Best counties to live in Oregon
More counties in the United States experienced population growth in the last year, according to the latest Census data, even as pandemic-related moving trends begin to normalize.
Counties in the South continued to experience growth, particularly in Florida, where 96% of its 67 counties gained new residents. Polk County, Florida, a suburb of Orlando, added the most, with 26,000 people moving there in 2023.
Meanwhile, counties in the Midwest and Northeast continued to lose population, but at slower rates than the year before. Some of the biggest losses were in counties home to large cities, including Cook County, Illinois (home of Chicago) and the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens in New York.
Many counties are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or relatively affordable housing costs. Others are favored for their historic or well-designed downtowns or access to cultural opportunities.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in Oregon using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by various factors including public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.
Keep reading to see if your county made the list.
#16. Jefferson County, Oregon
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 24,659
- Median household income: $69,345
- Median home value: $307,200 (70% own)
- Median rent: $940 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Culver High School (grade B minus), Madras High School (grade C+), Buff Intermediate School (grade C+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Madras (grade C+), Camp Sherman (grade B minus), Warm Springs (grade B minus)
#15. Lincoln County, Oregon
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 50,334
- Median household income: $57,794
- Median home value: $345,300 (71% own)
- Median rent: $1,057 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: Waldport Middle School (grade B+), Newport High School (grade B+), Yaquina View Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Samaritan Early Learning Center (grade unavailable), Lincoln City Christian School (grade unavailable), Nye Beach Montessori School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Newport (grade B), Toledo (grade C+), Lincoln Beach (grade C+)
#14. Polk County, Oregon
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 87,600
- Median household income: $77,353
- Median home value: $382,200 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,219 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: West Salem High School (grade A minus), Kalapuya Elementary School (grade A minus), Straub Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Western Christian School (grade C), Faith Christian School (grade unavailable), Riviera Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Monmouth (grade B minus), Dallas (grade C+), Independence (grade C+)
#13. Baker County, Oregon
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 16,685
- Median household income: $51,657
- Median home value: $231,100 (72% own)
- Median rent: $765 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Haines Elementary School (grade A minus), Baker Early College (grade A minus), Baker Middle School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Harvest Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Baker City (grade B), Haines (grade C+), Richland (grade C+)
#12. Yamhill County, Oregon
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 107,674
- Median household income: $80,125
- Median home value: $408,500 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,302 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Duniway Middle School (grade A), Memorial Elementary School (grade A minus), Grandhaven Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Delphian School (grade A+), Veritas School (grade A minus), C.S. Lewis Academy (grade A minus)
- Top places: Newberg (grade B), McMinnville (grade B), Dundee (grade B minus)
#11. Lane County, Oregon
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 382,218
- Median household income: $65,157
- Median home value: $363,800 (59% own)
- Median rent: $1,210 (41% rent)
- Top public schools: South Eugene High School (grade A), Roosevelt Middle School (grade A), Yujin Gakuen Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Marist Catholic High School (grade A minus), Oak Hill School (grade A+), Eugene Christian School (grade A)
- Top places: Eugene (grade B), Coburg (grade B minus), Cottage Grove (grade C+)
#10. Union County, Oregon
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 26,286
- Median household income: $61,946
- Median home value: $243,400 (67% own)
- Median rent: $930 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: La Grande High School (grade B minus), Imbler Charter School (grade B minus), Island City Elementary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Lighthouse Apostolic Academy (grade unavailable), Grande Ronde Academy (grade unavailable), La Grande Adventist School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Island City (grade B minus), La Grande (grade C+), Cove (grade B minus)
#9. Marion County, Oregon
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 345,815
- Median household income: $70,926
- Median home value: $352,500 (62% own)
- Median rent: $1,228 (38% rent)
- Top public schools: Early College High School (grade A), South Salem High School (grade A), Evergreen Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Blanchet Catholic School (grade A), Livingstone Adventist Academy (grade A minus), Regis St. Mary Catholic School (grade B minus)
- Top places: Turner (grade B), Salem (grade B minus), Keizer (grade B minus)
#8. Jackson County, Oregon
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 222,604
- Median household income: $67,690
- Median home value: $369,500 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,208 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Logos Public Charter School (grade A minus), Ashland Middle School (grade A minus), John Muir Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. Mary's School (grade A+), Rogue Valley Adventist School (grade A minus), Grace Cascade Christian Schools (grade B)
- Top places: Ashland (grade A), Talent (grade B), Jacksonville (grade B)
#7. Umatilla County, Oregon
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 79,904
- Median household income: $70,322
- Median home value: $236,800 (67% own)
- Median rent: $930 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: Desert View Elementary School (grade B+), Armand Larive Middle School (grade B+), Highland Hills Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Hermiston Christian Center & School (grade unavailable), Milton Stateline Seventh-day Adventist School (grade unavailable), Hermiston Junior Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Pendleton (grade B minus), Hermiston (grade B minus), Stanfield (grade B minus)
#6. Wallowa County, Oregon
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 7,439
- Median household income: $62,238
- Median home value: $336,900 (74% own)
- Median rent: $830 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Enterprise Elementary School (grade B), Enterprise High School (grade B), Joseph Charter School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Enterprise Seventh-day Adventist School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Enterprise (grade B), Joseph (grade C), Lostine (grade C)
#5. Clackamas County, Oregon
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 420,925
- Median household income: $95,740
- Median home value: $532,200 (71% own)
- Median rent: $1,605 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: Lake Oswego Senior High School (grade A+), Lakeridge High School (grade A+), Oak Creek Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Portland Waldorf School (grade A), La Salle Catholic College Preparatory (grade A minus), Wy'East Mountain Academy (grade A minus)
- Top places: Lake Oswego (grade A), West Linn (grade A), Stafford (grade B+)
#4. Hood River County, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 484
- Population: 23,965
- Median household income: $80,254
- Median home value: $492,500 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,281 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Westside Elementary School (grade A), Hood River Middle School (grade A minus), May Street Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Horizon Christian School (grade B+), Bright Beginnings Preschool & Kindergarten (grade unavailable), Mid-Columbia Adventist Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Hood River (grade A minus), Mount Hood (grade B+), Odell (grade B)
#3. Multnomah County, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 407
- Population: 808,098
- Median household income: $83,668
- Median home value: $492,100 (54% own)
- Median rent: $1,515 (46% rent)
- Top public schools: Riverdale High School (grade A), Lincoln High School (grade A), Riverdale Grade School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Northwest Academy (grade A+), St. Mary's Academy (grade A+), Central Catholic High School (grade A)
- Top places: Northwest District (grade A+), Goose Hollow (grade A+), Pearl (grade A+)
#2. Washington County, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 304
- Population: 599,541
- Median household income: $100,121
- Median home value: $504,300 (61% own)
- Median rent: $1,695 (39% rent)
- Top public schools: Sunset High School (grade A), International School of Beaverton - High School (grade A), Mountainside High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Catlin Gabel School (grade A+), Oregon Episcopal School (grade A+), Jesuit High School (grade A+)
- Top places: Bethany (grade A+), Cedar Mill (grade A+), Cedar Hills (grade A+)
#1. Benton County, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 247
- Population: 95,615
- Median household income: $72,882
- Median home value: $442,300 (56% own)
- Median rent: $1,315 (44% rent)
- Top public schools: Franklin School (grade A), Hoover Elementary School (grade A), Muddy Creek Charter School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Santiam Christian School (grade B), Ashbrook Independent School (grade A+), Corvallis Waldorf School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Corvallis (grade A), Philomath (grade B+), Adair Village (grade A minus)
This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
