Home / Home Buying by state / Oregon / Wheeler County / Fossil

Buying a home in Fossil, Oregon

The typical owner-occupied home in Fossil is worth about $210,500, 56% below the Oregon median of $477,600 and 37% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,528 a year in property taxes, about 0.73% of their home's value, lower than the Oregon rate of 0.81%. The median household earns $54,167 a year, so the median home costs 3.9 times the median income (5.8 times for Oregon). 80% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 62% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Fossil at a glance

Fossil Oregon U.S.
Median home value $210,500 $477,600 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,528 $3,876 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.73% 0.81% 0.94%
Median household income $54,167 $83,011 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 80% 63% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 62% 65% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,447 $2,157 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 21.9% 22.4% 21.0%
Median rent $754 $1,525 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 19.8% 31.3% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1957 1981 1980
Vacant homes 3.1% 7.5% 10.1%
Population 535 4,254,293 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Fossil

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Fossil home of $210,500 with 20% down costs about $1,349 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,699, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $57,797 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 30% of the median Fossil household income of $54,167; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $197,000.

The median rent here is $754 a month, so owning the median home costs about $595 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$42,100
Loan amount$168,400
Principal and interest$1,133
Property taxes (0.73% a year)$128
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$88
PMI$0
Total per month$1,349

Change the numbers in the calculator

3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$7,368
Loan amount$206,687
Principal and interest$1,390
Property taxes (0.73% a year)$128
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$88
FHA mortgage insurance$93
Total per month$1,699

Change the numbers in the calculator

Questions about home buying in Fossil

What is the median home value in Fossil?

About $210,500 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Fossil?

Homeowners pay a median $1,528 a year, which is about 0.73% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Fossil?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,349 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $57,797 a year.

More about Fossil

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data