CATARACT E, 2008
Gates’s story
134 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2004.
- 1892Gates is settled
GatesOR
A town of 482, settled in 1892.
Photo: Finetooth · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
482
2025 Census estimate · −12.5% since 2020
Typical home
$465K
+4.3% in a year
Household income
$66K
median
Median age
57.2
years
Jobs based here
31
A commuter town
Is Gates a good place to live?
Gates’ average trip to work is 37 minutes, above both Oregon’s towns (23 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes). Among 143 Oregon towns, just 2 have a lower share of working residents who work in town than Gates. Gates has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
482 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Gates: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Gates, and how to reach them.
PowerPacific Power15.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Gates water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Gates’ trash rules yet
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 hereMarion County Clerk, Elections OfficeMarion County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2019
ZIP code9734697346 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 Gates.
Natural hazards
Inland flooding leads a very high hazard risk in Gates
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 81% of U.S. communities.
81risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakes
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commute
Gates has 0.2 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Most working residents leave Gates for work: only 1% work in town. At $66,000, Gates’ median household income is where Oregon’s towns sit at $81,000 and U.S. towns at $80,000. The top destinations are Salem (20%), Stayton (6%) and Mill City (5%).
1%work in town
| Gates | Oregon towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $66,000 | $81,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 9.5% | 11% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Gates1%
Salem20%
Stayton6%
Mill City5%
Hillsboro4%
32 mi
median commute distance
31
jobs based in Gates
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
In Gates, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Gates has mild winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. The July high in Gates is 80°F.
10″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter33–46°
Spring38–59°
Summer49–77°
Fall41–62°
Dec 3
typical first frost
Mar 9
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Gates is
Gates beats the Oregon average on 4 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 11. 41% of adults have high blood pressure in Gates. Only 9 of the 143 Oregon towns we compare have a higher share of adults who have obesity than Gates.
| Gates | Oregon towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 33% | 35% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 35% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 11% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 15% | 14% |
26 measures vs. Oregon
4 better11 too close to call11 worse
| What stands out | Gates | OR |
|---|---|---|
| More adults screened for colon cancer | 69.5% | 63.4% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 76.7% | 71.4% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 18.6% | 12.5% |
Santiam Hospital & Clinics
18.2 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Housing
Gates’ typical home value is about $465K
The typical Gates home is worth about $465,000, up 4.3% in a year, 6% below the Oregon typical home. 84% of Gates households own their home.
$465KZillow home value
| Gates | Oregon towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 84% | 65% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,152 a month | $1,414 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Gates$465K
Oregon$493K
+4.3%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Gates
17pages on Gates
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Gates; the nearest are
Mount Angel SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Saint Benedict27.2 mi$31,490 tuitionLinn-Benton Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Albany36 mi$7,317 in-state tuitionWestern Oregon UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Monmouth40.7 mi$11,879 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Gates residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Oregon.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Gates for work
Where Gates’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
31jobs based in Gates
1%of working residents work in town
32 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Gates
City in Oregon, United States
Gates is a city on the border of Linn and Marion counties in Oregon, United States. The population was 548 at the 2020 census. The greater part of Gates' population is in Marion County, and the city is primarily under Marion County's jurisdiction. The Marion County portion of Gates is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Linn County portion is part of the Albany–Lebanon Micropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1950
- Area
- 0.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 945 ft
- ZIP code
- 97346
- Area code
- 503, 971
Questions about Gates
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Gates, OR a good place to live?
Gates has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.