Best counties to retire to in Oregon
Best counties to retire to in Oregon
Buyers and sellers of real estate alike—when asked what the three most essential considerations about a property are—will nearly always reply "location, location, location." While this answer is sometimes tongue-in-cheek, it is often quite accurate, and this reply perhaps applies to retirees more than any other demographic. Settling down after a lifetime of working and possibly raising a family calls for the perfect location: a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible.
When seniors aged 65 or older decide where they want to live out their golden years, they consider particular factors, such as the cost of living, government services, health care facilities, weather and overall climate, crime rate, outdoor recreational activities, eating establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.
To find the best counties to retire to in Oregon based on these criteria, Stacker compiled a list using 2025 rankings from Niche, which ranks counties based on cost of living, health care access, recreation, weather, and more. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.
While location is critical as retirees determine where to spend their senior years enjoying favorite activities, it's a unique decision based on many preferences and needs. Whether it be bustling downtowns or access to parks, affordable home prices or cultural amenities like museums, retirees seeking to settle in a permanent spot are sure to find a private paradise in any of these counties recommended by Niche because, in the end, there is no place like home—no matter the location.
Read on to discover the best counties to retire to in Oregon.
#25. Yamhill County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C), 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-)
#24. Wasco County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (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)
#23. Jefferson County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (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+)
#22. Multnomah County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C), 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+)
#21. Washington County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C), 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)
#20. Klamath County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (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-)
#19. Union County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C+), 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+)
#18. Lane County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (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-)
#17. Clackamas County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (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+)
#16. Grant County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C+), cost of living (C+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 7,238
- Median household income: $59,800
- Median home value: $225,100
- Top places to live: Canyon City (B+), John Day (B), Long Creek (B-)
#15. Tillamook County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C+), cost of living (D+), weather (B), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 27,471
- Median household income: $66,551
- Median home value: $408,600
- Top places to live: Bay City (B-), Tillamook (C), Manzanita (B+)
#14. Jackson County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (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. Benton County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), 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-)
#12. Deschutes County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (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-)
#11. Crook County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (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+)
#10. Harney County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 7,515
- Median household income: $48,338
- Median home value: $190,600
- Top places to live: Hines (B-), Burns (C+)
#9. Lake County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), 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-)
#8. Clatsop County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (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+)
#7. Baker County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (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+)
#6. Josephine County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (D+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 88,069
- Median household income: $59,097
- Median home value: $383,100
- Top places to live: Grants Pass (C), Redwood (C), Merlin (C-)
#5. Douglas County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (C-), weather (A), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 111,807
- Median household income: $58,983
- Median home value: $283,200
- Top places to live: Green (B-), Reedsport (C+), Roseburg (C+)
#4. Lincoln County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), 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+)
#3. Wallowa County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), 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+)
#2. Curry County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (C-), weather (A+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 23,463
- Median household income: $64,769
- Median home value: $366,700
- Top places to live: Harbor (C-), Gold Beach (C-), Brookings (C-)
#1. Coos County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), 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)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
