What are the schools like in Baker City, OR?

Baker City is served primarily by Baker SD 5J. The district operates 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 22.1:1.

What is the median household income in Baker City?

The median household income in Baker City, OR is $54,063 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.8%.

What is the weather like in Baker City, OR?

Baker City has an average high temperature of 37.6°F in January and 88.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 9.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 78.6 inches.

Baker City, OR Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Baker City, OR affordable or expensive?

Baker City's cost of living index is 97, where 100 represents the national average. This means Baker City is 3% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $209,000 and the median rent is $776 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Baker City, OR?

Baker City has a violent crime rate of 263.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2349.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Baker City, OR a Good Place to Live?

Baker City is a small city of 10,110 in Oregon, with a median household income of $54,063 and a 5.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

Strengths: Baker City stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Baker City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Baker City city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 96.6

Baker City's overall cost of living index is 96.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Baker City costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric	Baker City, OR	National Avg
Median Home Value	$209,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$776	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	71.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$54,063	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Baker City's violent crime rate is 263.2 per 100,000 residents — 31% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

263.2 /100k

Property Crime

2349.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Baker City is served primarily by Baker SD 5J. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22.1:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Baker City, OR	National Avg
School District	Baker SD 5J	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	22.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	25.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Baker City sees average highs of 37.6°F in January and 88.2°F in July, with 9.1 inches of annual precipitation and 78.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Baker City, OR
Average High — January	37.6°F
Average High — July	88.2°F
Annual Precipitation	9.1"
Annual Snowfall	78.6"

Demographics

Metric	Baker City, OR	National Avg
Population	10,110	—
Median Age	44.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	13.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.3%	6.3%
Under 18	20.8%	22.2%
65 and over	24.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Haines, OR 11 mi Sumpter, OR 18 mi North Powder, OR 18 mi Unity, OR 28 mi Granite, OR 29 mi

ZIP Codes in Baker City

Baker City, OR is covered by 1 ZIP code:

97814

Baker City vs Other Cities

Baker City, OR vs Haines, OR Baker City, OR vs Sumpter, OR Baker City, OR vs North Powder, OR Baker City, OR vs Unity, OR Baker City, OR vs Granite, OR

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Baker City, OR affordable or expensive?

Baker City's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Baker City roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $209,000 and median rent is $776/month.

What is the crime rate in Baker City, OR?

Baker City's violent crime rate is 263.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2349.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Baker City?

Public schools in Baker City are operated by Baker SD 5J. The district has 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22.1:1. 25.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Baker City, OR a good place to live?

Baker City, OR has a population of 10,110, a median household income of $54,063, and an unemployment rate of 5.8%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Baker City?

Baker City averages 37.6°F in January and 88.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 9.1 inches with about 78.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Baker City?

Baker City, OR is covered by 1 ZIP code: 97814.

What is the population of Baker City?

The population of Baker City, Oregon is 10,110 with a median age of 44.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Baker City?

Key numbers for living in Baker City: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $209,000, median household income $54,063, crime index 86 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Baker City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.