There are all types when it comes to being a snob in Oregon. You’ve got your Wine Snobs, Book Snobs, and, of course, Clothes Snobs. Then there are the Technology Snobs, Car Snobs, and yes, even City Snobs — as in, I’m better than you because I live in (insert snooty city here).
How can we tell which Oregon cities are the snobbiest? By measuring snobby things, that’s how.
We used Saturday Night Science to look at things like expensive homes, high incomes, and overly educated populations by city in Oregon. These are the criteria you’d argue with a friend over a foodie dinner about who’s snobbier.
After analyzing 75 of the state’s most populous areas over 5,000 people, we came up with this ranking of the ten snobbiest places in the state of Oregon.
The Oregonian in these places aren’t snobby, they just know they’re better than you.
$141,549 median income · $882,925 median home · #2 income in Oregon
Located in
Washington County, 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
$146,507 median income · $777,229 median home · #1 income in Oregon
Located in
Clackamas County, Oregon
West Linn is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. Now a southern suburb within the Portland metropolitan area, West Linn has a history of early development, prompted by the opportunity to harvest energy from nearby Willamette Falls. It was named after U.S. Senator Lewis F. Linn of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, who had advocated the American occupation of Oregon as a counterclaim to the British. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 25,109.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$122,151 median income · $681,241 median home · #3 income in Oregon
Located in
Clackamas County, Oregon
Happy Valley is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 13,903 at the 2010 census.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$109,966 median income · $633,005 median home · #4 income in Oregon
Located in
Washington County, Oregon
Sherwood is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. Located in the southeast corner of the county, it is a residential community in the Tualatin Valley, southwest of Portland. As of the 2010 census, Sherwood had a population of 18,194 residents. The city’s population for 2014 was estimated to be 18,978 by the U.S. Census. Sherwood was first incorporated in 1893 as a town. Originally named Smockville after its founder, James Christopher Smock, the town was given its current name by local businessman Robert Alexander in 1891, who likely named it after his hometown of Sherwood, Michigan.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$96,394 median income · $732,650 median home · #13 income in Oregon
Located in
Deschutes County, Oregon
Bend is a city in, and the county seat of, Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. It is the principal city of the Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bend is Central Oregon’s largest city, and despite its modest size, is the de facto metropolis of the region, owing to the low population density of that area. Bend recorded a population of 76,693 at the time of the 2010 U.S. Census, up from 52,029 at the 2000 census. The estimated population of the city as of 2013 is 81,236. Bend’s metro population was estimated at 165,954 as of July 1, 2013. The Bend MSA is the fifth largest metropolitan area in Oregon.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$108,823 median income · $608,407 median home · #6 income in Oregon
Located in
Washington County, Oregon
Tigard is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. The population was 48,035 at the 2010 census. As of 2007, Tigard was the state’s 12th largest city. Incorporated in 1961, the city is located south of Beaverton and north of Tualatin, and is part of the Portland metropolitan area. Interstate 5 and Oregon Route 217 are the main freeways in the city, with Oregon Route 99W and Oregon Route 210 serving as other major highways. Public transit service is provided by TriMet, via several bus routes and the WES Commuter Rail line.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$104,043 median income · $638,736 median home · #8 income in Oregon
Located in
Washington County, Oregon
Tualatin is a city located primarily in Washington County in the State of Oregon. A small portion of the city is also located in neighboring Clackamas County. It is a southwestern suburb in the Portland Metropolitan Area that is located south of Tigard. The population was 26,054 at the 2010 census.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$85,647 median income · $712,510 median home · #25 income in Oregon
Located in
Hood River County, Oregon
The city of Hood River is the seat of Hood River County, Oregon, United States. It is a port on the Columbia River, and is named for the nearby Hood River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,167.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$98,622 median income · $530,795 median home · #11 income in Oregon
Located in
Washington County, Oregon
Beaverton is a city in Washington County, in the U.S. state of Oregon. The city center is 7 miles west of downtown Portland in the Tualatin River Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population is 89,803. This makes it the second-largest city in the county and Oregon’s sixth-largest city. Fire protection and EMS services are provided through Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$96,236 median income · $635,208 median home · #15 income in Oregon
Located in
Washington County, Oregon
Wilsonville is a city primarily in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. A portion of the northern section of the city is in Washington County. It was founded as Boones Landing because of the Boones Ferry which crossed the Willamette River at the location; the community became Wilsonville in 1880. The city was incorporated in 1969 with a population of approximately 1,000. The population was 13,991 at the 2000 census, and grew to 19,509 as of 2010. Slightly more than 90% of residents at the 2000 census were white, with Hispanics comprising the largest minority group.
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 the snobs live in Oregon
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the snobbiest cities in the Beaver State
Do you think we’d just come up with this list willy-nilly? Not a chance – we only use Saturday Night Science around here.
We gathered up all of the places in Oregon with populations of 5,000 people or more. This left us with a total of 75 places. Then, we looked at each place in terms of these snoot-er-iffic criteria (And no, it’s not a word. English snob.):
- Median home price (Higher is snobbier)
- Median household income (Higher is snobbier)
- Percent of population with a college degree (Higher is snobbier)
Incomes and college education levels come from the American Community Survey. Home prices come from Zillow.
Turned out this simple criteria was much better at sniffing out the snobby places then more snobby criteria like:
- Libaries per capita (Higher is snobbier)
- Museums per capita (Higher is snobbier)
- Private schools per capita (Higher is snobbier)
From there, we ranked each of our 75 places in each category with scores from one to 75. We then averaged each place’s ranking into one overall score, where the lowest score went to the snobbiest place in Oregon. So let’s all flip a table in honor of Lake Oswego (with our pinkies up, of course.)
Before you get upset and ruin your blowout or something drastic here, let’s remember that this is all in good fun. Would we live in one of these 10 places if we had the chance? Of course, we would.
And it’s not like your real estate agent would ever point out how snobby the town you’re moving to is. We’re here to keep you grounded, even if you’re wearing a monocle.
The full plate
Table: The Snobbiest Cities In Oregon For 2026
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Snob Score | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Adult Highly Educated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Oswego | 1.33 | 40,381 | $141,549 | $882,925 | 75.0% |
| 2 | West Linn | 2.00 | 26,935 | $146,507 | $777,229 | 63.0% |
| 3 | Happy Valley | 6.83 | 26,738 | $122,151 | $681,241 | 46.0% |
| 4 | Sherwood | 7.17 | 20,307 | $109,966 | $633,005 | 50.0% |
| 5 | Bend | 7.67 | 103,390 | $96,394 | $732,650 | 52.0% |
| 6 | Tigard | 8.17 | 56,011 | $108,823 | $608,407 | 50.0% |
| 7 | Tualatin | 8.83 | 27,763 | $104,043 | $638,736 | 46.0% |
| 8 | Hood River | 11.33 | 8,361 | $85,647 | $712,510 | 55.0% |
| 9 | Beaverton | 12.17 | 97,812 | $98,622 | $530,795 | 50.0% |
| 10 | Wilsonville | 12.17 | 26,974 | $96,236 | $635,208 | 45.0% |
| 11 | Portland | 13.33 | 641,165 | $90,919 | $534,638 | 54.0% |
| 12 | Hillsboro | 14.33 | 108,231 | $106,409 | $522,557 | 42.0% |
| 13 | Canby | 15.50 | 18,134 | $100,989 | $590,607 | 30.0% |
| 14 | Newberg | 17.83 | 26,066 | $93,232 | $530,485 | 33.0% |
| 15 | Sandy | 18.67 | 12,854 | $108,984 | $523,760 | 29.0% |
| 16 | Forest Grove | 20.33 | 26,529 | $87,933 | $525,623 | 32.0% |
| 17 | Milwaukie | 20.33 | 21,392 | $86,892 | $519,433 | 41.0% |
| 18 | Philomath | 20.50 | 5,642 | $83,672 | $518,378 | 50.0% |
| 19 | Ashland | 21.33 | 21,259 | $68,028 | $551,385 | 66.0% |
| 20 | Silverton | 22.17 | 10,456 | $79,960 | $546,989 | 33.0% |
| 21 | Corvallis | 24.00 | 59,960 | $65,012 | $555,988 | 61.0% |
| 22 | Troutdale | 25.67 | 15,923 | $89,337 | $492,004 | 29.0% |
| 23 | Redmond | 26.50 | 36,092 | $84,164 | $514,637 | 30.0% |
| 24 | Gladstone | 26.67 | 11,977 | $91,250 | $517,793 | 26.0% |
| 25 | Scappoose | 28.00 | 8,179 | $97,708 | $489,282 | 24.0% |
| 26 | Creswell | 32.50 | 5,621 | $100,385 | $468,604 | 23.0% |
| 27 | Estacada | 34.67 | 5,152 | $94,435 | $540,538 | 12.0% |
| 28 | Cornelius | 35.00 | 14,255 | $96,273 | $485,775 | 18.0% |
| 29 | Eugene | 35.50 | 179,591 | $66,562 | $473,231 | 45.0% |
| 30 | Molalla | 35.67 | 10,186 | $89,318 | $497,975 | 19.0% |
| 31 | Salem | 35.83 | 178,865 | $75,487 | $436,318 | 31.0% |
| 32 | Astoria | 36.17 | 10,109 | $68,007 | $474,605 | 31.0% |
| 33 | Keizer | 36.33 | 39,082 | $84,813 | $450,015 | 26.0% |
| 34 | McMinnville | 36.33 | 34,596 | $73,736 | $484,842 | 26.0% |
| 35 | Independence | 36.83 | 10,199 | $85,375 | $425,946 | 28.0% |
| 36 | Albany | 37.33 | 56,839 | $78,114 | $435,935 | 29.0% |
| 37 | Central Point | 37.50 | 19,216 | $86,058 | $418,192 | 28.0% |
| 38 | Stayton | 37.67 | 8,292 | $78,268 | $463,064 | 27.0% |
| 39 | Eagle Point | 38.50 | 9,839 | $84,126 | $470,636 | 23.0% |
| 40 | Monmouth | 38.83 | 11,428 | $69,170 | $473,961 | 28.0% |
| 41 | Medford | 39.67 | 86,315 | $73,230 | $406,689 | 31.0% |
| 42 | Fairview | 40.33 | 10,735 | $70,107 | $479,771 | 24.0% |
| 43 | Gresham | 40.83 | 112,378 | $77,795 | $471,181 | 23.0% |
| 44 | Dallas | 41.83 | 17,531 | $71,549 | $474,062 | 23.0% |
| 45 | North Bend | 42.00 | 10,171 | $81,320 | $355,605 | 29.0% |
| 46 | Warrenton | 42.17 | 6,327 | $70,670 | $498,702 | 21.0% |
| 47 | Talent | 42.67 | 6,254 | $62,543 | $430,818 | 40.0% |
| 48 | Newport | 43.50 | 10,583 | $60,568 | $445,961 | 31.0% |
| 49 | Brookings | 43.67 | 6,703 | $74,933 | $477,228 | 19.0% |
| 50 | Seaside | 45.83 | 7,192 | $47,361 | $465,276 | 31.0% |
| 51 | Cottage Grove | 48.83 | 10,698 | $80,875 | $395,746 | 21.0% |
| 52 | St. Helens | 49.17 | 14,258 | $82,865 | $425,040 | 17.0% |
| 53 | Springfield | 50.83 | 61,499 | $68,761 | $414,618 | 23.0% |
| 54 | Prineville | 53.00 | 11,470 | $72,980 | $425,759 | 16.0% |
| 55 | Florence | 53.17 | 9,482 | $53,333 | $435,248 | 25.0% |
| 56 | Veneta | 53.67 | 5,200 | $66,890 | $435,477 | 19.0% |
| 57 | Pendleton | 56.50 | 16,950 | $66,563 | $295,556 | 25.0% |
| 58 | The Dalles | 56.50 | 15,917 | $62,614 | $389,438 | 23.0% |
| 59 | La Grande | 56.83 | 13,058 | $58,427 | $298,760 | 28.0% |
| 60 | Sheridan | 57.50 | 6,339 | $70,785 | $402,546 | 13.0% |
| 61 | Woodburn | 57.67 | 27,875 | $67,347 | $425,248 | 15.0% |
| 62 | Lebanon | 57.83 | 19,344 | $63,176 | $391,198 | 21.0% |
| 63 | Tillamook | 58.67 | 5,218 | $58,176 | $459,171 | 15.0% |
| 64 | Madras | 59.17 | 7,676 | $64,659 | $358,034 | 21.0% |
| 65 | Grants Pass | 59.67 | 39,311 | $59,646 | $398,231 | 20.0% |
| 66 | Roseburg | 61.17 | 23,778 | $53,918 | $361,701 | 22.0% |
| 67 | Hermiston | 61.17 | 19,546 | $66,998 | $339,211 | 17.0% |
| 68 | Klamath Falls | 62.67 | 22,115 | $46,693 | $308,371 | 24.0% |
| 69 | Coos Bay | 62.83 | 15,925 | $56,524 | $323,165 | 22.0% |
| 70 | Umatilla | 64.50 | 7,508 | $68,826 | $291,018 | 13.0% |
| 71 | Winston | 67.33 | 5,690 | $56,667 | $313,139 | 16.0% |
| 72 | Sweet Home | 68.00 | 10,078 | $56,927 | $350,175 | 12.0% |
| 73 | Sutherlin | 68.00 | 8,599 | $51,250 | $345,332 | 16.0% |
| 74 | Ontario | 71.67 | 11,842 | $46,308 | $305,608 | 15.0% |
| 75 | Milton-Freewater | 73.67 | 7,036 | $52,183 | $250,756 | 8.0% |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024, Zillow research. 75 places with more than 5,000 residents.
Summary
There You Have It – Now That You’re On Your High Horse
When it comes to snobbery, these places in Oregon are heading ever upward. Residents in these communities are well educated, well paid, and appear to have all the sophisticated culture and entertainment of an Ernst Lubitsch film right at their fingertips.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
The snobbiest cities in Oregon are Lake Oswego, West Linn, Happy Valley, Sherwood, Bend, Tigard, Tualatin, Hood River, Beaverton, and Wilsonville.
