Are you thinking about moving to Oregon? I’ve lived here for 20+ years and wanted to share the honest pros and cons of living in Oregon to make your decision a bit easier.
It seems that living in Oregon is high on everyone’s list these days. Did you know that Bend, Oregon is the second fastest growing city in America?
Oregon is best known for access to incredible scenery, ample recreational opportunities, great breweries and an easier way of life.
I’m confident that there’s an Oregon town to fit almost anyone’s needs. But is living in Oregon the right call for you?
Read on for the pros and cons of living in Oregon. Please keep in mind that this is my personal list based on firsthand experience, not everyone will feel the same way. 😉
With that said, let’s jump right in.
Moving to Oregon? Quick Stats
With a population of 4.2 million, Oregon is the 27th most populous state in the country, growing by 12% in the past 10 years.
Where are people living in Oregon? The most popular cities to live in Oregon are: Portland, Salem, Eugene, Gresham and Hillsboro. The larger cities tend to lean more liberal and the rural areas are conservative.
By and large, Oregon is considered a liberal state and hasn’t leaned red in a presidential election since 1988.
Pros & Cons of Living in Oregon
Pros of Living in Oregon
#1. The nature is unbelievable
One of my favorite things about living in Oregon is the epic natural scenery. The Pacific Northwest as a whole is known for attracting nature-enthusiasts in droves and it’s easy to see why.
From towering volcanic peaks to breathtaking beaches and vast deserts, Oregon has it all.
In fact, Oregon is home to the deepest lake in America (Crater Lake), the deepest river gorge in the country and is also home to the windsurfing capital of the world.
Needless to say, nature plays a big role in daily life while living in Oregon and it’s a huge draw for most folks moving to Oregon.
Depending on where you live in Oregon, you’re usually a mere two-hour drive from a desert, forest, mountains or the sea. It’s hard to beat that!
Want to know another interesting fact about Oregon? Oregon is home to the largest living organism on earth, the honey mushroom, which spans the equivalent of 1,350 soccer fields.
If you want to get a taste for the incredible scenery in Oregon, read: The 7 BREATHTAKING Wonders of Oregon (+4 More We Should Add ASAP).
Oregon’s beauty is hard to describe with pictures and words, so here’s a quick video of some of the beauty in Bend, Oregon.
#2. There’s no sales tax
Oregon is one of 5 states in the country that doesn’t a have sales tax, which means anything you buy in a store will be sold to you tax-free.
In turn, this saves hundreds, if not thousands, a year on larger purchases like computers, jewelry, appliances, furniture and clothing.
However, it’s worth mentioning that even though you won’t pay sales tax while living in Oregon, you will be paying an income tax that is higher than the national average (we’ll cover that shortly).
#3. Oregon is home to award-winning wineries
One thing is certain about moving to Oregon, you’ll never be thirsty. In fact, Oregon is the 4th most wine producing state in the country.
Home to 774 wineries, Oregon is known for having one of the best wine regions in the country. The two most notable are the Willamette Valley and Columbia River Gorge.
Willamette Valley is the crown jewel of Oregon’s wine region, boasting more than 550 wineries and sitting at the same latitude as Burgundy’s wine region.
The region is best known for producing knock-out award-winning pinot noirs that can hold their own even in worldwide competitions.
Imagine sipping a chilled glass of Chardonnay during a warm summer evening (or robust glass of award winning red in fall) while overlooking rolling hills of healthy vines — the epitome of a life well lived!
My husband and I take complete advantage of Oregon’s romantic wine regions by visiting wineries during summer weekends with friends in tow — it’s one of personal favorite things about living in Oregon.
Further reading: 10 Relaxing Wineries in Hood River, Oregon
#4. Cyclists rejoice!
With more than 350+ miles of bike lanes, Oregon is home to the most bike-friendly city in the country, Portland.
Year after year, Portland clocks in as one of the best cities for cyclists due to extensive biking trails and advanced bike infrastructure.
I can tell you from first hand experience that biking around Portland is enjoyable, safe and a great way to explore the town (this is coming from someone that scares easily!).
In fact, biking is so popular in Portland that on average 5.3% of residents commute to work by bike, far exceeding the national average of .5%.
Hop on the local BIKETOWN bikes and take a lovely ride along the Willamette River to see exactly why Portland is called Bridge City. And whatever you do, don’t miss an opportunity to bike across the Tilikum Crossing bridge!
Take your bike for a spin at Waterfront Park, which is especially beautiful in the spring, if you want proof, read: Local’s Guide to Cherry Blossoms in Portland.
#5. You won’t need to pump your own gas
Actually, you can’t pump your own gas even if you wanted to because one of the first things you’ll quickly learn after moving to Oregon is that it’s illegal to pump your own gas in the state.
If you violate the law, you are subject to a $500 fine. Sounds strange, doesn’t it?
The law was first introduced in 1951 due to concerns of untrained staff handling flammable liquid. Oregon was not alone in having this law, most states had similar rules in the 1950’s.
Things have changed drastically since that time and pumping gas is no longer considered unsafe but Oregon (and New Jersey) have remained stubborn and still refuse to allow residents to pump gas.
Personally, I view this as a perk of living in Oregon, especially during the winter months. However, some folks (like my husband) view this as a disadvantage of living in Portland, and just downright bizarre.
To each their own, I guess. 😉
#6. It’s very easy to vote while living in Oregon
Oregon is one of the few US states that implemented mail-in-voting well before COVID.
As someone that lives in Oregon, I find it incredibly easy to vote from the comfort of home.
During election season, my husband and I spend a full day researching and discussing the ballots before casting them in. We do this on our comfortable couch with a cup of coffee in hand and music in the background.
We don’t need to wait in line for hours to partake in our civic duty. Voting is easy while living in Oregon and there’s no excuse not to do participate.
Now, if only we can make election day a national holiday…
#7. Oregonians care about the environment
Oregonians take great pride in their love for the environment. Because of this, Oregon has one of the lowest carbon footprints in America.
Our effort to care for the planet is made evident in the way most people live their daily lives in Oregon.
We don’t litter, we take recycling and composting seriously, and we shop local whenever possible, as opposed to shopping at big chain retailers.
All this to say, Oregon is considered one of the greenest states in the country and is known for passing progressive legislature that combats the detrimental impacts of climate change.
As recently as March 2020, Oregon’s Governor signed an executive order (EO 20-04) directing agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 45% by 2035; and by 80% by 2050.
What’s more, the City of Portland recently passed a green tax that taxes large corporations and uses the revenue to fund energy efficiency initiatives in under-served communities. The first city in America to pass such an ambitious tax – hard not to like that!
So if you care about minimizing your impacts on the environment, you’ll find that living in Oregon will align well with your personal beliefs.
Fact: Oregon was the first state to introduce a bottle deposit.
#8. Access to the (epic) Oregon coast
One of the best things about living in Oregon is having access to the striking Oregon coastline.
Oregon’s nearly 400-mile coastline is famous national-wide for good reason. The striking shoreline is lined with massive rock formations, the largest coastal sand dunes in America and a breathtaking view of the chilly Pacific Ocean.
But what makes the Oregon Coast so special? Well, for starters, every inch of the coastline is public property (and therefore freely accessible to everyone).
Thanks to the Oregon Beach Bill from 1967, it is unlawful for any entity to privatize any stretch of Oregon’s shoreline.
You can spend years exploring the coast and feel a calling to return, which is why this is one of the best things to do in Oregon, regardless of how often you visit.
My childhood is freckled with memories of summer at the Oregon coast, so I’m definitely biased. It took my husband a few visits to fall under the coast’s spell, but as soon as he discovered crabbing and clamming – he was hooked!
Further Reading: 12 Charming Oregon Coast Towns You Can’t Help But Love
#9. The summer weather
Oregon has the best summer weather, with the exception of 2021.
Temperatures during the summer months average 80° and since humidity is nonexistent, it’s easy to take advantage of being outside.
The evenings cool down nicely, so ACs aren’t really needed in the larger cities. In fact, our northern sister, Seattle, is officially the least air conditioned city in the country.
Summers are so blissful that many of our friends refuse to move out of Oregon.
Another perk? Portland, Oregon is one of the least challenging cities in the country for folks that have severe allergies.
#10. The easy-going and hospitable culture
By and large, living in Oregon is easy because of the laid-back culture inherent to the state.
People will give you a friendly hello when you pass by and some of the small towns are best known for their hospitality.
For example, my husband and I got a flat tire while camping in the Wallowas during the 4th of July. We popped on the spare and drove over to the local mechanic only to realize the don’t have the ability to fix our tire and the bigger auto shop is closed on Sundays, so we’d need to wait one day.
Since we had to be back at work by Monday, we mentioned that we wouldn’t be able to wait that long. You know what the mechanic did? He told us he gets off work at 5 and gave us his address.
He told us to swing by his place because he has spare tires and would be happy to help us get on our way. My husband and I contemplated his offer and realized we wouldn’t make it home in time if we lingered until 5pm, but we thanked him for his generous offer.
We have so many similar stories of a similar theme. I love living in Oregon because the people are kind.
Cons of Living in Oregon
#1. The housing market is insane
Oregon’s housing market has skyrocketed, especially in Portland. Over the past 10 years there has been a double-digit percentage increase in housing prices, making moving to Oregon a challenge for most folks looking to settle down long term.
The high cost of housing isn’t unique to Portland alone, Bend has also seen an unbelievable surge as has the Oregon coast.
The housing market in Oregon has reached a point where buying a home in is now unrealistic for most residents because of the competitive market and high price tag.
The median price of a home in Portland currently clocks in at $536,000 (an increase of 19.4% from last year alone). If helpful, the chart below shows the recent uptick in housing values and costs.
What’s worse, the housing market doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. So you may need to rent an apartment while living in Portland, which also doesn’t come cheap — the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in Portland is $1,800.
#2. Frankly, the weather sucks in the big cities
The weather will vary depending on where you live in Oregon but since most folks flock to one of the five most populated cities, you can expect heavy rainfall during six months of the year.
The rain can really get to you, but want to know the worst part? The forever-looming gray clouds taking residence above the city most of the fall, winter and spring months.
Long gray winters should be taken into consideration when researching whether moving to Oregon is right for you because it’s no joke.
It’s no wonder Oregonians are desperate to take advantage of the quickly-fleeting summer months. All the trails and parks are packed during the summer season!
The best way to combat Oregon’s dreary weather? This handy tool. I couldn’t live without it during the winter months.
#3. Oregon has a poor school system
With a high school graduation rate of 78.7%, Oregon has one of the lowest graduation rates in the nation. In fact, only four other states rank worse than us.
Let’s get real — Oregon’s school system rarely ranks into the top 20 in the country, we’re more likely to be found in the bottom rank.
All this to say, if you’re moving to Oregon with the hopes of raising your children in a great school system then you may need to be prepared to shell out for private school.
#4. Reserved locals
After living in Oregon for so long, I want to be transparent about the biggest con of living here. Most residents are reserved, especially in big cities, and they’re not fans of Californian’s whatsoever.
I’ve heard far too many passive-aggressive remarks about how much Californian’s have negatively impacted living in Oregon because they’ve moved here in hordes and drove up the cost of housing.
Listen, we’re all trying to make a better life for ourselves and living in Oregon is appealing!
Yes, Californians are moving to Oregon. But so are people from other states. None of that seems to matter because disliking out of towners is fashionable at the moment, it seems. Which is unfortunate.
Oregonians are frustrated by being outbid by folks that move from wealthier cities and buy homes with cash offers.
Heck, I’m a life-long Oregonian and I can’t even afford to buy a home here. If anyone should be angry, it’s me! But I understand that this is the natural order of things — a cool state gets discovered and people come. You have to roll with the punches, I guess.
#5. The overall cost of living in Oregon in high
There’s no way around this, living in Oregon comes with a hefty price tag, especially if you want to move to Portland. As mentioned earlier, housing is the biggest factor.
By and large, living in Portland is 17% more expensive than living in other US cities of similar size. Before moving to Oregon, check out this super handy calculator that determines cost of living in Oregon for your unique situation.
#6. Oregon has one of the highest state income taxes in the country
Since Oregon doesn’t have a sales tax, it’s easy to assume that moving to Oregon would equate to having more change in your pocket, but that is not the case.
In fact, moving to Oregon means moving to a state with the 4th highest state income tax in the country. Almost any other state you move to will have a smaller state income tax, and believe me, taxes add up quickly.
The state income tax ranges between 5% and a steep 9.9%, depending on your income bracket. Suffice it to say that living in Oregon won’t come cheap.
Overall, your take-home pay will take a substantial hit because of the nearly 10% income tax. Between the federal and income tax, I normally allocate 30% to taxes, which hurts.
Oregon income taxes go toward funding road infrastructure and education, but the joke in Washington is that Oregon should introduce a sales tax because the school system needs a boost.
#7. Oregon doesn’t have many sports teams
If you’re moving to Oregon in hopes of finding a new NFL or MLB team to adopt, you will find yourself wanting.
Oregon has an NBA team, the Portland Trailblazers (championship in 1977) and the Portland Timbers (championship in 2015), a soccer team known for their cult-like fan base.
Apart from that, we also have a major junior hockey team, the Portland Winterhawks, and the Portland Pickles, a Class A baseball team. But apart from that, you won’t find your need for a sports team met easily.
If you’re an avid sport fan that can’t live without football, you may find yourself driving north to Seattle for games and lively tailgating.
#8. The Big One is a constant thought
One thing you will learn quickly while living in Oregon is that Oregonians are constantly thinking about the Big One — a disastrous 8.0 earthquake expected to hit the state at any moment, guaranteed to wipe most of it out.
The Big One is anticipated to be the the worst natural disaster in our country’s history and the state is in no position to handle it.
If you’re into horrors, a New Yorker journalist outlined this entire event in great detail in this article.
So heads up! When you move to Oregon don’t be surprised when your friends and coworkers bring up the Big One in conversations, because it will happen on a weekly basis.
Life in Oregon (Post Summary)
In short, here are the honest pros and cons of living in Oregon state:
- The natural scenery
- No sales tax
- The wineries
- Bike friendly
- Don’t pump your own gas
- Voting made easy
- Care for the environment
- Access to the Oregon Coast
- Easy going vibe
- The summer weather
- The housing market
- The weather
- Poor school systems
- High cost of living
- Reserved locals
- Lack of sports teams
- High state income tax
- The Big One
Love Oregon? Here’s some articles you may find interesting
- 20 JAW-DROPPING Places in Oregon You Have to See to Believe
- The 7 BREATHTAKING Wonders of Oregon (+4 More We Should Add ASAP)
- 20 HONEST Pros & Cons of Living in Portland
- 20 Wildly Beautiful Oregon Waterfalls That Are Completely Worth the Hype
- 12 Legendary Oregon Lakes Perfect for Escaping the Summer Heat
- 12+ Charming Oregon Coast Towns You Can’t Help But Love
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The diversity in landscape and the plethora of things to do make living in Oregon a true delight. I hope you found this list helpful.
Until next time,
Antonina
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Thanks for the honest information. We visited Oregon for the first time this summer and fell in love! In many ways, it sounds like Arizona (current home), only with a coast.
Oregon isn’t for everyone. We don’t appreciate people who move here who can’t get in sync with the Oregon way of doing things. If you drove aggressively back home, we hate that here. If you are in a hurry, Oregon will drive you mad. We like our friendly ways and we like being low key, dressing casually and spending time in nature, quietly. Loud, egotistical people have no place here. Oregon might be a good fit if you are a peaceful person with a kind heart and a love of the outdoors. The hipster glory days of Portland are gone now, so if that is what you seek, you will only find its shadow now. Some simple rules, drive carefully and slowly, never honk at anyone, let people merge onto the freeway, slow down for them, mind your own business, smile a lot, be nice. Do those things and you will fit in fine. And yeah, we still look squinty eyed at Californians and nobody does that more than Californians who became Oregonians.
Great writing; exceptional information; ticked all my boxes; bottom line: I’ll look somewhere else to retire. I say this because of dreams to do exactly as described: move to a gorgeous plot of land along the Oregon coast (W of I-5 was ideal). But I also read the referenced article in “Con #8” about the Cascadia Subduction Zone and the eventual “Big One”. I’ve been and am terrified for 40 years of the San Andreas Fault, but Ms. Shultz’s New Yorker article is the first I’ve heard of the Cascadia. Its subsequent destruction when it finally pops sounds worse than anything we’ve been warned with the San Andreas…AND it’s been some 40 years we’ve been taught how to be prepare, too. Geesh…I actually felt that bullet whiz by me just now.
Good information Antonina. I visited Portland Oregon about 20 years ago.
Does it rain for 6 months out of the year in AZ?
It is sunny most of the year here in Arizona. Not sure why people move to Oregon. It rains 80% of the year, and you can’t go out side it is so wet and cold.
Certainly not, but everyone in AZ thinks Californians are to blame for the housing market problems there, so similarities do exist.
4th generation Oregonian. We are in the fight of our lives. The once top rated city of Portland is collapsing with homeless growing 23% after all the efforts to cure the homeless. Kids despite being the largest funded budget item in the states General fund, graduating can’t do math and the reading level is tanking. More money over the years seems to reduce graduates abilities.
The legislature is passing a law that parents do not have a say in their children taking chemical castration drugs. It’s beautiful and we all do care about keeping it that way long before the “carbon” lingo appeared. People always had been nice to each other but it’s gotten far worse as some no longer tolerate all people like we used to. Just look at the authors comments. It’s not family friendly they way it used to be and sadly we took for granted it always would be. Since 2021 we have large net outmigrations of residents. Politicians are corrupt due to a super majority of one party since vote by mail was implemented in the 1980s. We regret voting for it because before then we had governors of both parties and even an independant.
All the beaches are open to the public. It was an avid outdoorsman, Repulican Governor, Tom McCall, who made that one of his top objectives. Now it’s think my way or we shove it down your throat with very little comprise. I’ve seen huge changes over the decades. Corporations don’t put their HQ here any longer because the CAT tax it taxes them on their gross earnings before costs, drining many out, the most recent id BiMart closed all its Pharmacies. It is driving jobs out of the state in a state that gets most of its income from personal taxes and only 8% from corporate tax because large corporations know better than to have their HQ here.
It is bicycle friendly and there are lots of beautiful reasons why. The forests are truely stunning at times and its a scenic place to hunt, fish, take pictures of wildlife and just go on lots of mountain hikes. There are smells that are gorgeious outside the cities.The cities that used to have a reputation for being clean and friendly have tents, excess garbage, dedication and closed storefronts where none existed since the 1970s. But you can hunt outside the cities for waterfalls, covered bridges, ghost towns, there is always one you missed.
My spouse and inlaws were from California, so I have great fondness for them and yes the net immigration from California outpaced any state for decades. We did benefit from the soaring property values in California when people who sold their houses for $1 million in California got a similar house for $350,000 in Oregon. Those days are over, that same house will be $750,000-$900,000 now. You have had to live here a lifetime to understand the dramatic change. 10-15 years is not enough. It benefitted the landowners but the 20-30 year olds are now not happy the Boomers put home ownership so far out of reach.
This is more of the honest truth in 2023. Let’s not sugar coat it when claiming to share honest pros and cons. It’s worth fighting for to return it to a balanced wonderful place and some of us keep trying. Come if you will help stop the soaring crime and taxes while education and parent involvement is plunging because sustained political super majorities always result in self interested corruption. These are fair things you should know that may have been overlooked. It used to be far better.
“Listen, we’re all trying to make a better life for ourselves and living in Oregon is appealing!”
And so were we! Until an influx of people with loads of money ruined our market and drove most locals out of their hometowns and away from their families.
But, I’m sure you don’t mind. Have fun ruining a once beautiful city.
This comment seems unfair to me. I’m a lifelong local that can’t afford to live in the city I grew up in either. It’s not an influx of people changing the housing market because the housing market is off the charts all over the United States.
I can understand your frustration, but people will move around without (or without) your approval. Think of it this way — you may have displaced a person in the new city you moved to because you were able to afford the house (with a PNW salary) and a local wasn’t. There’s two sides to every story and I stand by my comment that everyone is trying to make a better life for themselves.
Two main things swayed me away.
1. The higher tax income tax rate (the zero sales tax rate is kind of meaningless as the yearly savings is negligible). State income tax difference even when compared to another high income tax state like NJ is quite high, although the lower property tax rates in Oregon probably offsets a decent amount of that difference.
2. The Cascadia earthquake risk (that New Yorker article was bone chilling). But I guess even this might be a secondary factor because you can always go to Bend, OR where you are reasonably insulated from the earthquake effects.
But definitely sounds like a beautiful place to visit!
It’s stunning here, definitely pay the state a visit! I’m glad to hear you took the pros and cons seriously, that was my intention in writing an honest post.
Cheers!
I was born in Nashville, TN but spent many summers with my grandfather in Amity, OR. He was a master gardener and the house was surrounded with irises roses marigolds petunias and such, as well as cherry plum pear and apple trees. The house itself was an 1890s Sears mail order house that had ramshackle additions attached to it over the years, a standalone kitchen in the 20’s (with a well that was later covered), a living space in the 40’s that connected the main house to the kitchen, and then a workshop and two bedrooms added in the 50’s to 70’s.
I have many fond memories of that place and have often thought of moving out there later in life when I retire (Currently 30).
I would like to add that even at the highest state income tax level it’s really not that different and may even be preferable if you’re in a lower bracket. TN may have no state income tax but every time you spend your money you pay 9.75% in tax, 7% state and 2.75% local.
9.75% remains the same for everyone, even families that would pay 5% in Oregon.
Politically I lean slightly conservative centrist and get along with almost any political orientation as long as they can agree to disagree on the hot button issues, but coming from TN the thing I would miss the most would probably be the public perception and laws regarding personal firearms ownership.
Thank you for your honest assessment of Oregon. I knew Washington state was gloomy but I guess Oregon is too. All states have their pros and cons. My state (Maine) is called vacationland but most people think of lobsters. I know only of my little area, western central Me., which I must say the only Big One we’re waiting for are Nor’easters (or ice storms) in the winter! (Sometimes we have a close call with hurricanes)
I love your comments because what my hubby and me seek too. But hey, we live in Utah now- but both moved from Ca.! Speaking as a Californian , 5th generation in fact, we r used to it. Thankfully this Ca girl knows how to adapt. Many blessings to you and your love of your state shines bright.
I’m from Africa more precise Liberia my attention have been shown to the pool school systems.
I am looking to move to Oregon. I think this blog and your comment just had a huge impact on me.
Wisdom with Re: to human nature in your response, Antonina👍 We all need to be honest with ourselves and seek to understand others.
I also appreciate Eugenes reply above on respecting the goodness of a place you’re planning on visiting or moving to.
Glad you enjoy where you live!
We lived and worked in Oregon for 14 years. If you enjoy being underpaid and possibly not paid, this is your town. If you enjoy endless corruption and the elected officials doing whatever they want to pad their account. Welcome. The few beaches here are filled with angry people and pit bulls.
I was crazy happy with oregon when I moved across the country to live there as an adult only to have my life negatively impacted directly by Oregon drug users striking me while they were driving and I was riding my bike! As a result I left Oregon forever and moved far outside of state! Oregon quickly became not for me!
I was in pdx for a few months and liked the cooler weather and nature all over when compared to say LA or other large cities. It’s a bit drab depressionist place though that seems like crime is casual atmosphere in a place with anything goes too laid back atmosphere, no principles of decency in the population, very relativistic easily manipulated values. Drugs are all over the place, and a huge gambling problem with the state promoting it, never seen so many gambling machines outside of Vegas. Big child abuse problem all over as well. Recommend smaller places along the 5 south or north of pdx or farther inland. And the Oregon Coast is amazing, if you are off season traveler otherwise it’s a zoo with gross overcrowded camping cities at ripoff pricing.
Ahhhh, you can’t be serious about Oregonians being friendly? My family is the original homesteaders of Oregon. So I’ve been there my entire life.
I moved away from Oregon, because of how rude, obnoxious, and self centered everyone is.
As far as walking past someone, and getting a friendly “hello.” Well, that had me laughing so hard. Quite the opposite!
I would always try to greet people, yet they would immediately put head down; walking swiftly past you.
MANY, MANY, MANY California’s have moved to the State – bringing their attitude and self-righteous ways.
Couldn’t pay me to live there. Now, I will say… if you are homeless, a trans, queer, etc., you’ll love it.