Top 10 Best Places to Retire in Oregon

I have always said that if I could choose anywhere in the United States to retire, it would be in the beautiful, rugged Oregon. It’s a great place for folks who love the outdoors, scenery, food, wine, arts, history and so much more. It’s also a great place to stay active and healthy! I don’t know about you, but when I reach my golden years I want to indulge in activities such as biking, hiking, exploring and wine tasting. (Yes, wine tasting can be a healthy activity. It’s important to maintain a well-rounded diet with fruits and veggies.)

The biggest challenge in choosing to retire in Oregon is choosing the perfect location for retirement. We understand how exciting yet overwhelming this can be; therefore, we have compiled a list of the top 10 best places to retire in Oregon. In creating our list, we kept some important factors in mind:

1. Cost of living

2. Population

3. Adventure and serenity

The golden years should be the time of your life! Why not spend them in an area where adventure greets you at your front door, serenity is always available and the cost of living is easy peasy? Oregon is the place to be. Allow us to introduce you to the top 10 best Oregonian locations to live out your golden years.

Best Places To Retire

Below, we will walk through the Top 10 Best Places to Retire in Oregon:

1. Roseburg

Many folks refer to this area as the Land of Umpqua. Roseburg, a town with the population of 21,000, is nestled in the heart of the Umpqua River Valley region in southwestern Oregon. It’s a quiet place to settle down in, and it’s surrounded by some of Oregon’s best outdoor adventures. For any outdoor adventurer, you can enjoy mesmerizing waterfalls, green valleys, hiking trails galore, fly fishing and so much more! (I totally did not intend for that to rhyme. Let’s go with the flow, shall we?) Roseburg also provides quick access to Crater Lake, which is really famous by the way, and a large wildlife safari.

The median home value is not too bad either! In fact, it’s one of the most inexpensive places to live in the Beaver State. The median home value is $215,000 in Roseburg. To give you an idea of how great this number is, the median home value for the entire state is $334,000. Now, that’s a real deal! However, don’t wait too long before making your decision to re-locate to Roseburg. The median home value prices are expected to climb. It’s time to seize the day and take advantage of the market while you can.

2. Brookings

Brookings is located in the extreme southwestern portion of Oregon near the California border. Perhaps you’re seeking retirement in the beautiful Beaver State but desire to be near the California border for potential adventures there as well. If that’s the case, then the small town of Brookings is the place for you!

Founded in 1908, Brookings was originally established as an old logging town. Today, the population is 6,300 people. For anyone searching for peace, privacy and serenity, Brookings is the place. In addition to this, Brookings is bordered by miles of clean beaches, beautiful forests and consistently warm temperatures.

This Oregonian paradise has plenty of opportunities for fishing, hiking, kayaking and other outdoor activities. The locals also enjoy downtown festivals, garage sales and art events.

Now for the nitty gritty stuff. . .the median home value in Brookings is $335,000. This matches the state’s overall median home value price.

3. Hood River

In the northern part of the state sits the small town of Hood River. With a population of only 7,100 people, it’s the county seat of Hood River County. (That lets you know just how small and remote this area of Oregon is! The perfect location for retirement and privacy.)

Because Hood River is located in the far northern part of the state, it’s nestled in the Columbia River Gorge region. If you’re seeking some real adventure during your golden years, Hood River is known as the best place in the world for windsurfing! You can also explore incredible hiking trails on the majestic Mount Hood. The town also enjoys hosting traditional festivals such as the Blossom Festival and Harvest Fest. These festivals are so popular that folks from all over the country travel to experience them!

One of the greatest facts about this small town is the easy access to healthcare for folks who choose to live out their retirement years here. When choosing a place to retire, not only do you want somewhere to experience life, but you want to have access to a healthy life. Hood River takes great pride in their incredible healthcare!

4. Ontario

Don’t be misled by this town’s name; it is NOT in Canada. Ontario, Oregon is known as the town, “Where Oregon Begins”. With a population of 11,300 people, it’s the largest town in the giant county of Malheur. It’s located in the far eastern side of the state and in a region known as the Western Treasure Valley.

Ontario is the halfway point between Portland, Oregon and Salt Lake City, Utah. Since the town sits on the border of Oregon and Idaho, it shares the beautiful Snake River with Idaho. The most exciting outdoor adventure in Ontario lurks nearby at Hells Canyon. This place has the deepest river trench in North American! And since Ontario is near the high desert region of Oregon, it can have some of the hottest summer temperatures in all of Oregon.

Clearly, Ontario is an increasingly popular place for folks to spend their golden years. In terms of healthcare support, Ontario has around 3 medical facilities per every 1,000 persons. Therefore, you can have the luxury of a small town, country environment without your healthcare being compromised.

5. Florence

Perhaps you have envisioned spending your golden years in a serene coastal town. Florence, Oregon is just that! Coastal Oregon is known for providing the world with fantastic imagery of calm beaches, smooth waters and singing seagulls. Most of Oregon’s coastal towns are NOT party towns like those in other states such as Florida or California. Florence is the perfect place for maritime life, morning coffee on the front porch and peaceful, evening beach strolls.

The town has a population of only 8,400 people, and most of those people are around age 50. It does have a lively downtown atmosphere, but it’s not the scene for those twenty or thirty somethings. This is YOUR scene. Located at the edge of the Siuslaw River in Lane County, Florence can be your dream retirement town. Who wouldn’t enjoy waking up to the Pacific Ocean everyday?

6. Grants Pass

Grants Pass is an Oregonian city located in the southwestern portion of the state. With a population of 34,500 people, it’s situated along the famous Rogue River where the locals enjoy water sports such as fishing, kayaking, white water rafting and boating.

Many retirees choose Grants Pass because of its appreciation of the arts. You may enjoy events such as the Back to the Fifties car festival for antique automobiles or the Art Along the Rogue festival. Once you make your way to downtown, the Rogue Theater is a must see! It houses some of the best performances while preserving treasured Oregonian history.

In addition to all of this greatness, Grants Pass has a fantastic healthcare program that’s guaranteed to reassure you during your retirement years. There are approximately 2 medical centers per 1,000 persons. Let’s not forget that Grants Pass is next door to some of Oregon’s biggest outdoor adventures and sights!

With that being said, if you’re wanting a touch of city life while not straying too far from the countryside, Grants Pass may just be your pass to an incredible journey through the golden years.

7. Astoria

Located in the far northwestern corner of the state AND the county of Clatsop is the small port town of Astoria. It is here where you can relish in the maritime life rich in adventure, history and serenity. Interestingly, Astoria is the oldest city in the Beaver State as it was the first American settlement in the western side of the United States. And even further, the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition had set up camp nearby at Fort Clatsop! If you’re a history fanatic, Astoria may be the perfect city for you.

Astoria is bordered by the Columbia River which attracts many adventurers and fishermen from all over the country. The Pacific Ocean is just to the west of town and offers a relaxing atmosphere for breathing in the fresh, salty air and soaking up a good book.

Don’t worry; this isn’t entirely a young person’s town. Senior citizens count for at least 20 percent of the population. It’s a great place to feel young again while appreciating all the benefits of your retirement years.

Search For Current Homes & Prices In Astoria Here

8. Ashland

Ashland is a small city in the southwestern portion of the state. It has a population of 21,200 people and is home of Southern Oregon University. Many folks retire in Ashland because of their appreciation and passion for the arts. The world famous Oregon Shakespeare Festival is hosted in Ashland every year! (To give you a heads up, approximately 400,000 people visit the festival every year.)

When you visit downtown Ashland in search of your new home, you’ll be enchanted with streets and streets of beautiful Victorian and Edwardian homes and European-style shops. Even better? The city is not far from Oregon AND California’s popular wine vineyards! Wine and cheese anyone?

And as is popular in Oregon, you’ll be surrounded with plenty of opportunities to fish, hike, bike and explore along the picturesque Klamath River.

9. Dallas

Situated in the northwestern part of the state, Dallas has a population of 14,500 people. The county seat for the county of Polk, we promise you that this is not Dallas, Texas. In fact, we believe that Dallas, Oregon FAR surpasses the famous Texas counterpart.

Dallas is the perfect town for relaxation and rest. Dotted with several historical buildings and sites, the town also has 7 parks! These are great locations to walk your dogs, take a romantic stroll with your longtime partner or to simply exhale from life’s daily occurrences.

It’s also close to several healthcare facilities and included in the Salem Metropolitan Area. And should you need some beach time, it’s a short drive to the west!

10. Prineville

Prineville Oregon is nestled in the heart of the state: beautiful Central Oregon. It’s a small town with only 9,250 people and approximately 20 percent of the population are senior citizens.

There’s plenty to do in Prineville! In addition to the small town living, many folks enjoy hiking or fishing along the Crooked River or golfing at the Meadow Lakes Golf Course. We personally enjoy visiting the Prineville Reservoir State Park with a good dose of laughter and a camera. (Smartphone cameras work well too!)

The town is surrounded by beautiful countryside and excellent healthcare. If you prefer to retire somewhere more private and set apart from the rest of the world, we encourage you to check out Prineville.

Places To Retire Guide Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed our article on the best places to retire in Oregon. If you are looking to relocate to Oregon, be sure to check out our Oregon real estate search program to research home prices and listings around Oregon.