ZIP Code 97538 — Selma CDP, OR Demographics & Data

ZIP code 97538 covers Selma, OR in Josephine County with a population of about 1,831.

At a glance, the area shows median age of 41.8 versus a U.S. median of about 38.9.

It sits in telephone area codes 458, 541; U.S. House district OR-2; the MEDFORD - KLAMATH FALLS media market.

Median household income in ZIP 97538 is about $43,689 — about 42% below the U.S. median ($75,149).

On socioeconomic markers, US5 shows a poverty rate of 24.9%; unemployment rate near 9.0%; 16.7% of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (about 17.0 points below the national share (33.7%)).

Labor and commute patterns include leading industry context around Education, Construction, and Other services; about 5.5% of workers reporting work-from-home (about 9.7 points below the U.S. share (15.2%)); a mean commute of about 180.0 minutes (U.S. average near 26.8).

Median home value is about $289,800 — about 17% below the U.S. median home value ($348,079).

Housing tenure and rents show median gross rent around $535 (about 54% below the U.S. median rent ($1,163)), and owner-occupancy near 82.9% (about 17.5 points above the national owner-occupancy rate (65.4%)).

To comfortably buy a median-priced home in ZIP 97538 in Selma, OR, a household would need roughly $80,000 in annual income under a 20% down, 30-year loan at 6.8% (illustrative), keeping housing costs near 28% of income. Estimated monthly PITI is about $1,862. That is about 83% above the local median household income ($43,689), so the median earner would likely stretch or need a larger down payment. Rates, taxes, insurance, and HOA fees vary — treat this as a planning estimate, not a lender quote.

FEMA’s National Risk Index rates natural-hazard risk for Selma CDP, OR as Relatively Moderate (composite score 90.2), which is among the highest nationally. The strongest component scores on US5 are wildfire (99.2) and flood (90.2). These scores are county-linked NRI values published for planning context — all ZIP codes in the same county share the same composite score on US5. Useful when comparing insurance and disaster exposure across areas, not a substitute for a parcel-level flood or fire determination.

Climate normals for Selma CDP, OR show little to no average snow and around 61.2 inches of annual precipitation.

IRS migration statistics show a net inflow of about 93 for ZIP 97538 (Selma CDP, OR) on US5’s published series — a signal of people/tax filers moving in relative to those leaving. Inflows often track job growth, housing demand, or lifestyle migration; treat the figure as a directional indicator rather than a precise headcount.