The 97801 zip code in Pendleton tops our ranking of the most affordable places to live in Oregon.
We looked at 125 zip codes in the state, evaluating home values, rental costs, energy rates, property taxes, and five other affordability indicators. We used the data we gathered to calculate our proprietary Affordability Score for each zip code.
Top 10 most affordable places to live in Oregon
| Rank | City | Affordability Score | Median home value | Rental costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pendleton 🥇 | 100.0 | $283,483 | $1,046 |
| 2 | Hermiston 🥈 | 90.7 | $335,618 | $1,404 |
| 3 | Klamath Falls 🥉 | 83.1 | $255,142 | $1,137 |
| 4 | Portland | 79.8 | $354,235 | $1,747 |
| 5 | La Grande | 76.0 | $305,082 | $1,267 |
| 6 | Saint Helens | 73.5 | $420,218 | $1,697 |
| 7 | White City | 72.3 | $341,565 | $1,859 |
| 8 | Roseburg | 71.4 | $370,051 | $1,421 |
| 9 | Madras | 71.0 | $359,253 | $1,447 |
| 10 | Salem | 70.8 | $450,211 | $1,533 |
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1. Pendleton
Here's why the 97801 zip code in Pendleton is Oregon's most affordable place to live.
🔎 Key data about Pendleton
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 125 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 100.0 | No. 1 | N/A |
| Median home value | $283,483[1] | No. 2 | -$225,138.08 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.0 | No. 1 | -2.3 |
| Home value five-year change | 43.9%[2] | No. 91 | 9.0% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 1.4%[3] | No. 117 | 1.7% |
| Rental costs | $1,046[4] | No. 1 | -$813 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.46% | No. 2 | -0.8% |
| Median household income | $71,413[5] | No. 78 | -$10,322 |
| Property taxes | $2,857[6] | No. 27 | -$1,459 |
| Energy costs | $0.05 kWh[7] | No. 1 | -$0.01 |
Pendleton's 97801 zip code is the cheapest place to live in Oregon, leading the 125 markets we evaluated.
The median home value is $283,483, making it the 2nd-cheapest housing market in the state. Forecasts project a 1.4% change in home values in the next year. Rent in the zip code averages $1,046 per month, which is the 2nd cheapest amount in Oregon.
The median property tax for homeowners in Pendleton is $2,857 per household, the No. 27 ranked market in Oregon.
Residents pay $0.05 per kWh of electricity, which ranks No. 1 among Oregon markets.
2. Hermiston
The 97838 zip code is the 2nd-cheapest place to live in Oregon.
🔎 Key data about Hermiston
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 125 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 90.7 | No. 2 | N/A |
| Median home value | $335,618[8] | No. 10 | -$173,002.42 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.131246786 | No. 2 | -2.1 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.4565955434[9] | No. 101 | 10.8% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 1.4%[10] | No. 117 | 1.7% |
| Rental costs | $1,404[11] | No. 5 | -$455 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.73% | No. 12 | -0.5% |
| Median household income | 81239[12] | No. 53 | -$496 |
| Property taxes | $3,001[13] | No. 35 | -$1,315 |
| Energy costs | 0.04955731 kWh[14] | No. 1 | -$0.01 |
Hermiston's 97838 zip code has a median home value of $335,618, which is the 117th-cheapest housing market in Oregon. You can rent for an average of $1,404 per month. That's the 5th-cheapest price in the state.
The average household income in the zip code is 81239, which ranks 53rd-highest in the state.
Homeowners in Hermiston pay a median property tax of $3,001 per year, making it the 35th-most affordable market in Oregon.
Hermiston ranks No. 1 among Oregon energy markets. You'll pay 0.04955731 per kWh of electricity.
3. Klamath Falls
The 3rd-cheapest place to live in Oregon is Klamath Falls's 97601 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Klamath Falls
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 125 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 83.1 | No. 3 | N/A |
| Median home value | $255,142[15] | No. 1 | -$253,478.80 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.818454393 | No. 5 | -1.4 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.5897002334[16] | No. 122 | 24.1% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 2.5%[17] | No. 125 | 2.8% |
| Rental costs | $1,137[18] | No. 2 | -$722 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.15% | No. 43 | -0.1% |
| Median household income | 52951[19] | No. 119 | -$28,784 |
| Property taxes | $1,883[20] | No. 6 | -$2,433 |
| Energy costs | 0.04955731 kWh[21] | No. 1 | -$0.01 |
The No. 1 cheapest housing market in Oregon is Klamath Falls's 97601 zip code, with a median home value of $255,142. Rents in the market average $1,137 per month, making it the 2nd-most affordable rental market in the state.
The median property tax for households in Klamath Falls is $1,883, which makes it the 6th-cheapest place in Oregon. Klamath Falls ranks No. 1 among Oregon markets by energy costs. Residents pay 0.04955731 per kWh of electricity.
4. Portland
The 97209 zip code in Portland comes in at No. 4 on our list of the cheapest places to live in Oregon.
🔎 Key data about Portland
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 125 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 79.8 | No. 4 | N/A |
| Median home value | $354,235[22] | No. 13 | -$154,385.69 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.172724346 | No. 3 | -2.1 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.3487728968[23] | No. 42 | 0.0% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -0.5%[24] | No. 70 | -0.2% |
| Rental costs | $1,747[25] | No. 36 | -$112 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.06% | No. 31 | -0.2% |
| Median household income | 84893[26] | No. 43 | $3,158 |
| Property taxes | $7,638[27] | No. 117 | $3,322 |
| Energy costs | 0.06819229044 kWh[28] | No. 56 | $0.01 |
The No. 13 cheapest housing market in Oregon is Portland's 97209 zip code, where the median home value is $354,235. Renters here pay an average of $1,747 per month.
When it comes to energy costs, Portland ranks 56th among Oregon markets. Residents pay 0.06819229044 per kWh of electricity.
The median property tax for households in the zip code is $7,638, which makes it the 117th-cheapest market in Oregon.
5. La Grande
The 97850 zip code in La Grande ranks No. 5 among Oregon's most affordable places to live.
🔎 Key data about La Grande
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 125 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 76.0 | No. 5 | N/A |
| Median home value | $305,082[29] | No. 7 | -$203,538.59 |
| Home affordability ratio | 5.186620347 | No. 12 | -1.0 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.5325646748[30] | No. 116 | 18.4% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 1.9%[31] | No. 122 | 2.2% |
| Rental costs | $1,267[32] | No. 3 | -$592 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.15% | No. 44 | -0.1% |
| Median household income | 58821[33] | No. 110 | -$22,914 |
| Property taxes | $2,717[34] | No. 22 | -$1,599 |
| Energy costs | 0.04955731 kWh[35] | No. 1 | -$0.01 |
La Grande's 97850 zip code has a median home value of $305,082, the 7th-cheapest market in the state. Forecasts project a 1.9% change in home values in the next year.
The median property tax per household in La Grande is $2,717. It's the 22nd-cheapest market by tax rate in Oregon.
6. Saint Helens
The No. 6 most affordable place to live in Oregon is the 97051 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Saint Helens
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 125 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 73.5 | No. 6 | N/A |
| Median home value | $420,218[36] | No. 35 | -$88,402.30 |
| Home affordability ratio | 5.116940207 | No. 10 | -1.1 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.3712251183[37] | No. 64 | 2.2% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -0.7%[38] | No. 66 | -0.4% |
| Rental costs | $1,697[39] | No. 27 | -$162 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.07% | No. 32 | -0.2% |
| Median household income | 82123[40] | No. 52 | $388 |
| Property taxes | $2,849[41] | No. 26 | -$1,467 |
| Energy costs | 0.06819229044 kWh[42] | No. 56 | $0.01 |
The back half of our top 10 kicks off with Saint Helens's 97051 zip code, which has the 35th-cheapest home values in Oregon. The median home value is $420,218. Rents average $1,697 per month, making it the 27th-most affordable rental market in the state.
Residents pay 0.06819229044 per kWh of electricity. It's the 56th-cheapest energy market.
7. White City
White City's 97503 zip code is the 7th-cheapest place to live in Oregon.
🔎 Key data about White City
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 125 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 72.3 | No. 7 | N/A |
| Median home value | $341,565[43] | No. 11 | -$167,055.77 |
| Home affordability ratio | 5.449519972 | No. 26 | -0.8 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.3630367431[44] | No. 58 | 1.4% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -1.5%[45] | No. 4 | -1.2% |
| Rental costs | $1,859[46] | No. 58 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.27% | No. 55 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | 62678[47] | No. 100 | -$19,057 |
| Property taxes | $2,091[48] | No. 7 | -$2,225 |
| Energy costs | 0.04955731 kWh[49] | No. 1 | -$0.01 |
You'll find the 11th-cheapest home values in Oregon in White City's 97503 zip code. The median value: $341,565. Renters in White City pay an average of $1,859 per month.
Homeowners in White City pay a median property tax of $2,091 per year, which is Oregon's 7th-most affordable market.
The average household income is 62678, which ranks 100th-highest in the state.
8. Roseburg
The 8th-cheapest place to live in Oregon is Roseburg's 97471 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Roseburg
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 125 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 71.4 | No. 8 | N/A |
| Median home value | $370,051[50] | No. 18 | -$138,570.17 |
| Home affordability ratio | 5.683293519 | No. 39 | -0.5 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.4541590545[51] | No. 98 | 10.5% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 1.1%[52] | No. 112 | 1.4% |
| Rental costs | $1,421[53] | No. 6 | -$438 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.18% | No. 46 | -0.1% |
| Median household income | 65112[54] | No. 93 | -$16,623 |
| Property taxes | $2,389[55] | No. 14 | -$1,927 |
| Energy costs | 0.04955731 kWh[56] | No. 1 | -$0.01 |
The 18th-cheapest housing market in Oregon is Roseburg's 97471 zip code, with a median home value of $370,051. Renters pay an average of $1,421 per month, the No. 6 rental market in the state.
The median property tax for households in Roseburg is $2,389, which makes it the 14th-cheapest place in Oregon. The average household income of 65112 ranks 93rd.
9. Madras
Madras's 97741 zip code sneaks into the top ten of Oregon's most affordable places to live.
🔎 Key data about Madras
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 125 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 71.0 | No. 9 | N/A |
| Median home value | $359,253[57] | No. 15 | -$149,368.28 |
| Home affordability ratio | 5.659837193 | No. 37 | -0.6 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.5288040937[58] | No. 115 | 18.0% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -0.2850458593%[59] | No. 71 | 0.0% |
| Rental costs | $1,447[60] | No. 7 | -$412 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.28% | No. 84 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | 63474[61] | No. 98 | -$18,261 |
| Property taxes | $2,465[62] | No. 16 | -$1,851 |
| Energy costs | 0.04955731 kWh[63] | No. 1 | -$0.01 |
The 15th-cheapest housing market in Oregon is Madras's 97741 zip code, where the median home value is $359,253. Renters pay an average of $1,447 per month. It's the state's 7th-cheapest rental market.
The median property tax for households within the zip code is $2,465, which makes it the 16th-cheapest property tax rate in Oregon.
10. Salem
The final spot on our list of the most affordable places to live in Oregon goes to the 97302 zip code in Salem.
🔎 Key data about Salem
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 125 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 70.8 | No. 10 | N/A |
| Median home value | $450,211[64] | No. 47 | -$58,409.32 |
| Home affordability ratio | 5.596930128 | No. 33 | -0.6 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.3728930426[65] | No. 66 | 2.4% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.1%[66] | No. 75 | 0.4% |
| Rental costs | $1,533[67] | No. 12 | -$326 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.91% | No. 21 | -0.4% |
| Median household income | 80439[68] | No. 56 | -$1,296 |
| Property taxes | $4,318[69] | No. 73 | $2 |
| Energy costs | 0.06819229044 kWh[70] | No. 56 | $0.01 |
The 47th-most affordable market in Oregon is Salem's 97302 zip code. The median home value is $450,211. Rent in the market costs $1,533 per month on average, making it the 12th-most affordable rental market in Oregon.
The median property tax for households in Salem is $4,318, which is the 73rd-cheapest property tax rate in the state.
Salem ranks No. 56 among Oregon markets by energy costs, with households paying 0.06819229044 per kWh of electricity.
How we ranked the most affordable places in Oregon
We evaluated 125 zip codes in Oregon with a population over 10,000 on nine metrics. We then assigned each market an Affordability Score based on its weighted and combined rankings.
Our proprietary Affordability Score is a score on a scale of 0 (worst in state) to 100 (best in state) that estimates the affordability of a particular zip code. It takes into account these key data points for each zip code.
- Median home value: The median home value for each zip code comes from the Zillow Home Value Index. The lower the median home value relative to the median value in Oregon, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 23.8% to median home value.
- Home affordability ratio. The home affordability ratio is the typical median home value divided by the median household income in the zip code, which reveals the number of years of household income needed to afford a home in that zip code. A lower ratio is better because it means more households can afford a home. The data comes from the Zillow Observed Rent Index and the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 23.8% to the home affordability ratio.
- Home value five-year change: The home value five-year change is the amount that the median home value in the zip code has risen or fallen during the last five years. Our data comes from the Zillow Home Value Index. We assign a weight of 4.8% to the home value five-year change.
- Home value one-year forecast: The home value one-year forecast comes from Zillow Forecast data. It projects how much home values in the zip code are forecasted to change in the next year. We assign a weight of 4.8% to the home value one-year forecast.
- Rental costs. The rental costs are the observed rents in the zip code, sourced from the Zillow Observed Rent Index. The index includes "listed rents that fall into the 40th to 60th percentile range for all homes and apartments in a given region." We assign a weight of 11.9% to rental costs.
- Median household income: The inflation-adjusted median household income figures for the zip code comes from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 4.8% to median household income.
- Rent affordability ratio. The rent affordability ratio is the ratio of rental costs divided by median household income, which provides the percentage of household income needed to pay a typical month’s rent in the zip code. The data comes from the Zillow Observed Rent Index and the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 11.9% to the rent affordability ratio.
- Property taxes: The property tax figures are the median real estate taxes paid in the zip code, sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The lower the property tax rate relative to the Oregon average, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 7.1% to property taxes.
- Energy costs: The energy costs are the costs of a kilowatt hour (kWh) of residential electricity in the zip code, sourced from the U.S. Department of Energy. The lower the cost of electricity relative to the Oregon average, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 7.1% to energy costs.
✍️ Editor’s note: Our Affordability Score identifies the most affordable places in a state by zip code. Often the zip code we identify will represent an entire city or portion of a city.
Occasionally the zip code we identify will encompass an area that includes one or more small towns. In these cases, the data we’ve gathered applies to the entire zip code, not just the single town we’re using to help identify the zip code's location.
If you’re looking to move to one of these affordable places, we recommend doing additional research to make sure the costs in the area — and the quality of life it offers — meet your specific needs.
