So, you’re curious about living in Oregon? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
The expert movers, travelers, and worldwide locals that make up the team at Relocalate.com are here to help.
We’ve compiled the ultimate guides to answer the most common questions people just like you have about living in the great state of Oregon.
Dive deep into the topics you’re interested in to make sure your new home in Oregon matches what you’re looking for.
We’ll explore whether Oregon is a good place for YOU to live, and we’ll highlight some of the best cities for you to visit, explore, and ultimately call home.
Pros and Cons of Living in Oregon
You’ve heard it before, and it’s true: no place is perfect. What matters is how good of a fit it is for you.
Relocalate.com is here to help you decide whether Oregon is the best place for YOU to live.
Here are some reasons to love living in Oregon:
- The natural beauty of the region is something that never gets old, from the lush forests to the stunning coastline.
- Oregon has a low cost of living and plenty of outdoor activities for you to enjoy year-round. This helps give Oregon an edge over other states with higher costs or harsher weather conditions during certain parts of the year.
- You can also expect some very relaxed lifestyles here in general – many people take their time getting where they’re going because no one is rushing around! That’s not an all bad thing though as it just adds more charm overall!
- Portland puts on a pretty great show every night too so there are always things to do if you want them.
And, on the flip side, here are some of the downsides of living in Oregon:
- There aren’t as many high-paying jobs here, so that can be a downside to many.
- Oregon is home to a lot of natural disasters as well (fires, floods, landslides). This can be a downside for those who are looking to avoid these in particular, or if they have any past experience with them and want to steer clear from their frequency here too.
Read More: Is Oregon a Good Place to Live?
Best Place to Live in Oregon
So, you’ve got your heart set on living in Oregon? Well, the decision making doesn’t end there. You’ve still got to decide where to live in Oregon!
In some other articles, we’ll dive deeper into some of the best places to live in Oregon.
Our experts have considered a whole bunch of different criteria to select the top locations, including:
- The best places to live for families, retirees, singles, young adults, outdoor lovers, foodies, and more.
- The safest places to live.
- The cheapest places to live.
- The best schools.
- The best job markets.
- The best housing markets.
- And so much more.
Just want a quick list? No worries, here are some of the best cities to live in Oregon:
- Portland
- Eugene
- Salem
Read More: Best Places to Live in Oregon
Checklist for Moving to Oregon
So now you’re preparing for your big move to Oregon. Maybe you’ve even started packing!
As you probably already know, there are a lot of things to take care of when you’re moving. Both in your current state and once you get to Oregon.
Here are some of the major things you’ll want to take care of when you move to Oregon:
- Updating your address with USPS.
- Getting your Oregon driver’s license.
- Transferring your vehicle titles and registrations to Oregon
- Getting Oregon car insurance.
- Signing up for health insurance in Oregon and finding new doctors, dentists, and local hospitals.
- Updating/changing other insurance policies you may need (homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, pet insurance, motorcycle insurance, etc.)
- Registering to vote in your district in Oregon.
- Updating your address with your banks, credit cards, subscription services, loans, investments, phone plans, and bill pay.
- Enrolling your kids in their new school district.
- Licensing your pets and finding a new vet.
- Setting up your utilities for your new home.
- Preparing to file state taxes for Oregon and your previous home state.
Visit your Oregon Moving Checklist for a detailed guide on all of the above.
Read More: Moving to Oregon Checklist
While we’re at it, let’s cover some high-level questions and fun facts about Oregon.
Things to Know About Living in Oregon
As you’re preparing for your move or getting settled into your new home in Oregon, here are some things to know about living there.
Cost of Living in Oregon
One thing to consider when moving to a new state is the relative cost of living.
Oregon ranks 46th on the Cost of Living Index with an overall rating of 131.6 meaning it’s a relatively more expensive place to live.
Here is how Oregon scores for the cost of living in each specific category:
- Groceries: 109
- Housing: 178.1
- Utilities: 90.1
- Transportation: 125.3
- Health: 115.7
- Miscellaneous: 118.5
The average cost of living in this index is scored at 100. The numbers above represent the percentage of the average. A number higher than 100 represents an above average cost of living, while a number lower than 100 represents a lower cost of living. A lower rank indicates a lower cost of living.
This data comes from the Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Economic Research (C2ER), which compiles data from cities across the country to rank and compare the differences in costs of living.
Sales Tax Rates in Oregon
Sales tax is a way that state and local governments collect tax revenue from its residents and visitors.
These taxes are applied when you purchase something. It’ll show up on your receipt or bill. If you’ve recently moved to Oregon from somewhere else, the new sales tax rates may surprise you.
In Oregon, there is no sales tax.
Check with the Oregon tax office for the most current tax rates.
Real-Estate Property Tax Rates in Oregon
If you own or plan to own real estate in Oregon, you’ll want to think about the property tax rates when you move there.
Oregon ranks 27th (from low to high) for its state property tax rate of 0.97%.
There may be additional property taxes on top of the rate stated here depending on your county, city, and school districts.
Check with the Oregon tax office for the most current tax rates.
Oregon’s Job Market & Economy
Another thing to think about when moving to Oregon is the job market and economic indicators.
Overall, Oregon ranks 24th for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States.
The GDP measures the overall monetary value of all goods and services produced within a certain place over a period of time.
Its top 10 industries (ranked from largest to smallest by economic contribution to the state) are:
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Manufacturing
- Professional and business services
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance
- Wholesale trade
- Retail trade
- Finance and insurance
- Construction
- Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services
- Information
The top employer in Oregon is Providence Health & Services.
Notable Destinations and Landmarks in Oregon
Our Oregon moving guide wouldn’t be complete without a brief mention of some of the most iconic destinations in the state.
When you get settled in, a road trip may just be in order.
One of the most iconic landmarks in Oregon is Crater Lake.
National Parks that you can visit in Oregon include:
- Crater Lake National Park
National Monuments that you can find in Oregon include:
- Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument
- John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
- Newberry Volcanic National Monument
- Oregon Caves National Monument
These destinations are all great places to visit when you get a chance.
Facts about Oregon
Oregon is the 33rd state of the United States that lies in the western region. To its north is Washington, to its south is California, to its east is Idaho, and to its west is the Pacific Ocean.
What is the capital of Oregon?
The capital of Oregon is Salem.
Salem is located in Marion County with a population of 154,637.
What is the population of Oregon?
The population of Oregon based on 2020 US Census data is 4,237,256.
What is the largest city in Oregon?
The largest city in Oregon is Portland.
Portland has a population of 661,189, and it is located in Multnomah County.
What is the size of Oregon?
Oregon is 98,378 square miles, making it the 9th largest state in the U.S.
What is the state motto of Oregon?
The state motto of Oregon is: The Union, and Alis volat propriis
What is the state bird of Oregon?
The state bird of Oregon is the Western meadowlark.
What is the state flower of Oregon?
The state flower of Oregon is the Oregon grape.
What is the state tree of Oregon?
The state tree of Oregon is the Douglas-fir.
What is the minimum wage in the state of Oregon?
The minimum wage in Oregon is $12.75 per hour.
What is the median income in Oregon?
The median annual household salary in Oregon is $63,426.