Oregon Real Estate For Sale

Oregon real estate sells at a median price of $410k, which is below the national median of $428k. This is particularly true in its more rural areas, which comprise most of the state.

Homes in the larger cities of Portland and Eugene, however, tend to be more expensive, with median prices at $599k and $485k, respectively. These two cities are some of the most populated places in the state and some of the most popular places to live. Portland culture has been memorialized in the hit TV show Portlandia, but even that doesn’t give justice to the charming quirks of its residents, nor to their outdoorsy, bike-friendly lifestyle. Eugene has some of the state’s best schools, including exceptional institutions of higher learning. 

If the high prices of Oregon real estate in these cities are scaring you off, fear not. There are still ways to experience affordable city living in Oregon. One option is to explore Salem real estate in Marion County. Salem is the capital of Oregon and the state’s second-most populous city. Houses here sell at a median price of $425k. Salem is perfectly situated for a commute to Portland and a short drive to Eugene. Like any place in Oregon, there are tons of things to do in the great outdoors, plus it has tons of amenities for families and singles alike.

Perhaps you would rather live in one of the smaller, less populated areas of Oregon. You could try Deschutes County, home to the towns of Bend and Redmond. Bend was recently named one of the best places for remote work, though it is more expensive compared to Redmond next door. Both places are a winter haven for skiers and other cold-weather athletes.  

Maybe you’re a big fan of theater. You may already know of Ashland in Jackson County, in the southern part of the state. This small city is known for its annual Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Every year, hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to the city to watch plays – not just Shakespeare – in one of the town’s three theaters. As a result, it’s a great place to buy Oregon real estate for anyone who appreciates the arts and wants to experience small-town living.

Oregon real estate has access to 197 public school districts serving over 1,200 schools in the state. The high schools boast a graduation rate of 90.5%, higher than the 88% national average. There are also a number of colleges and universities, including Oregon State University.

The city of Portland is home to many of the state’s best institutions for school-age children. Two highly ranked Portland schools for kindergarten through fifth grade are Jacob Wismer Elementary School and Findley Elementary. Over 90% of students in both schools earned high scores in math and reading proficiency. 

Another community with great K-5 schools is Lake Oswego in Clackamas County, south of Portland. Westridge Elementary School, with a teacher-student ratio of 17:1, and Forest Hills Elementary School, with a ratio of 18:1, are nationally ranked elementary schools where your children can receive incredible instruction from highly qualified teachers.

Lake Oswego is also home to some great high schools, including Lake Oswego Senior High School and Lakeridge High School. Both are remarkable for their high enrollment of students in Advanced Placement courses, as well as high student achievement as measured by state assessments.

For students looking for a unique high school experience, consider the International School of Beaverton, where students have the opportunity to interact with people from all over the world. Every student here is required to study a foreign language and complete community service hours. As a result of this rigorous education, the school is ranked 45th in the country out of over 18,000 high schools.

With its excellent schools and access to both the more rural areas of Oregon as well as its big cities, families should consider Beaverton. This city is located in Washington County, just seven miles outside of Portland. Within the borders of Beaverton, families can visit over 90 different parks, dozens of miles of hiking and biking paths, and no dearth of coffee shops, restaurants, and other family-friendly activities.

For young professionals new to remote work and seeking Oregon real estate in which to do it, consider either Portland or the small town of Bend. In Portland, there’s no question that you’ll find your people, given the huge array of activities to do. In Bend, on the other hand, you’ll be living a small town dream in one of the country’s best places for remote work.

For retirees looking for real estate in Oregon, the suburb of Raleigh Hills in the Portland metropolitan area is increasingly transforming into a hotspot for retirement. There is minimal crime, and folks over the age of 65 make up the greatest percentage of the population. The city is also noted for its walkability, tranquility, and friendliness. 

No matter where you buy real estate in Oregon, there are plenty of opportunities for employment in a variety of industries. The average salary is $58k, which is slightly higher than the national average of $56k. Some of the most important industries are technology, lumber (Oregon is the country’s largest producer!), agriculture, and fisheries. There are also some major businesses headquartered there, including Nike and Columbia Sportswear, both located in Beaverton. Coffee and wine are also a pretty big deal for Oregonians, so everything from manufacturing and processing workers to baristas and sommeliers are in high demand.

The largest commercial airport in Oregon is Portland International Airport (PDX). Another option is the Rogue Valley International–Medford Airport (MFR) in Medford. There are also three airports that provide commercial domestic flights: Mahlon Sweet Field (EUG) in Eugene, Southwest Oregon Regional Airport (OTH) in North Bend, and Roberts Field (RDM) in Redmond.

Schools in Oregon tend to start in early September and end in late May or early June.

● The weather may not be what you expect. In most of the state, the winters are relatively mild, as are the summers. Rainy days don’t happen nearly as often as they do in places like Seattle, but rain is a frequent visitor in most of the state.

● Don’t pump your own gas! Oregon employs attendants at all of its gas stations to do the work for you. 

● Get outside! Oregon offers some of the most beautiful state and national parks in the country and plenty of local opportunities as well. You can see everything from volcanoes to glaciers. 

● The price on the product is exactly what you’ll pay. Oregon has no sales tax (although you’re likely to pay higher income taxes to make up for it). 

● Bike riding is the transportation choice du jour for many Oregonians, and fortunately, most of its towns and cities are very bike-friendly.

Oregon real estate is close to so many kinds of natural beauty to admire that it’s less a question of whether to visit the many state and national parks but which one. What are you in the mood for? Skiing the slopes of the Cascade Mountains or white-water rafting through a canyon? Whatever your flavor of outdoor fun, you’re sure to find it in Oregon.

One of the most popular sites in Oregon is Crater Lake National Park. The crater in question is what remains of a volcanic eruption dating back 7,000 years, resulting in a lake nearly 2,000 feet deep, the deepest of any lake in the United States. Park rangers offer guided boat tours where you can visit the island in the center of the lake. 

The peaks of Mount Hood and Mount Bachelor are both popular ski destinations in the winter. Mount Hood is the tallest mountain in Oregon, reaching over 11,000 feet above sea level. Mount Bachelor – which is actually a dormant volcano rather than a mountain – gets an average of over 450 inches of snow every year. In the summer, both mountains offer hundreds of miles of trails for hikers and bikers.

One of the most breathtaking stretches of beach along the Pacific Coast is that of Cannon Beach. The beach was named after a cannon that washed up on the beach long ago. The beach’s most famous feature is Haystack Rock, reaching 235 feet.