What are the schools like in Seneca, OR?

Seneca is served primarily by John Day SD 3. The district operates 2 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.6:1.

What is the median household income in Seneca?

The median household income in Seneca, OR is $66,250 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.0%.

What is the weather like in Seneca, OR?

Seneca has an average high temperature of 35.9°F in January and 82.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 13.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 9.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Seneca, OR affordable or expensive?

Seneca's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Seneca is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $94,200 and the median rent is $713 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Seneca, OR?

Crime rate data for Seneca is not currently available from the FBI's reported data.

Is Seneca, OR a Good Place to Live?

Seneca is a small town of 167 in Oregon, with a median household income of $66,250 . Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Seneca stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Seneca is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Seneca 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: 92.0

Seneca's overall cost of living index is 92.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Seneca costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Seneca, OR	National Avg
Median Home Value	$94,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$713	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	77.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$66,250	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Crime data for Seneca is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.

Schools & Education

Seneca is served primarily by John Day SD 3. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Seneca, OR	National Avg
School District	John Day SD 3	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	6.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Seneca sees average highs of 35.9°F in January and 82.1°F in July, with 13.7 inches of annual precipitation and 9.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Seneca, OR
Average High — January	35.9°F
Average High — July	82.1°F
Annual Precipitation	13.7"
Annual Snowfall	9.6"

Demographics

Metric	Seneca, OR	National Avg
Population	167	—
Median Age	54.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	16.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	89.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.8%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	11.4%	22.2%
65 and over	27.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Canyon City, OR 18 mi John Day, OR 20 mi Mount Vernon, OR 21 mi Prairie City, OR 26 mi Dayville, OR 36 mi

ZIP Codes in Seneca

Seneca, OR is covered by 1 ZIP code:

97873

Seneca vs Other Cities

Seneca, OR vs Canyon City, OR Seneca, OR vs John Day, OR Seneca, OR vs Mount Vernon, OR Seneca, OR vs Prairie City, OR Seneca, OR vs Dayville, OR

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Seneca, OR affordable or expensive?

Seneca's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Seneca roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $94,200 and median rent is $713/month.

What is the crime rate in Seneca, OR?

Crime data for Seneca is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.

What are the schools like in Seneca?

Public schools in Seneca are operated by John Day SD 3. The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1. 6.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Seneca, OR a good place to live?

Seneca, OR has a population of 167, a median household income of $66,250, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. 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 Seneca?

Seneca averages 35.9°F in January and 82.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 13.7 inches with about 9.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Seneca?

Seneca, OR is covered by 1 ZIP code: 97873.

What is the population of Seneca?

The population of Seneca, Oregon is 167 with a median age of 54.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Seneca?

Key numbers for living in Seneca: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $94,200, median household income $66,250, schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Seneca side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.