Orofino is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, of which is land and is water. Due to the area’s relatively low elevation, the climate is ranked as among the hottest in the summer and the mildest in the winter throughout the entire state. The moderate winters are also influenced by the city’s northwestern location, which places it closer to the Pacific Ocean than many other parts of Idaho. Idaho’s all-time highest temperature of was recorded at Orofino on July 28, 1934. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Orofino has a dry-summer continental climate.
As of the census of 2010, there were 3,142 people, 1,167 households, and 698 families residing in the city. The population density was. There were 1,285 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 91.7% White, 0.5% African American, 2.5% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 1.2% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.3% of the population. There were 1,167 households of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.2% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.77. The median age in the city was 43.7 years. 17% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.3% were from 25 to 44; 28.3% were from 45 to 64; and 20.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 58.3% male and 41.7% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,247 people, 1,137 households, and 767 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,349.0 people per square mile. There were 1,279 housing units at an average density of 531.4 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 93.93% White, 0.37% African American, 2.13% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.99% from other races, and 1.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.25% of the population. There were 1,137 households out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.83. In the city, the population was spread out with 20.1% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 132.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 143.2 males. The median income for a household in the city was $30,580, and the median income for a family was $36,908. Males had a median income of $30,386 versus $20,968 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,563. About 7.6% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.3% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.
The city is served by US 12, a two-lane undivided highway on the south bank of the Clearwater River, connected to Orofino by a bridge. The highway connects to Lewiston to the west and Missoula, Montana to the east. The route is known as the "Northwest Passage Scenic Byway," a National Scenic Byway. The population is dependent on cars. Most areas have few or no sidewalks.
