Top Cities in Oregon

Oregon at a Glance

Oregon played a pivotal role in the nation’s history, an oasis at the end of a long and dusty trail during the era of westward expansion. Today, the state is again experiencing an influx of new residents, those seeking jobs in the state’s flourishing industries. People are drawn to the coastal state for other reasons, not the least of which is its abundance of natural beauty.

Oregon is known for its “Seven Wonders,” naturally occurring marvels throughout the state. Mount Hood, with its iconic glacial peak, is home to several ski resorts and draws more than a million tourists each year. The Columbia River Gorge, not far from Portland, offers a plethora of water sports as well as 40 miles of wineries and vineyards. The beautifully stratified Painted Hills near Mitchell are a monument to millions of years of geological history. The state’s other “Wonders” include Smith Rock, the Wallowas, Crater Lake, and the coastline. Portland, the state’s biggest city with more than 2.3 million residents in its metro region, is a wonder of its own. It has long served as a cultural nexus, particularly for music, and was one of the primary incubators for the punk and grunge movements of the 80s and 90s. It’s also a haven for foodies, with hundreds of street carts, more microbreweries than any other city, and an award-winning food and bar scene.

Top Cities in Oregon

• Bridgeport  
• Brookings  
• Coos Bay  
• Dillard  
• Eugene  
• Florence  
• Gresham  
• Happy Valley  
• Hillsboro  
• Keizer  
• Lake Oswego  
• Lincoln City  
• Marylhurst  
• Mcminnville  

Why You’ll Love Living in Oregon

Given all of Oregon’s natural wonders, it’s no surprise that tourism is one of the mainstays of the economy. Technology is a significant sector as well; Google, Facebook, and Amazon operate datacenters throughout the state. Other major industries include timber, salmon fishing, and agriculture. The climate and terrain in Oregon is ideal for growing grapes for wine, as well as cranberries and hazelnuts. The state’s top employers include Intel, Providence Health and Services, Nike, Oregon State University, and Hewlett-Packard. The state has a median household income of $50,000, and the overall cost of living for the state is just 17 percent higher than the national average. Springfield, Eugene, and Salem all make the list of top 10 most affordable places to live in Oregon.

Real estate market analysts anticipate a housing boom for Oregon in the near future as young professionals choose to buy homes. According to the Portland Business Journal, the healthiest housing markets in Oregon include Lake Oswego, Scappoose, Hermiston, North Bend, and Corvallis. The Bend metropolitan area in Deschutes County is one of the fastest-growing in the nation, with a population jump of nearly three percent between 2013 and 2014. The median home price in Oregon, at $246,000, is considerably higher than the national median of $181,000. Among the state’s five biggest cities, homes in Salem are the most affordable, with a median list price of $196,000, while Portland is at the other end of the spectrum with a median asking price of $288,000.