Did you know that Oregon is home to the world’s smallest park in Portland, the University of Oregon Ducks in Eugene, Bart Simpson’s home in Springfield, and some pretty cool family friendly places to call home.
That’s right, The Beaver State knows how to keep families safe, educated, happy, healthy, and entertained. And lucky for you, HomeSnacks has found all of those qualities and rolled them into the top ten best places for families in Oregon for 2026. How did we determine Oregon’s most family friendly places? We consulted the US Census on places in this Pacific Northwest state with more than 10,000 residents. We looked at several factors: crime, education, family friendly activities, and the percent of households that currently have children. We ended up with 48 family friendly Oregon places that any family would be lucky to call home.
Besides being a great state for families, Oregon is also one of the fastest growing states. Are we surprised? Absolutely not. Oregon currently has 1.3 million families, and that number is expected to increase over the next ten years; and that folks, is because the state has a ton of awesome “Oregon” stuff to do. Like, biking the world class trails in Bend, visiting one of the state’s 120 farmers’ markets, or spending the day at the Medford Railroad Park. And it wouldn’t be right if we didn’t mention all of the great companies that keep Oregon families safe and comfortable, and the state affordable. Just think, if you live in Oregon, you and/or your kids could work for Nike in Beaverton or the biggest cheese factory in Tillamook.
More importantly, if you want to hear more about where your cheddar will go the furthest for your family in Oregon, keep reading.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Cities To Raise A Family In Oregon For 2026
Oregon has a ton of family friendly places for every budget. There are places like Salem for the outdoorsy family, and places like HIllsboro for families just starting out. But, the number one most family friendly place in Oregon is, West Linn.
To learn more about our methodology and to see why Oregon’s top ten best places to raise a family are truly the best of the best, take a look below. And if you don’t see your favorite there, head to the bottom.
More reading about Oregon and the best places for families in the country:
- Best Places To Live In Oregon
- Cheapest Places To Live In Oregon
- Best Cities To Raise A Family In America
- Best States To Raise A Family In America
The 10 Best Places To Raise A Family In Oregon For 2026
/10
Population: 26,935
Median Income: $146,507
Average Home Price: $777,228
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 40
Closest Major City: Portland
Households with kids: 37.0%
More on West Linn: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 12,854
Median Income: $108,984
Average Home Price: $523,759
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 41
Closest Major City: Portland
Households with kids: 39.2%
More on Sandy: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 40,381
Median Income: $141,549
Average Home Price: $882,924
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 55
Closest Major City: Portland
Households with kids: 30.7%
More on Lake Oswego: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 20,307
Median Income: $109,966
Average Home Price: $633,004
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 39
Closest Major City: Portland
Households with kids: 45.4%
More on Sherwood: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 11,428
Median Income: $69,170
Average Home Price: $473,961
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 51
Closest Major City: Portland
Households with kids: 29.0%
More on Monmouth: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,186
Median Income: $89,318
Average Home Price: $497,975
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 48
Closest Major City: Portland
Households with kids: 42.3%
More on Molalla: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 18,134
Median Income: $100,989
Average Home Price: $590,607
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 59
Closest Major City: Portland
Households with kids: 31.5%
More on Canby: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,199
Median Income: $85,375
Average Home Price: $425,945
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 56
Closest Major City: Portland
Households with kids: 33.3%
More on Independence: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 26,529
Median Income: $87,933
Average Home Price: $525,622
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 39
Closest Major City: Portland
Households with kids: 33.9%
More on Forest Grove: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,109
Median Income: $68,007
Average Home Price: $474,605
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 65
Closest Major City: Portland
Households with kids: 20.0%
More on Astoria: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How do you determine which place is best for families in Oregon anyways?
To give you the places in Oregon that are best for families, we must look at a handful of metrics. We want to measure the criteria people want in a family-friendly city utilizing Saturday Night Science.
After researching U.S. Census data produced for the state of Oregon, we looked at the data for every single city in the state. We paid particular attention to:
- Crime (Both violent and property)
- Quality of local schools
- Distance to a major city without necessarily being in it
- % of households with children
- Family-friendly amenities nearby (museums, libraries, and colleges)
We then gave each city a “Family Score.”
The higher the score, the better the city is for families. We also limited our results to cities with over 10,000 people. For Oregon, that meant a total of 48 cities.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best cities for families in Oregon.
Summary: The Best Places To Raise A Family In Oregon
If you’re looking for a breakdown of cities in Oregon ranked by criteria that most agree make a place a great spot for families, this is an accurate list.
The best places for families in Oregon are West Linn, Sandy, Lake Oswego, Sherwood, Monmouth, Molalla, Canby, Independence, Forest Grove, and Astoria.
Here’s a look at the best cities for singles Oregon according to the data:
- Hermiston
- Springfield
- Coos Bay
For more Oregon reading, check out:
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Oregon
- Best Places To Live In Oregon
- Most Dangerous Cities In Oregon
Best Places For Families In Oregon
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Amenities Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Linn, OR | 26,935 | $146,507 | $777,228 | 60 |
| 2 | Sandy, OR | 12,854 | $108,984 | $523,759 | 48 |
| 3 | Lake Oswego, OR | 40,381 | $141,549 | $882,924 | 61 |
| 4 | Sherwood, OR | 20,307 | $109,966 | $633,004 | 53 |
| 5 | Monmouth, OR | 11,428 | $69,170 | $473,961 | 62 |
| 6 | Molalla, OR | 10,186 | $89,318 | $497,975 | 39 |
| 7 | Canby, OR | 18,134 | $100,989 | $590,607 | 61 |
| 8 | Independence, OR | 10,199 | $85,375 | $425,945 | 49 |
| 9 | Forest Grove, OR | 26,529 | $87,933 | $525,622 | 63 |
| 10 | Astoria, OR | 10,109 | $68,007 | $474,605 | 57 |