The 10 Best Places To Retire In Oregon For 2026

The best places to retire in Oregon are Newport and Canby for 2026 based on Saturday Night Science.

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

No. 1 best place to retire in Oregon

Newport, OR

10,583 peopleSnackAbility 7/10
7/10
Newport, OR
Source: Wikipedia User Bernard Gagnon | GFDL
$1,241 median rent · $60,568 median income · #14 cheapest rent in Oregon
Map of Newport within Oregon Located in Lincoln County, Oregon
Median income -27% vs OR
$60,568
OR $83k
Median home value -11% vs OR
$445,961
OR $499k
2

No. 2 best place to retire in Oregon

Canby, OR

18,134 peopleSnackAbility 7/10
7/10
Canby, OR
Source: Public domain
$1,542 median rent · $100,989 median income · #31 cheapest rent in Oregon
Map of Canby within Oregon Located in Clackamas County, Oregon
Median income +22% vs OR
$100,989
OR $83k
Median home value +18% vs OR
$590,607
OR $499k

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.

3

No. 3 best place to retire in Oregon

Astoria, OR

10,109 peopleSnackAbility 6/10
6/10
Astoria, OR
Source: Wikipedia User aselfcallednowhere | CC BY-SA 3.0
$1,239 median rent · $68,007 median income · #13 cheapest rent in Oregon
Map of Astoria within Oregon Located in Clatsop County, Oregon
Median income -18% vs OR
$68,007
OR $83k
Median home value -5% vs OR
$474,605
OR $499k

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.

4

No. 4 best place to retire in Oregon

Central Point, OR

19,216 peopleSnackAbility 8.5/10
8.5/10
Central Point, OR
Source: Wikipedia User NoeHill | GFDL
$1,364 median rent · $86,058 median income · #19 cheapest rent in Oregon
Map of Central Point within Oregon Located in Jackson County, Oregon
Median income +4% vs OR
$86,058
OR $83k
Median home value -16% vs OR
$418,192
OR $499k

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.

5

No. 5 best place to retire in Oregon

Milwaukie, OR

21,392 peopleSnackAbility 8.5/10up 1
8.5/10
Milwaukie, OR
Source: Wikipedia User Finetooth | CC BY-SA 3.0
$1,598 median rent · $86,892 median income · #34 cheapest rent in Oregon
Map of Milwaukie within Oregon Located in Multnomah County, Oregon
Median income +5% vs OR
$86,892
OR $83k
Median home value +4% vs OR
$519,433
OR $499k

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.

6

No. 6 best place to retire in Oregon

Lake Oswego, OR

40,381 peopleSnackAbility 10/10up 1
10/10
Lake Oswego, OR
Source: Wikipedia User Esprqii | CC BY-SA 3.0
$2,139 median rent · $141,549 median income · #48 cheapest rent in Oregon
Map of Lake Oswego within Oregon Located in Washington County, Oregon
Median income +71% vs OR
$141,549
OR $83k
Median home value +77% vs OR
$882,925
OR $499k

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.

7

No. 7 best place to retire in Oregon

Gladstone, OR

11,977 peopleSnackAbility 7/10up 4
7/10
Gladstone, OR
Source: Wikipedia User M.O. Stevens | GFDL
$1,740 median rent · $91,250 median income · #39 cheapest rent in Oregon
Map of Gladstone within Oregon Located in Clackamas County, Oregon
Median income +10% vs OR
$91,250
OR $83k
Median home value +4% vs OR
$517,793
OR $499k

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.

8

No. 8 best place to retire in Oregon

Grants Pass, OR

39,311 peopleSnackAbility 7/10
7/10
Grants Pass, OR
Source: Wikipedia User Nicolas from Paris, France | CC BY-SA 2.0
$1,217 median rent · $59,646 median income · #12 cheapest rent in Oregon
Map of Grants Pass within Oregon Located in Josephine County, Oregon
Median income -28% vs OR
$59,646
OR $83k
Median home value -20% vs OR
$398,231
OR $499k

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.

9

No. 9 best place to retire in Oregon

The Dalles, OR

15,917 peopleSnackAbility 6/10up 1
6/10
The Dalles, OR
Source: Wikipedia User Sam Beebe | CC BY 2.0
$993 median rent · $62,614 median income · #4 cheapest rent in Oregon
Map of The Dalles within Oregon Located in Wasco County, Oregon
Median income -25% vs OR
$62,614
OR $83k
Median home value -22% vs OR
$389,438
OR $499k

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.

10

No. 10 best place to retire in Oregon

Ashland, OR

21,259 peopleSnackAbility 7.5/10up 4
7.5/10
Ashland, OR
Source: Wikipedia User Visitor7 | CC BY-SA 3.0
$1,387 median rent · $68,028 median income · #23 cheapest rent in Oregon
Map of Ashland within Oregon Located in Jackson County, Oregon
Median income -18% vs OR
$68,028
OR $83k
Median home value +10% vs OR
$551,385
OR $499k

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.

The receipts

Compare the top ten

Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Oregon’s statewide median.

City Median income vs OR
1 Newport $60,568 -27%
2 Canby $100,989 +22%
3 Astoria $68,007 -18%
4 Central Point $86,058 +4%
5 Milwaukie $86,892 +5%
6 Lake Oswego $141,549 +71%
7 Gladstone $91,250 +10%
8 Grants Pass $59,646 -28%
9 The Dalles $62,614 -25%
10 Ashland $68,028 -18%

Oregon statewide median: $83,011

City Median home value vs OR
1 Newport $445,961 -11%
2 Canby $590,607 +18%
3 Astoria $474,605 -5%
4 Central Point $418,192 -16%
5 Milwaukie $519,433 +4%
6 Lake Oswego $882,925 +77%
7 Gladstone $517,793 +4%
8 Grants Pass $398,231 -20%
9 The Dalles $389,438 -22%
10 Ashland $551,385 +10%

Oregon statewide median: $499,004

City Median rent vs OR
1 Newport $1,241
2 Canby $1,542
3 Astoria $1,239
4 Central Point $1,364
5 Milwaukie $1,598
6 Lake Oswego $2,139
7 Gladstone $1,740
8 Grants Pass $1,217
9 The Dalles $993
10 Ashland $1,387
City Population vs OR
1 Newport 10,583
2 Canby 18,134
3 Astoria 10,109
4 Central Point 19,216
5 Milwaukie 21,392
6 Lake Oswego 40,381
7 Gladstone 11,977
8 Grants Pass 39,311
9 The Dalles 15,917
10 Ashland 21,259
Making the move? Get mover quotes before you book a truck to Oregon Vetted interstate movers compete for the job — five minutes now beats a moving-day surprise. Find movers →

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.

RankCityRetire ScorePopulationMedian IncomeAverage Home PricesMedian Rent
1Newport14.6010,583$60,568$445,961$1,241
2Canby15.3018,134$100,989$590,607$1,542
3Astoria16.2010,109$68,007$474,605$1,239
4Central Point16.8019,216$86,058$418,192$1,364
5Milwaukie17.8021,392$86,892$519,433$1,598
6Lake Oswego18.8040,381$141,549$882,925$2,139
7Gladstone18.9011,977$91,250$517,793$1,740
8Grants Pass19.4039,311$59,646$398,231$1,217
9The Dalles19.4015,917$62,614$389,438$993
10Ashland19.5021,259$68,028$551,385$1,387
11Dallas19.8017,531$71,549$474,062$1,209
12Roseburg20.4023,778$53,918$361,701$1,063
13Monmouth20.4011,428$69,170$473,961$1,114
14North Bend20.4010,171$81,320$355,605$1,066
15Cottage Grove20.8010,698$80,875$395,746$1,254
16Prineville21.1011,470$72,980$425,759$1,355
17Klamath Falls21.2022,115$46,693$308,371$986
18Coos Bay21.2015,925$56,524$323,165$1,034
19St. Helens21.2014,258$82,865$425,040$1,413
20West Linn21.9026,935$146,507$777,229$2,116
21Medford22.0086,315$73,230$406,689$1,376
22Lebanon22.0019,344$63,176$391,198$1,312
23Sweet Home22.0010,078$56,927$350,175$1,213
24Pendleton23.7016,950$66,563$295,556$956
25McMinnville24.2034,596$73,736$484,842$1,380
26Albany25.0056,839$78,114$435,935$1,372
27Molalla25.0010,186$89,318$497,975$1,654
28Portland25.40641,165$90,919$534,638$1,655
29Sandy25.4012,854$108,984$523,760$1,861
30La Grande26.6013,058$58,427$298,760$968
31Forest Grove26.8026,529$87,933$525,623$1,460
32Independence27.0010,199$85,375$425,946$1,665
33Gresham28.20112,378$77,795$471,181$1,586
34Sherwood28.4020,307$109,966$633,005$2,131
35Tualatin28.5027,763$104,043$638,736$1,806
36Beaverton29.0097,812$98,622$530,795$1,826
37Tigard29.1056,011$108,823$608,407$1,782
38Bend29.40103,390$96,394$732,650$1,883
39Cornelius29.7014,255$96,273$485,775$1,573
40Keizer29.8039,082$84,813$450,015$1,424
41Woodburn29.8027,875$67,347$425,248$1,489
42Salem30.60178,865$75,487$436,318$1,400
43Corvallis30.8059,960$65,012$555,988$1,391
44Hillsboro31.90108,231$106,409$522,557$1,978
45Springfield32.4061,499$68,761$414,618$1,258
46Hermiston35.0019,546$66,998$339,211$1,088
47Eugene35.80179,591$66,562$473,231$1,402
48Redmond37.4036,092$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.

Chris Kolmar
About the author

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

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