Mall clock tower, Gilchrist, Oregon, 2014, 2014
Gilchrist’s story
88 years in pictures
The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2014 and 5 maps from 1935 on.
- 1938Gilchrist is settled
GilchristOR
A town of 291, settled in 1938.
Photo: Orygun · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
291
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$353K
Census ACS
Household income
$250K
median
Median age
29.6
years
Jobs based here
217
A job hub
Is Gilchrist a good place to live?
Gilchrist’s median household income is $250,000, against $81,000 in Oregon’s towns and $80,000 across U.S. towns. No town among the 143 in Oregon we compare has a higher share of households owning their home than Gilchrist. Gilchrist has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Gilchrist stand out
Where Gilchrist beats most towns.
Small town
291 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 Gilchrist: who provides what
Gilchrist is unincorporated, so Klamath County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerMidstate Electric Coop11.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterGilchrist Water System LLCNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet2 providers85% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesKlamath CountyKlamath 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 hereKlamath County Clerk, Elections OfficeKlamath County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2019
ZIP code9773797737 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 Gilchrist.
Work & commute
A job hub: Gilchrist has 4.1 jobs for every working resident and draws in 212 commuters
Most working residents leave Gilchrist for work: only 9% work in town. Since 2013, Gilchrist has added 124 jobs, to 217 in 2023. The top destinations are Bend (25%), Crescent (6%) and Boise City (4%).
9%work in town
| Gilchrist | Oregon towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 8.2% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 25 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Gilchrist9%
Bend25%
Crescent6%
Boise City4%
Prineville4%
45 mi
median commute distance
217
jobs based in Gilchrist
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Schools
The schools Gilchrist’s kids attend
Its public schools are run by Klamath County SD. Its two schools are below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilchrist Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–6 | Grades K–6 | 125 | C− |
| Gilchrist Junior/Senior High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 105 | D− |
NCES · EDFacts
Climate
Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Gilchrist
Gilchrist has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. July afternoons reach 82°, January nights drop to 22° and about 74 inches of snow falls in a winter.
74″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter22–40°
Spring29–55°
Summer42–78°
Fall32–60°
Sep 18
typical first frost
Jun 7
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
More of Gilchrist’s adults have diabetes than in the typical Oregon or U.S. town
19% of Gilchrist adults have diabetes, above both Oregon’s towns (11%) and U.S. towns (12%). 52% of adults have high blood pressure in Gilchrist. Gilchrist beats the Oregon average on 4 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 14.
| Gilchrist | Oregon towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 11% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 15% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 52% | 33% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 15% | 16% |
26 measures vs. Oregon
4 better8 too close to call14 worse
| What stands out | Gilchrist | OR |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 11.8% | 15.4% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 80.2% | 71.4% |
| More adults with COPD | 13.9% | 6.8% |
St. Charles Medical Center - Bend
45.7 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Moderate risk in Gilchrist, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 53% of U.S. communities.
47risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingAvalanchesCold waves
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Gilchrist
16pages on Gilchrist
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Gilchrist; the nearest are
Oregon State University-Cascades CampusUniversity or college · Public · Bend42.9 mi$13,566 in-state tuitionCentral Oregon Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Bend44.4 mi$5,049 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Gilchrist residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Oregon.
A job hub
Every workday, about 212 people come to Gilchrist for work
Where Gilchrist’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
217jobs based in Gilchrist
9%of working residents work in town
45 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Gilchrist
Unincorporated community in the state of Oregon, United States
Gilchrist is a census-designated place in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. The community is located on U.S. Route 97 between Bend and Klamath Falls.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 4,495 ft
- ZIP code
- 97737
- Area code
- 458, 541
Questions about Gilchrist
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Gilchrist, OR a good place to live?
Gilchrist has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.