Best places to live in Oregon
An ideal town or neighborhood looks different for everyone.
Those who can't get enough of the outdoors may prioritize proximity to trails, lakes, and beaches, while parents are looking for places with top-ranked schools for their children. Culture lovers might want to live in a city with museums and art walks, whereas sports fans look for professional or college sports teams nearby.
Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Oregon using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums.
Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.
CORRECTION: A previously published version of this piece, in some cases, incorrectly listed private schools as public schools.
#28. Bethany, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 1,126
- Population: 30,983
- Median household income: $156,512
- Median home value: $669,200 (69% own)
- Median rent: $2,028 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Sunset High School (grade A), International School of Beaverton - High School (grade A), Lincoln High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Catlin Gabel School (grade A+), Oregon Episcopal School (grade A+), Jesuit High School (grade A+)
#27. Cedar Hills, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 1,444
- Population: 9,076
- Median household income: $103,544
- Median home value: $555,600 (59% own)
- Median rent: $1,421 (41% 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+)
#26. Cedar Mill, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 1,308
- Population: 19,151
- Median household income: $165,184
- Median home value: $815,200 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,721 (24% 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+)
#25. Lake Oswego, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 1,918
- Population: 40,457
- Median household income: $127,252
- Median home value: $825,000 (70% own)
- Median rent: $1,979 (30% 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: Catlin Gabel School (grade A+), Oregon Episcopal School (grade A+), Jesuit High School (grade A+)
#24. Eliot, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 2,084
- Population: data not available
- Median household income: data not available
- Median home value: data not available (data not available own)
- Median rent: data not available (data not available rent)
- Top public schools:
- Top private schools:
#23. Sylvan-Highlands, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 2,048
- Population: 1,296
- Median household income: $154,583
- Median home value: $846,900 (73% own)
- Median rent: $2,709 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Mountainside High School (grade A), Lincoln High School (grade A), Beaverton Academy of Science & Engineering (grade A)
- Top private schools: Catlin Gabel School (grade A+), Oregon Episcopal School (grade A+), Jesuit High School (grade A+)
#22. South Burlingame, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 2,036
- Population: data not available
- Median household income: data not available
- Median home value: data not available (data not available own)
- Median rent: data not available (data not available rent)
- Top public schools:
- Top private schools:
#21. Woodstock, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 2,031
- Population: 9,871
- Median household income: $113,069
- Median home value: $564,177 (74% own)
- Median rent: $2,031 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Le Monde French Immersion Public Charter School (grade A minus), Emerson School (grade A minus), Portland Arthur Academy (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Northwest Academy (grade A+), St. Mary's Academy (grade A+), Central Catholic High School (grade A)
#20. Eastmoreland, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 1,725
- Population: 4,364
- Median household income: $208,951
- Median home value: $876,211 (93% own)
- Median rent: $2,281 (7% rent)
- Top public schools: Le Monde French Immersion Public Charter School (grade A minus), Emerson School (grade A minus), Portland Arthur Academy (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Northwest Academy (grade A+), St. Mary's Academy (grade A+), Central Catholic High School (grade A)
#19. Hosford-Abernethy, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 1,723
- Population: 7,142
- Median household income: $117,886
- Median home value: $712,088 (54% own)
- Median rent: $1,759 (46% rent)
- Top public schools: Le Monde French Immersion Public Charter School (grade A minus), Emerson School (grade A minus), Portland Arthur Academy (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Catlin Gabel School (grade A+), Oregon Episcopal School (grade A+), Jesuit High School (grade A+)
#18. Forest Park, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 1,636
- Population: 3,972
- Median household income: $188,091
- Median home value: $849,515 (88% own)
- Median rent: $2,070 (12% rent)
- Top public schools: Sunset High School (grade A), International School of Beaverton - High School (grade A), Lincoln High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Catlin Gabel School (grade A+), Oregon Episcopal School (grade A+), Jesuit High School (grade A+)
#17. Hollywood, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 1,573
- Population: 2,447
- Median household income: $95,317
- Median home value: $681,429 (40% own)
- Median rent: $1,486 (60% rent)
- Top public schools: Odyssey Middle School (grade A), Grant High School (grade A minus), Le Monde French Immersion Public Charter School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Northwest Academy (grade A+), St. Mary's Academy (grade A+), St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic High School (grade A+)
#16. Alameda, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 1,541
- Population: 5,236
- Median household income: $203,920
- Median home value: $854,609 (94% own)
- Median rent: $2,835 (6% rent)
- Top public schools: Grant High School (grade A minus), Le Monde French Immersion Public Charter School (grade A minus), Emerson School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Northwest Academy (grade A+), St. Mary's Academy (grade A+), Central Catholic High School (grade A)
#15. Kerns, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 1,465
- Population: 6,491
- Median household income: $62,204
- Median home value: $648,979 (17% own)
- Median rent: $1,428 (83% rent)
- Top public schools: Lincoln High School (grade A), Odyssey Middle School (grade A), Grant High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Catlin Gabel School (grade A+), Oregon Episcopal School (grade A+), Jesuit High School (grade A+)
#14. Southwest Hills, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 1,452
- Population: 7,436
- Median household income: $184,813
- Median home value: $966,057 (71% own)
- Median rent: $2,359 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: Mountainside High School (grade A), Lincoln High School (grade A), Sato Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Catlin Gabel School (grade A+), Oregon Episcopal School (grade A+), Jesuit High School (grade A+)
#13. Sunnyside, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 1,387
- Population: 8,057
- Median household income: $95,196
- Median home value: $617,488 (37% own)
- Median rent: $1,711 (63% rent)
- Top public schools: Le Monde French Immersion Public Charter School (grade A minus), Emerson School (grade A minus), Portland Arthur Academy (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Northwest Academy (grade A+), St. Mary's Academy (grade A+), Central Catholic High School (grade A)
#12. Sabin, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 1,375
- Population: 5,438
- Median household income: $151,102
- Median home value: $717,755 (68% own)
- Median rent: $2,411 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Grant High School (grade A minus), Le Monde French Immersion Public Charter School (grade A minus), Emerson School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Jesuit High School (grade A+), Northwest Academy (grade A+), St. Mary's Academy (grade A+)
#11. Richmond, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 1,338
- Population: 13,413
- Median household income: $121,061
- Median home value: $645,374 (59% own)
- Median rent: $1,663 (41% rent)
- Top public schools: Le Monde French Immersion Public Charter School (grade A minus), Emerson School (grade A minus), Portland Arthur Academy (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Jesuit High School (grade A+), Northwest Academy (grade A+), St. Mary's Academy (grade A+)
#10. Hillside, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 1,317
- Population: 2,294
- Median household income: $189,686
- Median home value: $974,184 (89% own)
- Median rent: $2,211 (11% rent)
- Top public schools: Lincoln High School (grade A), Sato Elementary School (grade A), Le Monde French Immersion Public Charter School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Catlin Gabel School (grade A+), Oregon Episcopal School (grade A+), Jesuit High School (grade A+)
#9. Arlington Heights, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 1,147
- Population: 998
- Median household income: $135,087
- Median home value: $954,832 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,299 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Lincoln High School (grade A), Sato Elementary School (grade A), Le Monde French Immersion Public Charter School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Catlin Gabel School (grade A+), Oregon Episcopal School (grade A+), Jesuit High School (grade A+)
#8. Homestead, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 1,097
- Population: 2,642
- Median household income: $104,125
- Median home value: $766,339 (36% own)
- Median rent: $1,531 (64% rent)
- Top public schools: Lincoln High School (grade A), Le Monde French Immersion Public Charter School (grade A minus), West Sylvan Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Catlin Gabel School (grade A+), Oregon Episcopal School (grade A+), Jesuit High School (grade A+)
#7. Laurelhurst, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 1,080
- Population: 4,800
- Median household income: $166,354
- Median home value: $860,499 (82% own)
- Median rent: $1,851 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Odyssey Middle School (grade A), Grant High School (grade A minus), Le Monde French Immersion Public Charter School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Northwest Academy (grade A+), St. Mary's Academy (grade A+), St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic High School (grade A+)
#6. Irvington, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 1,072
- Population: 6,692
- Median household income: $124,545
- Median home value: $869,703 (49% own)
- Median rent: $1,781 (51% rent)
- Top public schools: Grant High School (grade A minus), Le Monde French Immersion Public Charter School (grade A minus), Emerson School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Catlin Gabel School (grade A+), Jesuit High School (grade A+), Northwest Academy (grade A+)
#5. Sullivan's Gulch, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 857
- Population: 4,001
- Median household income: $99,954
- Median home value: $519,956 (28% own)
- Median rent: $1,655 (72% rent)
- Top public schools: Odyssey Middle School (grade A), Grant High School (grade A minus), Le Monde French Immersion Public Charter School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Jesuit High School (grade A+), Northwest Academy (grade A+), St. Mary's Academy (grade A+)
#4. Grant Park, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 822
- Population: 3,492
- Median household income: $179,802
- Median home value: $880,717 (88% own)
- Median rent: $1,799 (12% rent)
- Top public schools: Odyssey Middle School (grade A), Grant High School (grade A minus), Le Monde French Immersion Public Charter School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Northwest Academy (grade A+), St. Mary's Academy (grade A+), Central Catholic High School (grade A)
#3. Pearl, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 807
- Population: 10,079
- Median household income: $122,307
- Median home value: $684,653 (28% own)
- Median rent: $1,706 (72% rent)
- Top public schools: Lincoln High School (grade A), Le Monde French Immersion Public Charter School (grade A minus), West Sylvan Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Catlin Gabel School (grade A+), Oregon Episcopal School (grade A+), Jesuit High School (grade A+)
#2. Goose Hollow, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 617
- Population: 6,968
- Median household income: $83,976
- Median home value: $477,609 (23% own)
- Median rent: $1,491 (77% rent)
- Top public schools: Lincoln High School (grade A), Le Monde French Immersion Public Charter School (grade A minus), West Sylvan Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Catlin Gabel School (grade A+), Oregon Episcopal School (grade A+), Jesuit High School (grade A+)
#1. Northwest District, Oregon
- Overall Rank: 531
- Population: 16,501
- Median household income: $80,266
- Median home value: $757,726 (21% own)
- Median rent: $1,567 (79% rent)
- Top public schools: Lincoln High School (grade A), Sato Elementary School (grade A), Le Monde French Immersion Public Charter School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Catlin Gabel School (grade A+), Oregon Episcopal School (grade A+), Jesuit High School (grade A+)
This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 42 states.
