Bear cage in, 2002
Mitchell’s story
153 years in pictures
Census counts: 135 in 1900, a peak of 415 in 1950, 138 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2002 and 3 maps from 1966 on.
- 1873Mitchell is settled
MitchellOR
A town of 144, settled in 1873.
Photo: Finetooth · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
144
2025 Census estimate · +1.4% since 2020
Typical home
$360K
+2.9% in a year
Household income
$43K
median
Median age
57.1
years
Land area
1 sq mi
Is Mitchell a good place to live?
Mitchell’s average commute is 4 minutes, below both the Oregon town median (23 minutes) and the median of U.S. towns (25 minutes). Among 143 Oregon towns, just 2 have a lower median household income than Mitchell. Mitchell has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
144 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Mitchell: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Mitchell, and how to reach them.
PowerColumbia Power Coop AssnEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Mitchell water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Mitchell’s 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 hereWheeler County Clerk, Elections OfficeWheeler County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code9775097750 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 Mitchell.
Natural hazards
Compared with most of Oregon and the rest of the country, the FEMA risk score in Mitchell is higher
One declared disaster, in 2019, has brought federal aid to Mitchell households. Of the losses FEMA expects locally, 41% come from inland flooding and 29% from wildfires. Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 94% of U.S. communities.
94risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingWildfireLightning
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Schools
The schools Mitchell’s kids attend
The public schools here belong to Mitchell SD 55. Its one school is below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades K–12 | Grades K–12 | 47 | A |
NCES · EDFacts
Housing
Mitchell stands out in Oregon and nationally: a smaller share of its households are owner-occupiers
Typical home values rose 2.9% in the year to September 2026.
$360KZillow home value
Typical home value
Mitchell$360K
Oregon$493K
+2.9%
value change, 1 year
0
homes sold in July
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Mitchell has four seasons and pleasant summers
Mitchell’s peak summer temperature stands at 86°F.
86°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter25–43°
Spring33–59°
Summer48–82°
Fall35–63°
Oct 4
typical first frost
May 22
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
86°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Mitchell is
78% of adults had a checkup this year in Mitchell. This Oregon town beats the Oregon average on 3 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 10. Two figures for adults here: 16% have diabetes, 18% report frequent physical distress. Only 6 of the 143 Oregon towns we compare have a higher share of adults who have high blood pressure than Mitchell.
| Mitchell | Oregon towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 44% | 33% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 11% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 15% | 14% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 15% | 16% |
26 measures vs. Oregon
3 better13 too close to call10 worse
| What stands out | Mitchell | OR |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 78.7% | 71.4% |
| More adults getting a yearly checkup | 77.9% | 72.6% |
| More adults with COPD | 11% | 6.8% |
St. Charles Medical Center Prineville
38.3 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Mitchell
15pages on Mitchell
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Mitchell; the nearest are
Central Oregon Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Bend68.5 mi$5,049 in-state tuitionOregon State University-Cascades CampusUniversity or college · Public · Bend68.9 mi$13,566 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Mitchell residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Oregon.
About Mitchell
City in Oregon, United States
Mitchell is a city in Wheeler County, Oregon, United States. The population was 138 at the 2020 census. It was founded in 1873 and was named after John H. Mitchell, a politician. The Painted Hills unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is about 9 miles (14 km) northwest of Mitchell. Mitchell School, a public school with an enrollment of about 70 students, is in Mitchell.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1891
- Area
- 1.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 2,776 ft
- ZIP code
- 97750
- Area code
- 541
Questions about Mitchell
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Mitchell, OR a good place to live?
Mitchell has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.