
Deer Island is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Columbia County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2020 census, Deer Island had a population of 323. The community is located along U.S. Route 30 north-northwest of Columbia City. Deer Island has a post office with ZIP code 97054.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 56 ft
- ZIP code
- 97054
- Area code
- 503, 971
Questions about Deer Island
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Deer Island, OR a good place to live?
Deer Island has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.