You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Oregon. Best sururbs in Oregon. Best counties in Oregon.
Etc., etc., etc.
But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Beaver State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.
Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Oregon based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.
We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Oregon ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Oregon For 2024
- Maywood Park
- North Plains
- Durham
- Dundee
- Gearhart
- Aurora
- Adair Village
- Stafford
- Sunriver
- Turner
- Metzger
- Dunes City
- Cannon Beach
- Sublimity
- Banks
What’s the best small town in Oregon? Maywood Park is the best small town in Oregon based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Maywood Park, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.
But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.
For more reading on the Beaver State check out:
The 15 Best Small Towns In Oregon For 2024
1. Maywood Park
/10
Population: 1,043
Median Income: $130,481 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $575,363 (19th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.0%
2. North Plains
/10
Population: 3,365
Median Income: $109,559 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $581,941 (16th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 6.0%
3. Durham
/10
Population: 1,860
Median Income: $98,839 (11th Best)
Median Home Value: $742,426 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.2%
4. Dundee
/10
Population: 3,224
Median Income: $98,152 (13th Best)
Median Home Value: $571,189 (20th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.7%
5. Gearhart
/10
Population: 2,060
Median Income: $100,536 (9th Best)
Median Home Value: $640,772 (10th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.6%
6. Aurora
Population: 1,055
Median Income: $105,139 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $672,460 (9th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.5%
7. Adair Village
/10
Population: 1,185
Median Income: $91,591 (22nd Best)
Median Home Value: $414,394 (60th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.9%
8. Stafford
/10
Population: 1,567
Median Income: $180,967 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $1,293,327 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%
9. Sunriver
/10
Population: 1,516
Median Income: $87,276 (26th Best)
Median Home Value: $734,680 (6th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%
10. Turner
/10
Population: 2,792
Median Income: $101,292 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $555,790 (23rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 6.0%
11. Metzger
/10
Population: 3,932
Median Income: $92,763 (20th Best)
Median Home Value: $540,590 (26th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 8.1%
12. Dunes City
/10
Population: 1,223
Median Income: $71,058 (47th Best)
Median Home Value: $605,721 (12th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.5%
13. Cannon Beach
/10
Population: 1,271
Median Income: $63,509 (64th Best)
Median Home Value: $901,669 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.7%
14. Sublimity
/10
Population: 2,945
Median Income: $74,875 (44th Best)
Median Home Value: $544,981 (25th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.5%
15. Banks
/10
Population: 2,047
Median Income: $82,708 (33rd Best)
Median Home Value: $604,265 (13th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 7.9%
Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Oregon
We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Oregon possible.
Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2018-2022 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:
- Population Density (Higher is better)
- Lowest Unemployment Rates
- Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
- Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
- Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
- Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
- Commute Times (Lower is better)
We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 115 to be exact.
We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 115, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Oregon. Top of that list — Maywood Park.
This is our tenth time ranking the best small places to live in Oregon.
Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones
We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Oregon are the best in which to live.
And who can argue with that?
The best small towns in Oregon are Maywood Park, North Plains, Durham, Dundee, Gearhart, Aurora, Adair Village, Stafford, Sunriver, and Turner.
If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Oregon:
- Warm Springs
- Falls City
- Mission
For more Oregon reading, check out:
Best Small Towns In Oregon
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Median Home Value | Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maywood Park, OR | 1,043 | $130,481 | 2.0% | |
| 2 | North Plains, OR | 3,365 | $109,559 | 6.0% | |
| 3 | Durham, OR | 1,860 | $98,839 | 3.2% | |
| 4 | Dundee, OR | 3,224 | $98,152 | 5.7% | |
| 5 | Gearhart, OR | 2,060 | $100,536 | 2.6% | |
| 6 | Aurora, OR | 1,055 | $105,139 | 1.5% | |
| 7 | Adair Village, OR | 1,185 | $91,591 | 4.9% | |
| 8 | Stafford, OR | 1,567 | $180,967 | 0.0% | |
| 9 | Sunriver, OR | 1,516 | $87,276 | 0.0% | |
| 10 | Turner, OR | 2,792 | $101,292 | 6.0% | |
| 11 | Metzger, OR | 3,932 | $92,763 | 8.1% | |
| 12 | Dunes City, OR | 1,223 | $71,058 | 1.5% | |
| 13 | Cannon Beach, OR | 1,271 | $63,509 | 1.7% | |
| 14 | Sublimity, OR | 2,945 | $74,875 | 2.5% | |
| 15 | Banks, OR | 2,047 | $82,708 | 7.9% | |
| 16 | Warren, OR | 1,608 | $95,708 | 3.3% | |
| 17 | Sisters, OR | 2,992 | $84,088 | 4.0% | |
| 18 | Columbia City, OR | 1,773 | $96,379 | 2.8% | |
| 19 | Beavercreek, OR | 4,532 | $119,119 | 3.0% | |
| 20 | Jacksonville, OR | 3,008 | $100,486 | 8.8% | |
| 21 | Yamhill, OR | 1,184 | $115,000 | 2.0% | |
| 22 | Coburg, OR | 1,539 | $79,732 | 12.4% | |
| 23 | Lafayette, OR | 4,391 | $93,243 | 4.7% | |
| 24 | Millersburg, OR | 2,964 | $119,148 | 2.9% | |
| 25 | Siletz, OR | 1,134 | $84,205 | 5.3% | |
| 26 | Island City, OR | 1,054 | $63,594 | 2.8% | |
| 27 | Brownsville, OR | 1,832 | $78,348 | 2.0% | |
| 28 | Williams, OR | 1,173 | $81,310 | 0.0% | |
| 29 | Carlton, OR | 2,339 | $92,500 | 5.2% | |
| 30 | Pacific City, OR | 1,767 | $65,385 | 0.0% | |
| 31 | Eagle Crest, OR | 3,074 | $95,492 | 5.2% | |
| 32 | Aumsville, OR | 4,219 | $85,636 | 4.8% | |
| 33 | Joseph, OR | 1,048 | $48,309 | 5.3% | |
| 34 | Three Rivers, OR | 3,762 | $75,313 | 8.2% | |
| 35 | Depoe Bay, OR | 2,066 | $66,667 | 13.1% | |
| 36 | Hubbard, OR | 3,427 | $89,016 | 2.5% | |
| 37 | Culver, OR | 2,173 | $81,534 | 1.3% | |
| 38 | South Lebanon, OR | 1,084 | $54,507 | 0.0% | |
| 39 | Cascade Locks, OR | 1,418 | $62,195 | 3.8% | |
| 40 | Odell, OR | 3,003 | $82,768 | 4.8% | |
| 41 | Harbor, OR | 2,003 | $46,528 | 5.7% | |
| 42 | Harrisburg, OR | 3,663 | $51,708 | 5.5% | |
| 43 | Bay City, OR | 2,224 | $64,167 | 3.6% | |
| 44 | Phoenix, OR | 4,389 | $47,382 | 4.1% | |
| 45 | Ruch, OR | 1,368 | $79,500 | 2.4% | |
| 46 | Tangent, OR | 1,299 | $83,500 | 5.8% | |
| 47 | Enterprise, OR | 2,172 | $53,750 | 10.5% | |
| 48 | Rockaway Beach, OR | 1,393 | $47,788 | 6.9% | |
| 49 | Jefferson, OR | 3,324 | $87,604 | 9.7% | |
| 50 | Amity, OR | 1,764 | $90,000 | 2.9% | |
| 51 | Mulino, OR | 2,203 | $98,417 | 11.6% | |
| 52 | Lincoln Beach, OR | 2,779 | $60,508 | 3.6% | |
| 53 | Halsey, OR | 1,419 | $96,250 | 5.3% | |
| 54 | Barview, OR | 1,726 | $70,294 | 10.2% | |
| 55 | Shady Cove, OR | 3,084 | $60,702 | 9.0% | |
| 56 | New Hope, OR | 1,399 | $68,194 | 11.8% | |
| 57 | Donald, OR | 1,151 | $81,250 | 12.0% | |
| 58 | Lyons, OR | 1,175 | $94,231 | 8.6% | |
| 59 | Lowell, OR | 1,211 | $64,135 | 2.1% | |
| 60 | Redwood, OR | 3,275 | $69,393 | 9.2% | |
| 61 | Dayton, OR | 2,677 | $76,014 | 15.7% | |
| 62 | Pilot Rock, OR | 1,271 | $71,650 | 3.3% | |
| 63 | Estacada, OR | 4,619 | $78,594 | 6.1% | |
| 64 | Rogue River, OR | 1,997 | $43,929 | 12.2% | |
| 65 | Mount Angel, OR | 3,413 | $54,583 | 11.2% | |
| 66 | Hines, OR | 1,608 | $47,321 | 6.7% | |
| 67 | Wood Village, OR | 4,548 | $67,014 | 2.3% | |
| 68 | Gervais, OR | 2,605 | $86,875 | 6.9% | |
| 69 | Lakeview, OR | 2,947 | $52,574 | 7.5% | |
| 70 | Athena, OR | 1,333 | $66,333 | 10.5% | |
| 71 | Vernonia, OR | 2,285 | $78,315 | 7.7% | |
| 72 | Gold Hill, OR | 1,261 | $39,338 | 3.3% | |
| 73 | Reedsport, OR | 4,307 | $48,329 | 1.3% | |
| 74 | Elgin, OR | 1,603 | $49,155 | 2.1% | |
| 75 | Stanfield, OR | 2,128 | $68,750 | 6.7% | |
| 76 | Bandon, OR | 3,317 | $42,404 | 14.0% | |
| 77 | Oakland, OR | 1,288 | $60,909 | 15.1% | |
| 78 | Roseburg North, OR | 4,478 | $55,810 | 8.1% | |
| 79 | Riddle, OR | 1,157 | $60,121 | 8.2% | |
| 80 | Coquille, OR | 4,009 | $48,008 | 6.0% | |
| 81 | Chenoweth, OR | 1,717 | $59,148 | 12.9% | |
| 82 | Gold Beach, OR | 2,533 | $49,018 | 9.6% | |
| 83 | Terrebonne, OR | 1,298 | $70,526 | 26.3% | |
| 84 | Merlin, OR | 1,814 | $65,670 | 10.9% | |
| 85 | Rainier, OR | 2,010 | $58,333 | 0.0% | |
| 86 | Heppner, OR | 1,318 | $46,708 | 2.4% | |
| 87 | John Day, OR | 1,561 | $67,083 | 8.2% | |
| 88 | Mill City, OR | 1,760 | $73,625 | 9.9% | |
| 89 | Lakeside, OR | 1,838 | $60,903 | 2.6% | |
| 90 | Boardman, OR | 3,830 | $60,694 | 1.8% | |
| 91 | Waldport, OR | 1,950 | $49,659 | 17.3% | |
| 92 | Rose Lodge, OR | 1,491 | $51,964 | 0.0% | |
| 93 | Nyssa, OR | 3,202 | $46,950 | 7.4% | |
| 94 | Glide, OR | 1,523 | $69,875 | 7.5% | |
| 95 | Willamina, OR | 2,287 | $54,310 | 6.4% | |
| 96 | Union, OR | 2,209 | $60,385 | 2.5% | |
| 97 | Clatskanie, OR | 1,975 | $58,304 | 9.1% | |
| 98 | Tri-City, OR | 3,810 | $53,766 | 13.7% | |
| 99 | Vale, OR | 2,037 | $43,456 | 10.2% | |
| 100 | Irrigon, OR | 1,869 | $64,519 | 7.0% |
