For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Oregon using data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you’ll find one that suits your brood.
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#30. Grant County, Oregon
– Population: 7,225
– Median home value: $160,100 (77% own)
– Median rent: $717 (23% own)
– Median household income: $51,100
– Top public schools: Seneca Elementary School (grade A minus), Dayville School (grade B), Monument School (grade B minus)
– Top private schools: Long Creek (grade B), Canyon City (grade B), John Day (grade B minus)
– Top places to live: grade C minus
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#29. Columbia County, Oregon
– Population: 52,381
– Median home value: $312,700 (77% own)
– Median rent: $1,134 (23% own)
– Median household income: $73,909
– Top public schools: St. Helens Arthur Academy (grade B), Grant Watts Elementary School (grade B minus), St. Helens Middle School (grade C+)
– Top private schools: Columbia County Christian School (grade unavailable), Scappoose Adventist School (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Rainier (grade B minus), Scappoose (grade B minus), Warren (grade C+)
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#28. Linn County, Oregon
– Population: 127,200
– Median home value: $265,900 (67% own)
– Median rent: $1,087 (33% own)
– Median household income: $63,313
– Top public schools: West Albany High School (grade A minus), Liberty Elementary School (grade B+), Lourdes Public Charter School (grade B+)
– Top private schools: East Linn Christian Academy (grade B), Albany Christian School (grade unavailable), Good Shepherd Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Albany (grade B minus), Millersburg (grade B minus), Tangent (grade C+)
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#27. Coos County, Oregon
– Population: 64,619
– Median home value: $238,100 (69% own)
– Median rent: $872 (31% own)
– Median household income: $52,548
– Top public schools: Hillcrest Elementary School (grade B), Harbor Lights Middle School (grade B), Powers High School (grade B)
– Top private schools: Kingsview Christian School (grade unavailable), Christ Lutheran Church & School (grade unavailable), Alternative Youth Activities (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: North Bend (grade B minus), Bandon (grade B minus), Barview (grade C+)
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#26. Lincoln County, Oregon
– Population: 49,866
– Median home value: $287,200 (69% own)
– Median rent: $999 (31% own)
– Median household income: $54,961
– Top public schools: Newport High School (grade A minus), Waldport Middle School (grade B), Yaquina View Elementary School (grade B)
– Top private schools: Lincoln City Christian School (grade A minus), Samaritan Early Learning Center (grade unavailable), Nye Beach Montessori School (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Newport (grade B), Toledo (grade C+), Lincoln Beach (grade C+)
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#25. Douglas County, Oregon
– Population: 110,680
– Median home value: $224,400 (71% own)
– Median rent: $899 (29% own)
– Median household income: $52,479
– Top public schools: Oakland High School (grade B+), Lincoln Middle School (grade B+), Oakland Elementary School (grade B+)
– Top private schools: Canyonville Academy (grade A minus), Umpqua Valley Christian School (grade C+), Cobb Children’s Learning Center (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Green (grade B minus), Roseburg (grade B minus), Oakland (grade B minus)
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#24. Baker County, Oregon
– Population: 16,539
– Median home value: $190,100 (72% own)
– Median rent: $717 (28% own)
– Median household income: $46,922
– Top public schools: Baker Early College (grade A minus), Haines Elementary School (grade B+), Pine Eagle Charter School (grade B)
– Top private schools: Harvest Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Baker City (grade B minus), Richland (grade B minus), Huntington (grade C)
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#23. Lake County, Oregon
– Population: 8,119
– Median home value: $160,100 (62% own)
– Median rent: $770 (38% own)
– Median household income: $50,685
– Top public schools: Union Elementary School (grade A minus), Lakeview Senior High School (grade B), Daly Middle School (grade B)
– Top private schools: Solid Rock Christian School (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Lakeview (grade B), Paisley (grade B+)
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#22. Crook County, Oregon
– Population: 24,300
– Median home value: $296,500 (74% own)
– Median rent: $976 (26% own)
– Median household income: $64,820
– Top public schools: Powell Butte Community Charter School (grade B), Crook County High School (grade B minus), Crooked River Elementary School (grade B minus)
– Top private schools: Crook County Christian School (grade unavailable), Coic – Prineville (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Prineville (grade C+)
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#21. Clatsop County, Oregon
– Population: 40,720
– Median home value: $340,700 (61% own)
– Median rent: $994 (39% own)
– Median household income: $61,846
– Top public schools: Warrenton High School (grade B), Seaside High School (grade B), Astoria Senior High School (grade B)
– Top private schools: Anchor Christian Academy (grade unavailable), Shooting Stars Child Development Center (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Gearhart (grade B+), Astoria (grade B), Warrenton (grade B minus)
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#20. Morrow County, Oregon
– Population: 11,964
– Median home value: $169,800 (72% own)
– Median rent: $727 (28% own)
– Median household income: $61,659
– Top public schools: Ione School District (grade B minus), Heppner Junior/Senior High School (grade B minus), Heppner Elementary School (grade B minus)
– Top private schools: Irrigon (grade B minus), Boardman (grade C+), Heppner (grade C+)
– Top places to live: grade C
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#19. Tillamook County, Oregon
– Population: 27,129
– Median home value: $309,000 (70% own)
– Median rent: $1,015 (30% own)
– Median household income: $55,730
– Top public schools: Neah-Kah-Nie Middle School (grade B+), Neah-Kah-Nie High School (grade B), Tillamook High School (grade B minus)
– Top private schools: Tillamook Adventist School (grade unavailable), Little Clipper Preschool (grade unavailable), Neskowin Valley School (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Bay City (grade B minus), Tillamook (grade C+), Manzanita (grade B)
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#18. Malheur County, Oregon
– Population: 31,313
– Median home value: $162,100 (60% own)
– Median rent: $714 (40% own)
– Median household income: $47,906
– Top public schools: Willowcreek Elementary School (grade A minus), Adrian Elementary School (grade B+), Vale Middle School (grade B+)
– Top private schools: St. Peter Catholic School (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Ontario (grade B minus), Nyssa (grade B minus), Adrian (grade A minus)
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#17. Wasco County, Oregon
– Population: 26,603
– Median home value: $253,700 (66% own)
– Median rent: $881 (34% own)
– Median household income: $57,853
– Top public schools: Mosier Community School (grade B), The Dalles High School (grade B minus), Dry Hollow Elementary School (grade B minus)
– Top private schools: St. Mary’s Academy (grade unavailable), Sonrise Academy (grade unavailable), Covenant Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: The Dalles (grade B minus), Chenoweth (grade C+), Maupin (grade B+)
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#16. Lane County, Oregon
– Population: 380,532
– Median home value: $303,800 (59% own)
– Median rent: $1,093 (41% own)
– Median household income: $59,016
– Top public schools: South Eugene High School (grade A), Charlemagne French Immersion Elementary School (grade A minus), Edison Elementary School (grade A minus)
– Top private schools: Marist Catholic High School (grade A), Oak Hill School (grade A+), Eugene Christian School (grade A)
– Top places to live: Eugene (grade B+), Coburg (grade B minus), Creswell (grade B minus)
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#15. Polk County, Oregon
– Population: 86,347
– Median home value: $319,000 (65% own)
– Median rent: $1,120 (35% own)
– Median household income: $70,238
– Top public schools: West Salem High School (grade A minus), Kalapuya Elementary School (grade B+), Straub Middle School (grade B+)
– Top private schools: Western Christian School (grade B+), Faith Christian School (grade unavailable), Riviera Christian School (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Monmouth (grade B minus), Dallas (grade C+), Independence (grade C+)
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#14. Klamath County, Oregon
– Population: 68,899
– Median home value: $200,000 (66% own)
– Median rent: $841 (34% own)
– Median household income: $50,790
– Top public schools: Henley High School (grade B+), Malin Elementary School (grade B+), Keno Elementary School (grade B+)
– Top private schools: Crosspoint Christian School (grade B+), Miss Muffett’s Learning Center (grade unavailable), Klamath Youth Development Center (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Altamont (grade B), Klamath Falls (grade C+), Merrill (grade B)
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#13. Union County, Oregon
– Population: 26,255
– Median home value: $206,200 (67% own)
– Median rent: $888 (33% own)
– Median household income: $55,227
– Top public schools: Island City Elementary School (grade B), La Grande High School (grade B), Central Elementary School (grade B)
– Top private schools: Lighthouse Apostolic Academy (grade unavailable), Grande Ronde Academy (grade unavailable), La Grande Adventist School (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Island City (grade B minus), La Grande (grade C+), North Powder (grade B minus)
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#12. Jefferson County, Oregon
– Population: 24,232
– Median home value: $267,300 (69% own)
– Median rent: $850 (31% own)
– Median household income: $59,748
– Top public schools: Culver High School (grade B minus), Culver Middle School (grade B minus), Madras High School (grade B minus)
– Top private schools: Madras (grade C+), Camp Sherman (grade B), Warm Springs (grade B minus)
– Top places to live: grade C+
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#11. Wallowa County, Oregon
– Population: 7,330
– Median home value: $285,000 (74% own)
– Median rent: $769 (26% own)
– Median household income: $57,891
– Top public schools: Enterprise Elementary School (grade B+), Wallowa Elementary School (grade B), Enterprise High School (grade B)
– Top private schools: Enterprise Seventh-day Adventist School (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Enterprise (grade B), Lostine (grade B minus), Joseph (grade B minus)
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#10. Jackson County, Oregon
– Population: 221,662
– Median home value: $322,100 (65% own)
– Median rent: $1,116 (35% own)
– Median household income: $61,020
– Top public schools: Ashland High School (grade A minus), Ashland Middle School (grade A minus), Hedrick Middle School (grade A minus)
– Top private schools: St. Mary’s School (grade A+), Grace Cascade Christian Schools (grade B+), Rogue Valley Adventist School (grade B)
– Top places to live: Ashland (grade A), Jacksonville (grade B+), Talent (grade B)
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#9. Deschutes County, Oregon
– Population: 194,964
– Median home value: $435,600 (70% own)
– Median rent: $1,425 (30% own)
– Median household income: $74,082
– Top public schools: Realms Middle School (grade A minus), Pine Ridge Elementary School (grade A minus), William E. Miller Elementary School (grade A minus)
– Top private schools: Cascades Academy (grade A minus), Central Christian School (grade B+), Trinity Lutheran School (grade B+)
– Top places to live: Bend (grade B+), Redmond (grade B minus), Terrebonne (grade B minus)
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#8. Yamhill County, Oregon
– Population: 107,024
– Median home value: $353,200 (71% own)
– Median rent: $1,197 (29% own)
– Median household income: $73,409
– Top public schools: Duniway Middle School (grade A minus), Memorial Elementary School (grade A minus), Grandhaven Elementary School (grade B+)
– Top private schools: Delphian School (grade A+), Veritas School (grade A), C.S. Lewis Academy (grade B+)
– Top places to live: Newberg (grade B), Dundee (grade B), McMinnville (grade B)
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#7. Umatilla County, Oregon
– Population: 79,509
– Median home value: $203,800 (67% own)
– Median rent: $854 (33% own)
– Median household income: $63,123
– Top public schools: Armand Larive Middle School (grade B+), Echo School (grade B+), Athena Elementary School (grade B)
– Top private schools: Milton Stateline Seventh-day Adventist School (grade unavailable), Hermiston Christian Center & School (grade unavailable), Hermiston Junior Academy (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Hermiston (grade B), Pendleton (grade B minus), Stanfield (grade B minus)
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#6. Marion County, Oregon
– Population: 344,037
– Median home value: $293,800 (61% own)
– Median rent: $1,129 (39% own)
– Median household income: $64,880
– Top public schools: Evergreen Elementary School (grade A minus), Victor Point Elementary School (grade A minus), South Salem High School (grade A minus)
– Top private schools: Blanchet Catholic School (grade A), Livingstone Adventist Academy (grade A minus), Salem Academy (grade B)
– Top places to live: Turner (grade B), Salem (grade B), Silverton (grade B minus)
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#5. Clackamas County, Oregon
– Population: 418,577
– Median home value: $452,200 (71% own)
– Median rent: $1,447 (29% own)
– Median household income: $88,517
– Top public schools: Lake Oswego Senior High School (grade A+), Lakeridge High School (grade A+), Three Rivers Charter School (grade A+)
– Top private schools: La Salle Catholic College Preparatory (grade A), Portland Waldorf School (grade A minus), North Clackamas Christian School (grade B)
– Top places to live: Lake Oswego (grade A+), West Linn (grade A), Happy Valley (grade A)
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#4. Benton County, Oregon
– Population: 94,667
– Median home value: $384,900 (56% own)
– Median rent: $1,201 (44% own)
– Median household income: $68,732
– Top public schools: Crescent Valley High School (grade A), Muddy Creek Charter School (grade A), Corvallis High School (grade A)
– Top private schools: Santiam Christian School (grade B+), Corvallis Waldorf School (grade unavailable), Ashbrook Independent School (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Corvallis (grade A), Philomath (grade B+), Adair Village (grade A)
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#3. Multnomah County, Oregon
– Population: 810,011
– Median home value: $437,600 (55% own)
– Median rent: $1,394 (45% own)
– Median household income: $76,290
– Top public schools: Lincoln High School (grade A), Riverdale High School (grade A), Riverdale Grade School (grade A)
– Top private schools: Northwest Academy (grade A+), St. Mary’s Academy (grade A+), Central Catholic High School (grade A)
– Top places to live: Goose Hollow (grade A+), Hillside (grade A+), Pearl (grade A+)
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#2. Washington County, Oregon
– Population: 596,969
– Median home value: $439,300 (61% own)
– Median rent: $1,541 (39% own)
– Median household income: $92,025
– Top public schools: Westview High School (grade A+), International School of Beaverton – High School (grade A+), Sato Elementary School (grade A)
– Top private schools: Catlin Gabel School (grade A+), Oregon Episcopal School (grade A+), Jesuit High School (grade A+)
– Top places to live: Bethany (grade A+), Cedar Hills (grade A+), Oak Hills (grade A)
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#1. Hood River County, Oregon
– Population: 23,915
– Median home value: $444,300 (69% own)
– Median rent: $1,168 (31% own)
– Median household income: $77,815
– Top public schools: Westside Elementary School (grade A minus), Hood River Middle School (grade A minus), May Street Elementary School (grade A minus)
– Top private schools: Horizon Christian School (grade B+), Bright Beginnings Preschool & Kindergarten (grade unavailable), Mid-Columbia Adventist Christian School (grade unavailable)
– Top places to live: Hood River (grade A), Odell (grade B), Parkdale (grade C+)
Stacker
Stacker is a news organization that produces and distributes data journalism to the world’s news organizations. Founded in 2017, Stacker combines data analysis with rich editorial context, drawing on authoritative sources and subject matter experts to drive storytelling. This article has been republished pursuant to a CC BY-NC 4.0 License.