Just before war was declared against the South, and after a decade of being a territory, Oregon became an official state.
Statehood may have been made official on Valentine‘s Day, but it wasn’t out of love.
As many things are, this move was political.
At the time, there was much discourse about which states were free and which ones had slaves.
Even though Oregon is far north, there was a debate over which side they would fall on.
The original constitution for the new state forbade slavery but also anyone who wasn’t white.
In the aftermath of the Civil War, that part of the Constitution was invalidated.
It would take nearly 150 years to eradicate all traces of this racist policy from the record.
A lot has changed since the first document was written.
Oregon has taken a 180 on such policies.
What’s it like now?
The state is much more open-minded these days, but also quite expensive.
Read on to find the more budget-friendly locations.
Contents
10 Cheapest Places to Live in Oregon
1. La Grande
In the northeastern corner of Oregon is a town sandwiched between two national forests and at the junction of highways 84 and 82.
13,000 residents call La Grande home.
With an area as small as this one, there aren’t a ton of housing options for purchase or rental.
What they do have is often in quite scenic areas, though.
Two-bedroom rentals start at $1,500.
For purchasing, a majority of homes fall in the $350,000 to $700,000 range.
2. Umatilla
In the middle of the border between Oregon and Washington is Umatilla.
The border, the Columbia River, is fittingly from nature.
7,000 people claim Umatilla on their address but 2,000 of whom aren’t actual residents.
That group belongs to the local correctional institution.
Having a prison in your backyard may play into the low housing costs, to attract new inhabitants.
If you want to purchase a home, expect a range of $320,000 to $500,000.
Two-bedroom rentals start at $1,100.
3. Pendleton
At the corner of highways 84 and 395 sits Pendleton in the northeast.
There are 17,000 residents here, which is part of a larger area called the Hermiston-Pendleton Micropolitan Area.
In total, there are just under 100,000 people in Pendleton and the surrounding area.
A majority of homes for rent can be found in the middle of town, near the Umatilla Reservation.
Two-bedrooms start at $900 a month and can typically cost up to $1,500.
You might think that would mean purchase prices are on the lower end, too.
You’d be wrong.
For whatever reason, most homes fall within the $650,000 to $900,000 range.
4. Baker City
Baker City is where it all comes together.
When we say it, we’re referring to several highways.
84, 7, 86, and 30 all pass through this small square on the map.
This town was also part of the historic Oregon Trail.
The real Oregon Trail, not the game.
With all the highway chaos, it might be fitting that Baker City was named after the only senator killed in combat.
Many of the homes here can be bought for between $225,000 to $400,000.
Similar to other small areas, there isn’t a ton of availability.
Even so, rentals start at around $2,000 a month.
5. Klamath Falls
Just over the border with California, Klamath Falls is at the foot of Howard Bay.
In addition to that body of water, there’s also the Klamath River and Lake Ewauna.
That’s likely why housing sticker prices come with a bit of a bite.
To be fair, there’s no reason to ever be bored here.
Many of the rentals are between $1,400 and $2,200.
If you want to buy, expect to pay anywhere from $700,000 to $1.2 million.
6. Eugene
Just a short drive on 126 to the ocean, Eugene is a popular city in Oregon.
Of course, you don’t have to leave the town to get to the water.
Willamette River runs through the downtown.
There seem to be two extremes of house prices.
A lot of the homes for sale are in the $350,000 to $600,000 range.
Seemingly the same number of homes for sale range from $850,000 to $1 million.
So, you can decide what amenities are the best fit before focusing on a price range.
Rentals start around $1,100.
7. Ontario
On the border of Idaho, Ontario is closer to Boise than any major city in Oregon.
That’s convenient if you like to border hop for a fun day trip.
The handful of available rentals start at $900 a month.
Most of the homes for sale fall in the $300,000 to $500,000 range.
8. Coos Bay
With a front row to the Pacific Ocean, Coos Bay is a popular place for visitors.
If you don’t have a boat, there’s still plenty to do inland!
In addition to parks, there are several parks to catch some rays in.
Since much of the city limits is forest land, there’s not a ton of space for homes.
Most of the availability is near the water.
Thanks to the location, rentals start at around $2,000 a month.
Most of the properties can be purchased between $250,000 and $500,000.
9. Lebanon
A short drive to the coast, Lebanon is just north of Eugene, OR.
Lebanon is a great place for train enthusiasts or anyone who likes to ride in one.
Don’t feel like driving out to the ocean?
There are parks and museums locally.
Only about a fifth of the city can be lived on because of the forest.
The median house price in Lebanon is $350,000 with prices going all the way up to $6 million and as low as $50,000.
Expect to rent for around $2,000 a month.
10. Springfield
Almost all of Springfield, a suburb of Eugene, is forest.
Luckily, available areas have the McKenzie River nearby.
The majority of rentals are around $1,500 a month.
$300,000 is the median purchase price for a home.
Oregon Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Oregon Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: HIGH
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
- SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
How diverse is Oregon?
Oregon’s original constitution was meant to discourage diversity and it shows.
The state’s diversity percentages fall below the national average.
That doesn’t mean they aren’t working on it, though.
Ethnic variety has been increasing, especially over the last two decades.
The population is currently made up of 72% European, 14% Hispanic, 6% more than one race, 5% Asian, 2% African, and 1% Native.
It would also be interesting to note that in the past five years, people of color are 21% of the population.
The youth of Oregon are more racially diverse than any other age group.
Much of that diversity is coming from outside the state and gearing toward bigger cities, such as Portland.
What is Oregon's population?
Just over 4,000,000 people call Oregon home.
That number isn’t what it used to be, though.
Liberal-minded places like Oregon have been viewed as popular places to move.
However, in recent years, the numbers are telling a different story.
In 2022, 128,000 people moved to the Beaver State.
That sounds like a lot until you learn that 157,000 moved out.
So what’s causing such a decline?
While there are technically a plethora of reasons why people leave, there are some recurring patterns.
For one, housing affordability.
Perhaps many aren’t aware there are more affordable options.
Maybe this article will help residents in the future.
Other reasons people are leaving are high taxes, crime, and social issues.
What is Oregon known for?
The first thing that comes to mind about Oregon is the abundance of nature’s beauty.
After all, the nickname is after a beaver.
When it comes to the outdoors, Oregon has something for everyone.
For starters, there are 362 miles of coastline.
Not a beach bunny?
Head to the snowy mountains.
Want some adventure?
Take an opportunity to go kayaking.
Want a place to garden?
The land in Oregon is quite fertile.
Whatever you want to do outside, there’s a spot for you to do it in Oregon.
As cool as those things are, you might be familiar with the Beaver State for a more fun reason.
90s kids can attest to the best reason to know Oregon, the Oregon Trail.
This video game swept the nation of school computers that kids learned all about in computer labs back in the day.
The game not only told the story of early Americans enduring trials and tribulations on their journey west, it was fun.
