The 10 Best Small Towns In Oregon For 2024


The best small towns in Oregon are Maywood Park and North Plains for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: January 12, 2024

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

  1. Maywood Park
  2. North Plains
  3. Durham
  4. Dundee
  5. Gearhart
  6. Aurora
  7. Adair Village
  8. Stafford
  9. Sunriver
  10. Turner
  11. Metzger
  12. Dunes City
  13. Cannon Beach
  14. Sublimity
  15. Banks

Best Small Towns To Live In Oregon Map

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

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 1,043
Median Income: $130,481 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $575,363 (19th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.0%

2. North Plains

North Plains, OR

Source: Wikipedia User Aboutmovies | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

9.5
/10

Population: 3,365
Median Income: $109,559 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $581,941 (16th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 6.0%

3. Durham

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 1,860
Median Income: $98,839 (11th Best)
Median Home Value: $742,426 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.2%

4. Dundee

Dundee, OR

Source: Wikipedia User M.O. Stevens | CC BY 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,224
Median Income: $98,152 (13th Best)
Median Home Value: $571,189 (20th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.7%

5. Gearhart

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,060
Median Income: $100,536 (9th Best)
Median Home Value: $640,772 (10th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.6%

6. Aurora

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,055
Median Income: $105,139 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $672,460 (9th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.5%

7. Adair Village

Source: Public Domain
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 1,185
Median Income: $91,591 (22nd Best)
Median Home Value: $414,394 (60th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.9%

8. Stafford

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,567
Median Income: $180,967 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $1,293,327 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

9. Sunriver

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,516
Median Income: $87,276 (26th Best)
Median Home Value: $734,680 (6th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

10. Turner

Turner, OR

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,792
Median Income: $101,292 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $555,790 (23rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 6.0%

11. Metzger

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 3,932
Median Income: $92,763 (20th Best)
Median Home Value: $540,590 (26th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 8.1%

12. Dunes City

Source: Public Domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,223
Median Income: $71,058 (47th Best)
Median Home Value: $605,721 (12th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.5%

13. Cannon Beach

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 1,271
Median Income: $63,509 (64th Best)
Median Home Value: $901,669 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.7%

14. Sublimity

Sublimity, OR

Source: Wikipedia User Finetooth | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,945
Median Income: $74,875 (44th Best)
Median Home Value: $544,981 (25th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.5%

15. Banks

Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 2,047
Median Income: $82,708 (33rd Best)
Median Home Value: $604,265 (13th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 7.9%

Best States In America

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:

  1. Warm Springs
  2. Falls City
  3. 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%
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

 Best Small Towns, Rankings