When you retire to Oregon, you can enjoy the best that the Pacific Northwest has to offer. The temperate weather and sublime scenery make it easy for active adults to get out and explore the great outdoors, giving some of the best places to live. Thriving cities in this state serve up great coffee in quirky coffee shops and boast a unique culture.
NewHomeSource has compiled the top 10 cities for retirees in Oregon. Each has something wonderful to offer for those who want to make the most of their newfound freedom in retirement.
Top 10 Cities to Retire in Oregon
1. Ontario
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 18.1%
Median Home Value: $117,800
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 85
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 674
Number of Hospitals Within 25 Miles of the City: 2
Ontario is a charming community on the Oregon and Idaho border. This fantastic town is great for retirees who want to save money during their retirement, have easy access to Boise, Idaho, and engage with sublime scenery. If you’re looking to enjoy the great outdoors, Ontario is the perfect pace for you!
2. Klamath Falls
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 16.3%
Median Home Value: $159,500
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 110
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 743
Number of Hospitals Within 25 Miles of the City: 1
Klamath Falls is a beautiful and affordable community where retirees can enjoy their golden years, especially considering all the amazing activities found here. The beautiful Upper Klamath Lake affords people of all ages a plethora of lakeside entertainment, ranging from boating to swimming.
3. Hermiston
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 12.2%
Median Home Value: $164,300
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 59
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 573
Number of Hospitals Within 25 Miles of the City: 1
Hermiston is a gorgeous town in northern Oregon. Retirees looking to get outdoors and reconnect with Mother Nature will love Hermiston’s numerous parks that make it easy to stay active and healthy.
4. La Grande
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 15.3%
Median Home Value: $170,500
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 15
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 324
Number of Hospitals Within 25 Miles of the City: 1
Retiring in La Grande is perfect for people who want to enjoy outdoor adventures and have an affordable cost of living. This rustic community sits between the Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman national forests, so you can explore beautiful scenery and see spectacular views every day.
5. Pendleton
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 14.8%
Median Home Value: $172,100
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 66
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 512
Number of Hospitals Within 25 Miles of the City: 1
Retirees looking to reengage with Mother Nature should head over to Pendleton. This beautiful city allows residents to enjoy a peaceful and private community near the Umatilla National Forest, while still giving them easy access to large cities like Portland. Pendleton truly has the best of all possible worlds.
6. Lebanon
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 17.5%
Median Home Value: $177,900
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 30
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 374
Number of Hospitals Within 25 Miles of the City: 4
Lebanon is a picturesque community south of Portland and Salem. If you’re looking to surround yourself with some of the best scenery Oregon has to offer, you can’t go wrong retiring in Lebanon. Explore amazing national forests and spend lazy days on the South Santiam River when you make your home here.
7. Coos Bay
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 21.4%
Median Home Value: $181,200
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 78
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 808
Number of Hospitals Within 25 Miles of the City: 4
Who says waterfront living has to be expensive? Coos Bay is a sublime city on Oregon’s coast that lets retirees enjoy the best of coastal living in a thriving community. The best part of it all: Coos Bay is shockingly affordable, making retiring here a no brainer.
8. Prineville
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 21%
Median Home Value: $188,500
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 39
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 223
Number of Hospitals Within 25 Miles of the City: 1
On the edge of the Ochoco National Forest sits Prineville, a safe, beautiful and affordable town, perfect for retirees who want to stay active with plenty of hiking and exploring. There are also plenty of community events throughout the year at the Crook County Fairgrounds, including dog and horse shows, plus the annual county fair.
9. Cottage Grove
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 16.2%
Median Home Value: $192,600
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 29
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 399
Number of Hospitals Within 25 Miles of the City: 4
Cottage Grove prides itself on its picture-perfect scenery. The area’s Covered Bridges Scenic Tour Route allows residents to drive or ride bikes through the beautiful landscape and take in these amazing historical bridges. Cottage Grove also offers boating, fishing and swimming in the nearby lakes, rivers and swimming holes.
10. Roseburg
Percentage of the Population Over 65: 22.3%
Median Home Value: $195,400
Most Recent Annual Number of Violent Crimes: 82
Most Recent Annual Number of Property Crimes: 1,352
Number of Hospitals Within 25 Miles of the City: 2
Roseburg is full of exciting attractions and adventures. You can check out the local museums to learn about Oregon pioneers and local Native American cultures. The town also has baseball fields, tennis courts, swimming pools and golf courses open for recreational use.
NewHomeSource pulled data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Services, Medicare’s Hospital Compare and the U.S. Census Bureau. In the event exact crime data was unavailable, estimates were used. These factors were entered into an algorithm to calculate a score for each city.
Common Questions About Retiring in Oregon
Oregon is a somewhat friendly state for retirees. While it does tax pension income, and doesn’t allow deductions on income from retirement accounts, the state has no sales taxes, and retirees below a certain income threshold can claim a 9% credit on that income.
To retire comfortably in Oregon, you should plan to have between $36,000 to $56,000 a year for expenses.
Access to Doctors is calculated by finding the number of hospitals, discounting children’s hospitals and VA hospitals within one mile of the city.
Other Oregon Resources
Jessi Gonzalez writes on the topics of home-buying, home decor, and home-ownership for New Home Source. She has a degree from Coastal Bend College and is currently enrolled in the English degree program at Texas A&M Corpus Christi.
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Dean Janson
Hello,how about showing us the best places to live in Oregon based on people who are on a fixed income. People with disabilities and low incomes. Show us what the houseing authority says are the average co-pays for people on section 8. Show us what medicaid is like in Oregon. Show us how difficult it is to find a single family home on section 8. Show us what average utility costs are. Show us what things there are to do for retired and disabled people. This..is the type of information people are ACTUALLY looking for. Rather than vague description of area activities.
Joseph Dishman
Hermiston coos bay and prineville