Best counties to raise a family in Oregon
Best counties to raise a family in Oregon
For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Oregon using 2025 data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you'll find one that suits your brood.
#25. Lincoln County
- Niche grades: good for families (C), public schools (C+), cost of living (D+), weather (A+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 50,632
- Median household income: $61,314
- Median home value: $387,700
- Top places to live: Newport (B), Lincoln Beach (C+), Toledo (C+)
#24. Coos County
- Niche grades: good for families (C), public schools (C+), cost of living (C-), weather (A+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 64,832
- Median household income: $60,313
- Median home value: $302,800
- Top places to live: North Bend (B), Bandon (B-), Barview (C)
#23. Crook County
- Niche grades: good for families (C), public schools (B-), cost of living (C-), weather (A-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 25,651
- Median household income: $81,675
- Median home value: $423,300
- Top places to live: Prineville (C+)
#22. Clatsop County
- Niche grades: good for families (C), public schools (B-), cost of living (D+), weather (B), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 41,343
- Median household income: $68,705
- Median home value: $437,800
- Top places to live: Gearhart (B), Astoria (B-), Seaside (C+)
#21. Klamath County
- Niche grades: good for families (C), public schools (C), cost of living (C), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 69,812
- Median household income: $59,353
- Median home value: $255,700
- Top places to live: Altamont (B-), Klamath Falls (C), Bonanza (B-)
#20. Morrow County
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (C+), cost of living (C+), weather (A), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 12,249
- Median household income: $70,217
- Median home value: $229,800
- Top places to live: Irrigon (C+), Boardman (C), Ione (C+)
#19. Wasco County
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (C), cost of living (C-), weather (A-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 26,603
- Median household income: $63,602
- Median home value: $332,500
- Top places to live: The Dalles (C+), Chenoweth (C+), Maupin (B)
#18. Baker County
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (B-), cost of living (C), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 16,796
- Median household income: $57,844
- Median home value: $247,700
- Top places to live: Baker City (B), Richland (C+), Haines (C+)
#17. Lake County
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (C+), cost of living (C+), weather (A-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 8,254
- Median household income: $61,222
- Median home value: $219,400
- Top places to live: Lakeview (B), Paisley (B-)
#16. Lane County
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (C+), cost of living (D+), weather (A), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 382,628
- Median household income: $69,311
- Median home value: $395,800
- Top places to live: Eugene (B), Coburg (B-), Creswell (B-)
#15. Polk County
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (C), cost of living (D+), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 88,553
- Median household income: $81,318
- Median home value: $419,500
- Top places to live: Monmouth (B-), Independence (C+), Dallas (C+)
#14. Jackson County
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (C+), cost of living (D+), weather (A), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 222,563
- Median household income: $71,443
- Median home value: $400,200
- Top places to live: Ashland (A), Jacksonville (B), Talent (B)
#13. Union County
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (B-), cost of living (C), weather (A-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 26,192
- Median household income: $64,212
- Median home value: $260,500
- Top places to live: La Grande (B-), Island City (B-), North Powder (C+)
#12. Jefferson County
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (C), cost of living (C-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 24,973
- Median household income: $73,051
- Median home value: $339,200
- Top places to live: Madras (B-), Warm Springs (B-), Culver (C+)
#11. Malheur County
- Niche grades: good for families (C+), public schools (B), cost of living (C), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 31,701
- Median household income: $49,902
- Median home value: $221,300
- Top places to live: Nyssa (B-), Ontario (C+), Adrian (B)
#10. Umatilla County
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (C+), cost of living (C), weather (A), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 80,087
- Median household income: $68,958
- Median home value: $256,100
- Top places to live: Pendleton (B), Stanfield (B-), Umatilla (B-)
#9. Yamhill County
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (B-), cost of living (D+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 108,122
- Median household income: $87,084
- Median home value: $442,700
- Top places to live: Newberg (B), Dundee (B-), McMinnville (B-)
#8. Marion County
- Niche grades: good for families (B-), public schools (B-), cost of living (D+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 346,532
- Median household income: $74,624
- Median home value: $383,300
- Top places to live: Silverton (B-), Salem (B-), Turner (B-)
#7. Deschutes County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (B), cost of living (D), weather (A), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 203,026
- Median household income: $87,640
- Median home value: $596,000
- Top places to live: Bend (B+), Redmond (B), Deschutes River Woods (B-)
#6. Clackamas County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (C+), cost of living (D), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A+)
- Population: 422,308
- Median household income: $100,360
- Median home value: $577,900
- Top places to live: Lake Oswego (A+), West Linn (A), Stafford (B+)
#5. Wallowa County
- Niche grades: good for families (B), public schools (A-), cost of living (C-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 7,532
- Median household income: $65,559
- Median home value: $371,900
- Top places to live: Enterprise (B+), Joseph (C+), Lostine (C+)
#4. Benton County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (D), weather (A-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 96,359
- Median household income: $76,011
- Median home value: $481,700
- Top places to live: Corvallis (A-), Philomath (B+), Adair Village (A-)
#3. Multnomah County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B), cost of living (D-), weather (B), outdoor activities (A+)
- Population: 803,863
- Median household income: $86,247
- Median home value: $528,000
- Top places to live: Goose Hollow (A+), Northwest District (A+), Pearl (A+)
#2. Hood River County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (D+), weather (C), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 23,958
- Median household income: $82,095
- Median home value: $571,200
- Top places to live: Hood River (A-), Mount Hood (A-), Parkdale (B-)
#1. Washington County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B-), cost of living (D), weather (B), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 600,266
- Median household income: $104,434
- Median home value: $558,500
- Top places to live: Bethany (A+), Cedar Mill (A), Cedar Hills (A)
