If Tillamook’s cheese, Beaverton’s Nike shoes, and the University of Oregon’s Mighty Ducks are just a few of your favorite things then you should consider spending your retirement years in The Beaver State.
And lucky for you, we’ve done the homework for you. We created a list of the best places to retire in Oregon for 2026.
If Coos Bay’s emerald coast, Portland’s Voodoo Doughnuts, or Mt. Hood’s majestic views don’t seal the deal, then the fact that the state’s best places to retire are super affordable, fun, and safe should do the trick. That is why many of Oregon’s best places to retire are also some of the state’s safest.
Did we mention that these Oregon gems are also super close to an international airport? If you choose one of Oregon’s best places to retire, you’ll get to save money on that Winnebago and fly your family to you.
$1,241 median rent · $60,568 median income · #14 cheapest rent in Oregon
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$1,542 median rent · $100,989 median income · #31 cheapest rent in Oregon
Canby is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 15,829 at the 2010 census. It is along Oregon Route 99E, 2 miles northeast of Barlow. In May 2016 Canby was featured on ABC’s series 20/20, when the local “Canby Psychic” was part of an investigation of swindling a local rancher of $15 million.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$1,239 median rent · $68,007 median income · #13 cheapest rent in Oregon
Astoria is a port city and the seat of Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. Situated near the mouth of the Columbia River where it meets the Pacific Ocean, the city was named after John Jacob Astor, an investor from New York City whose American Fur Company founded Fort Astoria at the site in 1811, 206years ago. Astoria was incorporated by the Oregon Legislative Assembly on October 20, 1876.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$1,364 median rent · $86,058 median income · #19 cheapest rent in Oregon
Central Point is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. The population was 17,169 as of 2010. The city shares its southern border with Medford and is a part of the Medford metropolitan area. Central Point is home of the Jackson County Fair that occurs in July.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$1,598 median rent · $86,892 median income · #34 cheapest rent in Oregon
Milwaukie is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. A very small portion of the city extends into Multnomah County. The population was 20,291 at the 2010 census. Founded in 1847 on the banks of the Willamette River, the city, known as the Dogwood City of the West, was incorporated in 1903 and is noted as the birthplace of the Bing cherry. The city is now a suburb of Portland and also adjoins the unincorporated areas of Clackamas and Oak Grove.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$2,139 median rent · $141,549 median income · #48 cheapest rent in Oregon
Lake Oswego is a city in the State of Oregon, primarily in Clackamas County with small portions extending into neighboring Multnomah and Washington counties. Located about 8 miles south of Portland and surrounding the 405-acre Oswego Lake, the town was founded in 1847 and incorporated as Oswego in 1910. The city was the hub of Oregon’s brief iron industry in the late 19th century and is today an affluent suburb of Portland. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 36,619, a 3.8% increase over the 2000 population of 35,278.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$1,740 median rent · $91,250 median income · #39 cheapest rent in Oregon
Gladstone is a city located in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 11,491 at the 2010 census. Gladstone is an approximately 4-square-mile suburban community, 12 miles south of Portland, the largest city in Oregon, and located at the confluence of the Clackamas and Willamette rivers.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$1,217 median rent · $59,646 median income · #12 cheapest rent in Oregon
Grants Pass is a city in, and the county seat of, Josephine County, Oregon, United States. The city is located on Interstate 5, northwest of Medford. Attractions include the Rogue River, famous for its rafting, and the nearby Oregon Caves National Monument located 30 miles south of the city. Grants Pass is 256 miles south of Portland, the largest city in Oregon. The population was 34,533 at the 2010 census.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$993 median rent · $62,614 median income · #4 cheapest rent in Oregon
The Dalles is the county seat and largest city of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The population was 13,620 at the 2010 census, and is the largest city on the Oregon side along the Columbia River outside the Portland Metropolitan area.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$1,387 median rent · $68,028 median income · #23 cheapest rent in Oregon
Ashland is a city in Jackson County, in the State of Oregon. It lies along Interstate 5 approximately 16 miles north of the California border and near the south end of the Rogue Valley. As of 2015, the city’s population was approaching 21,000.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Oregon’s statewide median.
Oregon statewide median: $83,011
Oregon statewide median: $499,004
On the map
Where to retire in Oregon
Saturday Night Science
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Beaver State for 2026
To create our ranking of the best places in Oregon to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Beaver State — 372 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 48 places from across the state.
For these 48, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 48, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Newport, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2026. This list reflects our eleventh time ranking the best places to retire in Oregon.
The full plate
Best Places To Retire In Oregon
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Retire Score | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newport | 14.60 | 10,583 | $60,568 | $445,961 | $1,241 |
| 2 | Canby | 15.30 | 18,134 | $100,989 | $590,607 | $1,542 |
| 3 | Astoria | 16.20 | 10,109 | $68,007 | $474,605 | $1,239 |
| 4 | Central Point | 16.80 | 19,216 | $86,058 | $418,192 | $1,364 |
| 5 | Milwaukie | 17.80 | 21,392 | $86,892 | $519,433 | $1,598 |
| 6 | Lake Oswego | 18.80 | 40,381 | $141,549 | $882,925 | $2,139 |
| 7 | Gladstone | 18.90 | 11,977 | $91,250 | $517,793 | $1,740 |
| 8 | Grants Pass | 19.40 | 39,311 | $59,646 | $398,231 | $1,217 |
| 9 | The Dalles | 19.40 | 15,917 | $62,614 | $389,438 | $993 |
| 10 | Ashland | 19.50 | 21,259 | $68,028 | $551,385 | $1,387 |
| 11 | Dallas | 19.80 | 17,531 | $71,549 | $474,062 | $1,209 |
| 12 | Roseburg | 20.40 | 23,778 | $53,918 | $361,701 | $1,063 |
| 13 | Monmouth | 20.40 | 11,428 | $69,170 | $473,961 | $1,114 |
| 14 | North Bend | 20.40 | 10,171 | $81,320 | $355,605 | $1,066 |
| 15 | Cottage Grove | 20.80 | 10,698 | $80,875 | $395,746 | $1,254 |
| 16 | Prineville | 21.10 | 11,470 | $72,980 | $425,759 | $1,355 |
| 17 | Klamath Falls | 21.20 | 22,115 | $46,693 | $308,371 | $986 |
| 18 | Coos Bay | 21.20 | 15,925 | $56,524 | $323,165 | $1,034 |
| 19 | St. Helens | 21.20 | 14,258 | $82,865 | $425,040 | $1,413 |
| 20 | West Linn | 21.90 | 26,935 | $146,507 | $777,229 | $2,116 |
| 21 | Medford | 22.00 | 86,315 | $73,230 | $406,689 | $1,376 |
| 22 | Lebanon | 22.00 | 19,344 | $63,176 | $391,198 | $1,312 |
| 23 | Sweet Home | 22.00 | 10,078 | $56,927 | $350,175 | $1,213 |
| 24 | Pendleton | 23.70 | 16,950 | $66,563 | $295,556 | $956 |
| 25 | McMinnville | 24.20 | 34,596 | $73,736 | $484,842 | $1,380 |
| 26 | Albany | 25.00 | 56,839 | $78,114 | $435,935 | $1,372 |
| 27 | Molalla | 25.00 | 10,186 | $89,318 | $497,975 | $1,654 |
| 28 | Portland | 25.40 | 641,165 | $90,919 | $534,638 | $1,655 |
| 29 | Sandy | 25.40 | 12,854 | $108,984 | $523,760 | $1,861 |
| 30 | La Grande | 26.60 | 13,058 | $58,427 | $298,760 | $968 |
| 31 | Forest Grove | 26.80 | 26,529 | $87,933 | $525,623 | $1,460 |
| 32 | Independence | 27.00 | 10,199 | $85,375 | $425,946 | $1,665 |
| 33 | Gresham | 28.20 | 112,378 | $77,795 | $471,181 | $1,586 |
| 34 | Sherwood | 28.40 | 20,307 | $109,966 | $633,005 | $2,131 |
| 35 | Tualatin | 28.50 | 27,763 | $104,043 | $638,736 | $1,806 |
| 36 | Beaverton | 29.00 | 97,812 | $98,622 | $530,795 | $1,826 |
| 37 | Tigard | 29.10 | 56,011 | $108,823 | $608,407 | $1,782 |
| 38 | Bend | 29.40 | 103,390 | $96,394 | $732,650 | $1,883 |
| 39 | Cornelius | 29.70 | 14,255 | $96,273 | $485,775 | $1,573 |
| 40 | Keizer | 29.80 | 39,082 | $84,813 | $450,015 | $1,424 |
| 41 | Woodburn | 29.80 | 27,875 | $67,347 | $425,248 | $1,489 |
| 42 | Salem | 30.60 | 178,865 | $75,487 | $436,318 | $1,400 |
| 43 | Corvallis | 30.80 | 59,960 | $65,012 | $555,988 | $1,391 |
| 44 | Hillsboro | 31.90 | 108,231 | $106,409 | $522,557 | $1,978 |
| 45 | Springfield | 32.40 | 61,499 | $68,761 | $414,618 | $1,258 |
| 46 | Hermiston | 35.00 | 19,546 | $66,998 | $339,211 | $1,088 |
| 47 | Eugene | 35.80 | 179,591 | $66,562 | $473,231 | $1,402 |
| 48 | Redmond | 37.40 | 36,092 | $84,164 | $514,637 | $1,628 |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024, FBI UCR, OpenFlights. 48 cities with more than 10,000 residents.
Summary
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Oregon Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Oregon goes to Newport.
The best places to retire in Oregon are Newport, Canby, Astoria, Central Point, Milwaukie, Lake Oswego, Gladstone, Grants Pass, The Dalles, and Ashland.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley. Not sold on Oregon? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
Questions and answers
Best Places To Retire In Oregon FAQs
What is the best place to retire in Oregon?
Newport is the best place to retire in Oregon for 2026, according to Saturday Night Science. Canby and Astoria are next.
What are the best places to retire in Oregon?
The best places to retire in Oregon are Newport, Canby, Astoria, Central Point, Milwaukie, Lake Oswego, Gladstone, Grants Pass, The Dalles, and Ashland. We ranked all 48 cities with more than 10,000 residents.
How do you rank retirement spots?
We score every qualifying Oregon city on rent, crime, things to do, weather, airport access, and median age. The city that balances all six best, Newport, takes the top spot.
How much does a home cost in Newport?
The median home in Newport runs $445,961, against $499,004 across Oregon as a whole. Across the full top ten, the median home costs $496,199.
Which Oregon place came in last for retirees?
Redmond lands at the bottom of the retirement ranking for Oregon. Not ready to retire anyway? Then Redmond might suit you fine.