Home Buyer’s Guide to Oregon

If having access to a variety of terrain is important to you, Oregon should make the top of your list. With beaches, forests, and dunes, this Northwestern state can offer opportunities for endless exploration in addition to great economic and cultural diversity.

Housing

Oregon has both urban and rural areas, and where you choose to settle can drastically impact housing prices. For example, Portland, Ashland, and Bend are all considered desirable locations and therefore have high housing costs. This has a significant effect on the median home value, which is $340,000 – over $100,000 more than the national median. That being said, there are smaller cities and towns that still offer a great quality of life without the exorbitant cost of living.

Population

The residents of Oregon are extremely educated, with over 90 percent having graduated high school and over 32 percent having graduated from college. There’s also a rich mix of ethnicities represented in this state, including nearly 77 percent of residents who identify as white, nearly 13 percent who identify as Hispanic, over 4 percent who identify as Asian, nearly 2 percent who identify as African-American, nearly 1 percent who identify as Native American and 0.5 percent who identify as Pacific Islanders.

Notable Features

The Beaver State is famous for its glorious forests and shining beaches. When you call this state home, there’s a great selection of places you can visit for a wonderful time outdoors:

  • Crater Lake National Park
  • Silver Falls State Park
  • Smith Rock State Park
  • Oregon Dunes National Recreation Center
  • Sea Lion Caves

Of course, there’s also plenty to do in the city as well:

  • Oregon Coast Aquarium
  • Portland Art Museum
  • Lan Su Chinese Garden
  • Portland Saturday Market

There’s never a dull moment in this coastal state, no matter where you choose to settle within its borders.

Jobs

Oregon has enjoyed immense economic growth in the past few years and doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon. There are several major industries:

  • Customer service
  • Food service
  • Personal care
  • Construction

The median household income is on par with the national median at approximately $60,200.

Crime and Safety

Violent crime rates are extremely low in Oregon. While the national rate is 4 crimes per 1,000 residents, Oregon only experiences 2.82 crimes per 1,000 residents. The chance of experiencing a violent crime is only 1 in 355 or 0.003 percent.

The green trees and blue skies of Oregon can make a wonderful backdrop to a new home. Its growing industry and safe streets may just be the place to raise a family or pursue your career.