The ten Greatest Locations to Stay in Oregon in 2025

In case you’re planning on shifting to Oregon, add these cities to your checklist.

Dwelling to lush landscapes, famend coastlines, and ample recreation alternatives, Oregon has all of it. The state can typically be cut up into two sections, divided by the Cascade Mountains: Western Oregon and Jap Oregon. The Columbia River and its well-known Gorge defines the state’s northern border with Washington. Oregon and Washington have related climates, topographies, and cultures, so residents relocating from one to the opposite is pretty widespread.

Western Oregon consists of the Oregon Coast, Oregon Coast Vary, and Willamette Valley, and is the place a majority of the state’s inhabitants lives. Cities like Portland, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, and Cannon Seaside are all positioned right here. The area has a gentle, marine local weather and sees fairly a little bit of rain.

East of the Cascades is Jap Oregon, which is positioned on the Columbia Plateau and is way drier than Western Oregon. Bend, Hermiston, and Pendleton name this space house, with the Blue Mountains, Wallowa Mountains, and Alvord Desert in style locations. The area sees hotter summers and colder, snowy winters.

However which cities within the Beaver State are the perfect for you? On this Redfin article, we’ve uncovered the perfect locations to stay in Oregon, rating them on qualities corresponding to affordability, navigability, and variety of facilities. You will discover extra details about our methodology right here or on the backside of the article.

The very best locations to stay in Oregon

Portland, OR

Milwaukie, OR

Eugene, OR

Salem, OR

Tigard, OR

Bend, OR

Beaverton, OR

Medford, OR

Gresham, OR

Oregon Metropolis, OR

1. Portland, OR

Inhabitants:630,498Median Sale Worth:$545,000Median Lease Worth:$1,650Average Commute Time:24.6 minutesUnemployment Charge:3.8%

Portland tops our checklist as the perfect place to stay in Oregon. Recognized for its quirky vibes, wet climate, and large public parks, Portland has all of it. Usually in comparison with its northern neighbor Seattle, Portland is constructed into the hills alongside the Willamette River, simply south of the Washington border. Town can also be simply an hour and half from each the coast and Mount Hood, making for unimaginable seasonal recreation alternatives.

Portland is famed for its eclectic, small-town really feel and bizarre, indie tradition – and it’s not afraid to lean into it. The Filmed by Bike Pageant, Pedalpalooza, Geek Week, and Rose Metropolis Comedian Con are a number of the hottest annual occasions. Portland additionally hosts the most important iteration of the World Bare Bike Trip alongside its many bikeable streets. The variety of biking occasions is apt, provided that it’s the second-most bikeable metropolis within the U.S. 

On the entire, Portland is in love with bikes, inexperienced areas, and nice delicacies, and has a protracted historical past of being on the forefront of social, governmental, and environmental change. Portland’s public transportation can also be top-notch.

A few of the most well-known points of interest in Portland embody Forest Park, Powell’s Metropolis of Books, the Portland Saturday Market, and TomMcCall Waterfront Park. The realm can also be house to dozens of scrumptious globally-inspired eateries, like Soiled Lettuce, Gabbiano’s, and Urdaneta. And maybe most well-known of all are the town’s a whole bunch of meals carts (vehicles) serving all method of dishes.

Portland houses on the market | Portland homes for hire | Portland flats for hire

2. Milwaukie, OR

Inhabitants:21,594Median Sale Worth:$460,000Median Lease Worth:$1,350Average Commute Time:25.1 minutesUnemployment Charge:3.2%

Just some miles southwest of Portland, Milwaukie is second on our checklist of the perfect locations to stay in Oregon. Town is way slower paced than Portland, providing residents a quiet, inexperienced, suburban really feel whereas nonetheless sustaining a really walkable and bikeable format. It’s additionally very handy to stay in Milwaukie and commute into Portland utilizing the MAX Orange Line. Home and hire costs are a bit increased, although.

Milwaukie is formally often known as the Dogwood Metropolis of the West for the various dogwood bushes that bloom each spring. In actual fact, the town comes collectively yearly on Might twenty first to have fun each its incorporation and its beautiful blooming bushes. This love of nature is mirrored within the dozens of beautiful parks, trails, and viewpoints that dot the world. Sellwood Park, the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Backyard, and the Springwater Hall Path are beloved pure points of interest. 

Milwaukie can also be a metropolis that embraces the previous and new. Downtown, trendy bars and eating places like Ovation Bistro & Bar and Decibel Sound & Drink sit adjoining to Milwaukie Bowl, a traditional cinema and bowling alley. The historic Oaks Amusement Park can also be simply three miles north alongside the Willamette.

Milwaukie houses on the market | Milwaukie homes for hire | Milwaukie flats for hire

3. Eugene, OR

Inhabitants:177,899Median Sale Worth:$451,000Median Lease Worth:$1,410Average Commute Time:18.6 minutesUnemployment Charge:4.7%

Eugene is available in because the third-best place to stay in Oregon. Two hours south of Portland and adjoining to Springfield alongside the Willamette River, Eugene is house to the College of Oregon (UO), and is the birthplace of Nike. Town additionally boasts ample out of doors recreation, native outlets and markets, and historic structure. 

Unsurprisingly, Eugene is obsessive about working – it’s often known as TrackTown USA – and holds the annual Prefontaine Basic at UO’s Hayward Discipline. A variety of Olympic athletes additionally practice in Eugene.

Just like Portland, Eugene is equidistant from the Oregon coast and Cascade mountains – nearly two hours by automobile every method. Plus, it presents loads of out of doors recreation inside metropolis limits, too. The beautiful Alton Baker Park and Hendricks Park are native hotspots, whereas dozens of strolling and biking trails and bridges make it straightforward to get round. 

Eugene is within the South Willamette Valley, that means wineries, nice delicacies, and native agriculture are all close by. King Property Vineyard, Morning Glory Cafe, and Sabai Cafe & Bar are particularly in style choices. 

Importantly, Eugene has grown significantly up to now a number of years. It was a reasonably small, reasonably priced, and eclectic faculty city, however as extra folks moved to the world and the college grew bigger, housing, leases, and the overall price of residing grew alongside it. Nonetheless, Eugene remains to be way more reasonably priced than different Northwest cities like Portland and Seattle.

Eugene houses on the market | Eugene homes for hire | Eugene flats for hire

4. Salem, OR

Inhabitants:177,432Median Sale Worth:$460,000Median Lease Worth:$1,200Average Commute Time:22.4 minutesUnemployment Charge:3.8%

Subsequent on our checklist is Salem, the capital of Oregon. Positioned between Eugene and Portland alongside the Willamette River, Salem is within the coronary heart of the fertile Willamette Valley and surrounded by beautiful state parks, forests, and vineyards. Willamette College calls the town house and even presents internships on the capitol constructing for these inquisitive about native authorities. 

Salem has a status for being pretty quiet in comparison with Portland and Eugene, but it surely has lots going for it. Maybe most well-known is the regional wine scene, highlighted by the Honeywood Vineyard and Redhawk Vineyard. Eola Hills Wine Cellars even presents an all-you-can-eat Sunday Brunch. Commuting to different cities can also be pretty straightforward: simply hop on the Amtrak practice and you may get to Portland and even Seattle inside a number of hours. 

Outside recreation is one other main advantage of residing in Salem. You’re inside two hours of the Cascades and the coast, and inside strolling distance to loads of native parks. Minto-Brown Island Park is among the largest parks within the space and presents trails, a golf course, and riverside actions year-round. 

Like most cities alongside the Willamette Valley west of Cascades, Salem sees pretty wet climate from October by means of April, with late spring and early fall offering probably the most fulfilling climate. A rise in wildfires, warmth waves, and different excessive climate has made summers more difficult, particularly since most houses don’t have air-con.

Salem houses on the market | Salem homes for hire | Salem flats for hire

5. Tigard, OR

Inhabitants:55,590Median Sale Worth:$620,000Median Lease Worth:$1,725Average Commute Time:23.4 minutesUnemployment Charge:2.6%

Tigard is available in at quantity 5 on our checklist of the perfect locations to stay in Oregon. Simply south of Beaverton, Tigard is a suburb of Portland and a preferred spot for individuals who get pleasure from a barely slower tempo of life. Nonetheless, the town nonetheless boasts loads of vigorous hotspots, together with Pizza Caboose, Washington Sq. Mall, and the Broadway Rose Theatre Firm.

Pedestrians, cyclists, and out of doors recreation are closely prioritized in Tigard. Most roads are tree-lined and have designated bike lanes and well-maintained sidewalks with entry for folks with disabilities. For an extended outing, Fanno Creek Path is among the hottest routes for runners and walkers, connecting Tigard with neighboring suburbs Beaverton and Tualatin, and even extending to Portland. 

Parks are all over the place as effectively. Greenway Park, Summerlake Metropolis Park, and Dirksen Nature Park are in style spots. And simply outdoors the town, the Tualatin River Nationwide Wildlife Refuge and Tryon Creek State Pure Space present prospects for longer outings. 

Commuting to Portland could also be a problem although, as the primary freeway (Pacific Freeway) typically will get extremely crowded throughout rush hour. Freeway 217 probably received’t assist both. There are many direct bus routes from Tigard to Portland, however no practice service. The marginally increased price of residing additionally pushes it down in rankings.

Tigard houses on the market | Tigard homes for hire | Tigard flats for hire

6. Bend, OR

Inhabitants:104,557Median Sale Worth:$685,000Median Lease Worth:$2,100Average Commute Time:16.9 minutesUnemployment Charge:3%

The one metropolis on our checklist east of the Cascades, Bend, OR is available in at quantity six. Sitting on the Deschutes River three hours southeast of Portland, Bend is a fast-growing out of doors haven recognized for its four-season recreation, small-town really feel, and historic downtown. 

Throughout the metropolis, it feels as if you’re already within the wilderness; native and regional parks and trails are woven into the material of the town. The Deschutes River Path, Shevlin Park, Larkspur Path, and the Pilot Butte Path are nice spots. 

Bend can also be only a quick drive away from Mount Bachelor, Mount Washington, the Three Sisters mountains, and the Deschutes Nationwide Forest, all of that are excellent for summer season and winter recreation. Snowboarding, climbing, climbing, biking, and working are all in style choices.

Bend’s local weather is markedly totally different from Western Oregon; it’s primarily dry and sunny, with reasonably heat days and funky nights. Town sits at 3,623 ft in elevation simply east of the Cascade Mountains, and is technically thought-about a excessive desert. This implies temperatures can fluctuate broadly from day to nighttime, and particularly between seasons. Summers are normally dry and pretty sizzling, whereas winters will be chilly and snowy. Temperatures are typically reasonable, although. 

One rising concern in regards to the space is the wildfire and air high quality danger throughout the summer season and early fall. Lately, Bend has seen a number of weeks of unhealthy air high quality as a consequence of wildfire smoke. In case you’re contemplating shifting to the world, be sure to perceive how one can preserve good indoor air high quality.

Bend houses on the market | Bend homes for hire | Bend flats for hire 

7. Beaverton, OR

Inhabitants:96,945Median Sale Worth:$650,000Median Lease Worth:$1,660Average Commute Time:24.1 minutesUnemployment Charge:2.8%

Beaverton is the seventh metropolis on our checklist of the perfect locations to stay in Oregon. Tucked between the West Hills and Tualatin Valley farmlands, Beaverton incorporates big-city facilities whereas sustaining its rural and suburban attraction. Plus, it’s solely seven miles from Downtown Portland and is alongside the MAX Pink Line, that means quick access into the town. Beaverton is thought for being house to the Nike and Intel headquarters.

Beaverton is an extremely fertile, inexperienced, and clear place to stay. Infrastructure is effectively maintained, bike lanes are all over the place, and forests and streams dominate the panorama. And most spectacular of all are the countless trails, parks, and paths. The Westside (Powerline) Path, Cooper Mountain Nature Park, and Tualatin Hills Nature Park are in style spots. 

An essential facet to bear in mind is that Beaverton has pushed its city boundaries out fairly a bit up to now decade, which has led to numerous modifications to native farms and agriculture. Many beloved U-Decide farms and native markets have been become new housing developments and colleges. Beaverton only in the near past (unofficially) handed 100,000 residents, in any case, and the town needs to continue to grow. 

Loads of native farms are nonetheless round, although, together with Hoffman Farms Retailer, Oregon Heritage Farms, and Smith Berry Barn. There are additionally many beautiful vineyards in and across the space which might be in style amongst locals, like Cooper Mountain Vineyards and Raptor Ridge Vineyard. The Beaverton Farmers Market can also be a beloved Saturday custom working year-round.

Beaverton houses on the market | Beaverton homes for hire | Beaverton flats for hire

8. Medford, OR

Inhabitants:85,098Median Sale Worth:$435,000Median Lease Worth:$1,500Average Commute Time:16.8 minutesUnemployment Charge:3.1%

Positioned in Southwestern Oregon, simply 31 miles north of the California Border, Medford is the eighth metropolis on our checklist of the perfect locations to stay in Oregon. Town is within the Rogue Valley south of the Willamette Valley, which suggests there’s loads of recreation, farming, wine, and pure magnificence. The Rogue River runs from close by Crater Lake Nationwide Park to the Pacific Ocean, whereas Mount Ashland and Mount McCloughlin present trails, winter recreation, and vistas. The Desk Rocks are one other landmark.

Dwelling in Medford additionally means you’re near whitewater rafting in Grants Move and the well-known Shakespeare Pageant in Ashland. In case you would relatively keep inside metropolis limits, there are brewpubs, wineries, and artisanal delicacies inside strolling distance. Wild River Brewing and Pizza, DANCIN Vineyards, and Tartine are nice spots for a lunch or night occasion.

Medford’s local weather can also be a welcome bonus. Town is in a rain shadow between the Siskiyou and Cascade Mountains, that means its local weather is extra akin to Jap Oregon than you’d anticipate. Medford sees half as a lot precipitation as Portland and Eugene (~18 inches vs. ~40 inches), with most of it coming throughout the cool winter months. Summers are sizzling and dry. Fog and temperature inversions within the winter may also play a big function in each day life by limiting visibility and air high quality pretty considerably.

Medford houses on the market | Medford homes for hire | Medford flats for hire

9. Gresham, OR

Inhabitants:110,685Median Sale Worth:$460,000Median Lease Worth:$1,380Average Commute Time:27.1 minutesUnemployment Charge:3.7%

Gresham is a far-eastern suburb of Portland (in what’s often known as East County) and is thought for its number of facilities, suburban really feel, and proximity to vibrant pure magnificence. Gresham covers a reasonably large space and incorporates all the things from a vigorous downtown, to riverside marinas, to rural farmland. Town is commonly lumped along with close by Troutdale.

Outside recreation is a big a part of life in Gresham. A few of the hottest out of doors spots are the Powell Butte Nature Park, Principal Metropolis Park, Sandy River Delta, and the 21-mile Springwater Hall Path. You’re additionally simply over an hour from Mount Hood. When the mountain is out throughout a transparent day, the view will make you yearn to be on its slopes. 

Many individuals stay in Gresham and work in downtown Portland. As such, it’s pretty straightforward to commute into the large metropolis alongside Freeway 26, Interstate 84, or the MAX Blue Line, which runs many of the day, day by day. Driving throughout rush hour can take fairly some time, although. In actual fact, the Portland space has the Tenth-worst rush-hour visitors within the nation. The area is regularly working to enhance its navigability, although.

Gresham houses on the market | Gresham homes for hire | Gresham flats for hire

10. Oregon Metropolis, OR

Inhabitants:37,351Median Sale Worth:$625,000Median Lease Worth:$1,675Average Commute Time:26.8 minutesUnemployment Charge:3%

Oregon Metropolis rounds out our checklist because the tenth-best place to stay in Oregon. A far southern suburb of Portland, Oregon Metropolis is thought for its industrial historical past, riverside views of the Willamette, and being the ultimate cease on the Oregon Path. Whereas Oregon Metropolis is a suburb, it has its personal vibe and locals view it as a definite metropolis. The local weather is sort of similar to Portland, although.

Historical past is among the greatest components of residing in Oregon Metropolis. Within the heart of the town are the Willamette Falls, the positioning of the nation’s first long-distance electrical line and a significant milestone of hydroelectric energy. Simply northeast of that’s the Municipal Elevator, the one out of doors municipal elevator within the U.S., which vertically connects two ranges of the town separated by a bluff. The McLoughlin Home, Museum of the Oregon Territory, and Finish of the Oregon Path Interpretive Heart are close by as effectively.

Whereas Oregon Metropolis is small, it’s nonetheless house to loads of good meals and breweries. Some in style spots embody Canard, Oregon Metropolis Brewing Firm, Tony’s Fish Market, and Mi Famiglia Pizzeria.

Oregon Metropolis houses on the market | Oregon Metropolis homes for hire | Oregon Metropolis flats for hire

Methodology

Redfin’s Greatest Locations to Stay rankings are supposed to assist house searchers make an knowledgeable determination when selecting the place to stay. To try to measure the general high quality of a metro space, every rating takes into consideration a number of key elements, together with entry to healthcare, open out of doors house, navigability, housing developments, employment statistics, earnings, and journey time to work. Solely metros with a inhabitants of 20,000 or better have been thought-about for our Oregon checklist. Extra details about our methodology will be discovered right here.

Information legitimate April 2025. This text is for informational and academic functions solely.