The 10 Best Small Towns In Oregon For 2025


The best small towns in Oregon are Maywood Park and North Plains for 2025 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: October 1, 2025

You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Oregon. Best sururbs in Oregon. Best counties in Oregon.

Etc., etc., etc.

But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Beaver State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.

Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Oregon based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.

We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Oregon ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.

Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table

The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Oregon For 2025

  1. Maywood Park
  2. North Plains
  3. Adair Village
  4. Sunriver
  5. Cannon Beach
  6. Durham
  7. Dundee
  8. Gearhart
  9. Metzger
  10. Aurora
  11. Melrose
  12. Williams
  13. Sublimity
  14. Jacksonville
  15. Stafford

Best Small Towns To Live In Oregon Map

What’s the best small town in Oregon? Maywood Park is the best small town in Oregon based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Maywood Park, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.

For more reading on the Beaver State check out:

The 15 Best Small Towns In Oregon For 2025

1. Maywood Park

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 1,144
Median Income: $140,357 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $557,000 (10th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.3%

2. North Plains

North Plains, OR

Source: Wikipedia User Aboutmovies | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

9.5
/10

Population: 3,393
Median Income: $108,618 (9th Best)
Median Home Value: $544,000 (12th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.7%

3. Adair Village

Source: Public Domain
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 1,140
Median Income: $93,438 (22nd Best)
Median Home Value: $405,500 (37th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.9%

4. Sunriver

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,429
Median Income: $90,529 (25th Best)
Median Home Value: $719,800 (3rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

5. Cannon Beach

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 1,368
Median Income: $70,815 (63rd Best)
Median Home Value: $760,900 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.7%

6. Durham

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 1,909
Median Income: $90,341 (27th Best)
Median Home Value: $688,200 (5th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.9%

7. Dundee

Dundee, OR

Source: Wikipedia User M.O. Stevens | CC BY 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,215
Median Income: $100,208 (16th Best)
Median Home Value: $482,300 (21st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.1%

8. Gearhart

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,959
Median Income: $85,966 (35th Best)
Median Home Value: $522,100 (14th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.2%

9. Metzger

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 3,926
Median Income: $89,394 (30th Best)
Median Home Value: $513,000 (18th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 6.8%

10. Aurora

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,104
Median Income: $115,187 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $514,800 (17th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.0%

11. Melrose

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,150
Median Income: $115,536 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $483,000 (20th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.3%

12. Williams

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 1,030
Median Income: $76,875 (53rd Best)
Median Home Value: $541,400 (13th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

13. Sublimity

Sublimity, OR

Source: Wikipedia User Finetooth | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,951
Median Income: $78,007 (51st Best)
Median Home Value: $462,800 (24th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.3%

14. Jacksonville

Jacksonville, OR

Source: Wikipedia User Oakshade at English Wikipedia | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 2,991
Median Income: $114,500 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $595,400 (8th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 7.1%

15. Stafford

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,572
Median Income: $182,372 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $1,119,400 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.1%

Best States In America

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Oregon

We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Oregon possible.

Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2019-2023 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Lowest Unemployment Rates
  • Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
  • Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
  • Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
  • Commute Times (Lower is better)

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 116 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 116, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Oregon. Top of that list — Maywood Park.

This is our tenth time ranking the best small places to live in Oregon.

Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones

We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Oregon are the best in which to live.

And who can argue with that?

The best small towns in Oregon are Maywood Park, North Plains, Adair Village, Sunriver, Cannon Beach, Durham, Dundee, Gearhart, Metzger, and Aurora.

If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Oregon:

  1. Warm Springs
  2. Oakridge
  3. Cave Junction

For more Oregon reading, check out:

Best Small Towns In Oregon

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value Unemployment Rate
1 Maywood Park, OR 1,144 $140,357 2.3%
2 North Plains, OR 3,393 $108,618 5.7%
3 Adair Village, OR 1,140 $93,438 5.9%
4 Sunriver, OR 1,429 $90,529 0.0%
5 Cannon Beach, OR 1,368 $70,815 1.7%
6 Durham, OR 1,909 $90,341 2.9%
7 Dundee, OR 3,215 $100,208 5.1%
8 Gearhart, OR 1,959 $85,966 1.2%
9 Metzger, OR 3,926 $89,394 6.8%
10 Aurora, OR 1,104 $115,187 1.0%
11 Melrose, OR 1,150 $115,536 4.3%
12 Williams, OR 1,030 $76,875 0.0%
13 Sublimity, OR 2,951 $78,007 1.3%
14 Jacksonville, OR 2,991 $114,500 7.1%
15 Stafford, OR 1,572 $182,372 4.1%
16 Coburg, OR 1,541 $89,250 10.9%
17 Dunes City, OR 1,358 $71,125 1.8%
18 Sisters, OR 3,018 $93,115 3.2%
19 Columbia City, OR 1,806 $100,912 1.4%
20 Beavercreek, OR 4,577 $130,588 3.0%
21 Odell, OR 2,666 $84,911 7.4%
22 Lafayette, OR 4,428 $96,419 4.2%
23 Pacific City, OR 1,638 $88,044 0.0%
24 Brownsville, OR 1,949 $82,750 1.6%
25 Turner, OR 3,107 $99,545 7.7%
26 Eagle Crest, OR 2,890 $108,382 5.8%
27 Banks, OR 2,092 $84,651 8.5%
28 Warren, OR 1,459 $103,309 6.8%
29 Yamhill, OR 1,179 $121,250 2.1%
30 Millersburg, OR 3,096 $124,101 2.8%
31 Carlton, OR 2,378 $94,227 5.9%
32 Harrisburg, OR 3,675 $74,006 4.4%
33 Three Rivers, OR 3,966 $82,780 8.9%
34 Harbor, OR 2,154 $57,778 3.4%
35 Bayside Gardens, OR 1,194 $75,810 8.1%
36 Hubbard, OR 3,421 $98,750 3.0%
37 Joseph, OR 1,090 $48,705 1.9%
38 Aumsville, OR 4,220 $89,651 2.5%
39 Bay City, OR 2,022 $80,329 3.7%
40 Culver, OR 2,211 $85,481 2.3%
41 Lakeview, OR 3,043 $70,436 2.9%
42 Merlin, OR 1,355 $66,342 1.0%
43 Phoenix, OR 4,383 $60,656 4.3%
44 Hines, OR 1,629 $57,639 1.7%
45 Lowell, OR 1,221 $90,078 2.0%
46 Lincoln Beach, OR 2,657 $72,833 4.1%
47 Island City, OR 1,165 $62,552 4.2%
48 Cascade Locks, OR 1,529 $65,357 4.3%
49 Rockaway Beach, OR 1,577 $55,188 6.4%
50 Foots Creek, OR 1,095 $71,755 0.0%
51 Enterprise, OR 2,145 $56,975 10.8%
52 Mulino, OR 2,146 $103,375 10.0%
53 Athena, OR 1,206 $70,729 2.1%
54 Redwood, OR 3,150 $73,135 9.6%
55 Depoe Bay, OR 2,025 $68,636 11.9%
56 Ruch, OR 1,475 $81,591 2.7%
57 Scio, OR 1,075 $82,946 5.9%
58 Barview, OR 1,645 $71,579 5.6%
59 Jefferson, OR 3,316 $90,391 8.6%
60 Roseburg North, OR 4,400 $61,916 3.5%
61 Halsey, OR 1,637 $106,250 8.6%
62 Dayton, OR 2,668 $79,556 11.9%
63 John Day, OR 1,543 $75,917 2.9%
64 Gervais, OR 2,588 $86,250 8.2%
65 South Lebanon, OR 1,044 $56,042 0.0%
66 Amity, OR 1,972 $93,438 3.7%
67 Lyons, OR 1,322 $87,500 8.4%
68 Coquille, OR 4,019 $49,276 4.2%
69 Reedsport, OR 4,317 $54,655 1.3%
70 New Hope, OR 1,529 $77,768 9.4%
71 Stanfield, OR 1,956 $65,909 2.6%
72 Estacada, OR 4,878 $82,909 2.9%
73 Vernonia, OR 2,716 $83,324 6.7%
74 Donald, OR 1,242 $79,167 11.5%
75 Tangent, OR 1,303 $99,750 5.5%
76 Gold Beach, OR 2,455 $51,662 10.5%
77 Bandon, OR 3,323 $46,250 12.3%
78 Elgin, OR 1,592 $53,750 2.9%
79 Wood Village, OR 4,611 $72,404 2.0%
80 Terrebonne, OR 1,394 $102,045 33.2%
81 Clatskanie, OR 2,198 $81,307 6.0%
82 Rogue River, OR 2,092 $45,163 10.1%
83 Oakland, OR 1,237 $58,272 13.1%
84 Mount Angel, OR 3,405 $62,500 12.4%
85 Pilot Rock, OR 1,220 $85,795 4.4%
86 Gold Hill, OR 1,264 $47,500 2.9%
87 Glide, OR 1,481 $81,034 6.3%
88 Chenoweth, OR 1,543 $62,204 18.0%
89 Heppner, OR 1,420 $49,564 1.9%
90 Shady Cove, OR 3,083 $45,750 12.7%
91 Rainier, OR 1,859 $62,847 3.6%
92 Myrtle Creek, OR 3,495 $57,039 8.6%
93 Lakeside, OR 1,839 $57,829 3.1%
94 Rose Lodge, OR 1,186 $55,179 0.0%
95 Bunker Hill, OR 1,694 $53,098 1.6%
96 Mill City, OR 1,876 $70,000 12.2%
97 Waldport, OR 2,025 $50,000 15.8%
98 Vale, OR 2,259 $48,854 7.4%
99 Irrigon, OR 1,922 $66,087 3.7%
100 Willamina, OR 2,216 $56,211 4.9%
About Chris Kolmar

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.

 Best Small Towns, Rankings