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
The town, settled in 1938, counts 291 residents.
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 middle 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 home-ownership rate 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
The top destinations are Bend (25%), Crescent (6%) and Boise City (4%). For most workers, Gilchrist is a place to come home to: only 9% work in town. Employers in Gilchrist added 124 jobs between 2013 and 2023, to 217. Half of commuters travel less than 45 miles.
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
Public schools: 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
Winters in Gilchrist are chilly, snowy and summers pleasant, with very little rain. Summer afternoons peak near 82° in July, and January nights bottom out around 22°; snowfall runs to about 74 inches 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
Among 143 Oregon towns, just 7 have a lower share of adults who binge drink than Gilchrist. The share of adults in Gilchrist who have high blood pressure: 52%. Of 26 CDC measures, Gilchrist beats the Oregon average on 4 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
The FEMA hazard score for Gilchrist comes to 47 of 100. Expected losses in Gilchrist break down as 56% from inland flooding and 24% from avalanches. Federal disaster aid has reached households in Gilchrist once, in 2020.
47risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingAvalanchesCold waves
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
$252Kmedian sale price
1
homes sold in September
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
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.