Oregon State: Population, Rankings, and Facts

#22 in Overall Ranking out of 50 in 2021

Oregon is remarkably beautiful. Crater Lake, Lincoln City, Newport, Prineville, Sisters, Bend, Albany, Seaside neighborhoods are evidence of its scenic nature. The state is famous for its mushrooms, wines, seafood, fine weather, and tourist attractions. Plus, there are ample opportunities for high-paying jobs due to the presence of numerous multi-million dollar corporations.

Updated: April 20, 2021
  • Area
    98,381 sq mi
  • Capital
    Salem
  • Population
    4,217,737
  • Income
    $60,212
  • Home Value
    $402,573
  • Crime
    11,995
  • Unemployment
    6.3%
  • Education
    32.3%
  • Medicine
    19
  • Poverty
    12.4%
  • Environment
    12
  • Infrastructure
    3.1%

Oregon is in the top-10 largest states in the country. With such vast lands, it is split into eight geographical regions: the Oregon Coast, Willamette Valley, Columbia Plateau, and High Desert, among others. As a testimony of its diverse geography, it holds the highest elevation, lowest elevation, shortest river, and smallest park in the United States.

The state is adorned with several natural attractions: mountains, lakes, valleys, and forests. Added to that, it holds the biggest organism in the world – the honey mushroom. Interestingly, its vast supply of the fungus inspires the popular and lucrative activity of mushroom hunting. It also harbors several beaches, marine animals, and wildlife. The western end particularly has a humid climate as a result of its proximity to the Pacific Ocean.

The state has a rich history. In its earliest days, traders from across Europe settled there to transact business across coasts. On February 14, 1859, it was founded as the 33rd U.S. state. Since 1988, it has consecutively voted Democrat presidents at presidential elections. And it has a total of 7 college votes.

The economy has its pillars around the agricultural, fisheries, timbre production, tech industries, and tourism. The region is home to global corporations like Adidas, Nike, Intel, and Columbia Wears. Altogether, about seven of the companies headquartered there are among Fortune 1000

Silicon Forest also holds many more large establishments like Genetech. Amazon, Google, and Facebook all have large data centers in this territory. Plus, the friendly sales tax policy (0%) also helps to boost the economic environment.

How We Figured Out Which Were the Best States To Live in

Before compiling the list of the best states to reside in in 2021, relevant data was collated from several authoritative sources. Some of such include the National Census Bureau, departments of labor and health, and several other government agencies. 

The data was then scheduled into ten measurable metrics, including demography, education, income rate, employment, etc. The states’ performance on these indicators determined their overall ranking.

Oregon Rankings

  • Population
    #27
    Population
    Data: 4,217,737

    The state is sparsely dense, with a population-to-area ratio of 39.9/sq mi (15.0/km²). The demographic analysis shows that 84.3% of Oregonians are white, 1.9% are Black, 4.3% are Asians, and 3.1% are from other races. Portland is the most populous city.

  • Median Income
    #24
    Income in $
    Data: $60,212

    Though people like medical specialists, engineers, ICT, and finance managers earn as much as $110,000, the median income is barely above $60,000. A majority of Oregonian households are middle-class. The average cost of living statewide is relatively high. The mean amount needed for housing, transportation, and food is above the U.S. average.

  • Home Value
    #6
    Home Value
    Data: $402,573

    Considering the standard of living and monthly income of many residents, the housing price is quite high. With the likes of Washington, California, and New Jersey, it leads the country in the most expensive real-estate ranking. Of all its districts, Hood River and Clackamas counties have the most expensive housing.

  • Unemployment Rate
    #29
    Unemployment
    Data: 6.3%

    The rate is similar to those found in Nevada, Michigan, and New York. Oregon's unemployment demographics show that 5.6% of the civilian labor force without jobs are white. Blacks make up 9% of the stats, Asians – 4.4%, and Hispanics – 6.1 %. Statewide, the highest employers of labor are the health, professional services, trade, and manufacturing industries.

  • Poverty
    #29
    Poverty
    Data: 12.4%

    The U.S. Census report reveals that OR's poverty statistics is one of the highest in the country. The state is also the poorest among other Pacific-coastal states: Alaska (10.6%, #15), Hawaii (9.3%, #5), Washington (10.1%, #11). By race, Whites have the least number of poor residents. Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians make up most of the percentage.

  • Education
    #16
    Education
    Data: 32.3%

    About 1.37 million of the population have a college degree, while 80% completed are high-school education. Every year, the region graduates over 12,000 students from the university. It has over 100 colleges and universities and branch campuses across its territory. Although, none of them is among the top 50 in the United States ranking.

  • Medicine
    #23
    Medicine
    Health Outcomes: 19

    Health-wise, OR performs averagely. It has nearly 300,000 of its population without health insurance. Compared to the national average, that is quite high. The health outcome metric reveals a poor performance in medical interventions. Plus, many people adopt unhealthy behaviors like drug and alcohol abuse, among others. As a result, 23.1% of Oregonians suffer from a mental illness, with 5.1% being critical cases.

  • Crime Rate
    #33
    Crime
    Violent Crime: 11,995

    The state is only relatively unsafe, and it sits in the mid-table in the national rankings. It is ridden by crimes like vehicle theft, arson, and property-related offenses. Rape, robbery, and aggravated assault are also commonly reported statewide. Coos Bay, Medford, and Portland are the most criminal cities. On the other hand, Lake Oswego, Canby, and Sherwood are among it the safest places in the area.

  • Natural Environment
    #29
    Environment
    Air: 12

    The level of pollution in the region is quite high. It suffers considerably from air and water pollution. Also, reported cases of poor disposal of pesticides were as high as 91. Oregon fires, volcanoes, earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, and landslides are the most prevalent natural hazards experienced in the region.

  • Infrastructure
    #13
    Infrastructure
    Poor Roads: 3.1%

    Most of the road conditions are sound. Though, many of them are gradually aging and will require proper maintenance to increase their service life. The airports, seaports, bridges, dams, and public amenities are generally in healthy conditions. Over the years, the government funding of infrastructure projects has been remarkable. They budgeted over $252 million for transportation between 2017-2019.

Oregon Facts

  • The standard state abbreviation used by U.S. postal is OR. However, traditionally, it is shortened to Ore.
  • The state bird is the Western Meadowlark, and the Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium) is the region’s official flower.
  • The flag comprises a blue background with the coat-of-arms imprinted in its center. The words “State of Oregon” and “1859” appear respectively above and below the emblem.
  • Its motto is “Alis volat propriis,” the Latin translation for “She flies with her own wings.”
  • The capital of the state, Salem, is the third-largest city statewide with a total of 168,970 people.
  • The income tax ranges between 4.75% to 9.9% of taxable income, while the property tax is 0.98%.
  • The highest elevation in the United States is on Mount Hood, with 11,249 ft (3,428.8 m) above ground level.
  • Crater Lake is the deepest in the United States, with a depth of 1,943 feet.
  • At a point in its history, especially during the great depression, North Bend city used wooden coins as currency.
  • The government provides live traffic situations through the trip check page on the department of transportation’s website.
  • The province’s gun laws permit individuals openly to carry long-guns in their cars. However, it is criminal to carry concealed or easy-to-reach handguns without having their license.
  • The entire OR territory is divided into 413 zip codes.

Oregon in Photos

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FAQ Section

  • Where Is Oregon?

    Ore. sits in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Washington borders it to its north and Idaho by its eastern boundary. Nevada and California lie at its southern end and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

    The Columbia River separates it from Washington, while the winding Snake River and Hells Canyon delineate it from Idaho.

  • What is the Time Zone in OR?

    There are two time zones in OR. A major part of Malheur County uses the Mountain Time Zone (GMT -7) while the rest of the state falls in the Pacific Time Zone (GMT -8). Hence, Malheur’s time lags from the rest of the state by an hour.

  • What Is Minimum Wage in Oregon?

    The base payment for employed labor statewide is 11.25 USD per hour. When calculated weekly and annually, it totals $450 for a 40-hour week and $23,400 yearly income. For overtime payment, employees are entitled to 1.5 times their regular hourly rates.

  • What To Do in The Beaver State?

    The beautiful landscapes and attractions give tourists and Oregonians a variety of choices. Here are some suggestions.

    • Photographers, skiers, and bikers famously visit the highlands. Sliding down from its elevations is indeed fun.
    • Individuals can visit its several beaches and fall for some swimming, relaxing, and horse-riding.
    • Tourists can take scenic drives on some famous bridges and streets.
    • They can also visit the Oregon state parks, ride on the lakes, or attend a street fair.
    • Added to that, travelers can enjoy a good restaurant to get some of the vast collection of wines and mushroom delicacies in the region.

  • How Many Counties In OR?

    There are 36 counties. Some of them include Marion, Jackson, Sherman, and Linn. The largest of them all is Barney county, with an area of 10,133.16 sq mi. Multnomah County, Washington, and Clackamas are its most populous districts.

  • What Is Oregon Known for?

    Oregon state is beautiful. Its geography is famously diverse, with several mountains, valleys, and plateaus. Mount Hood and Lake Clerk hold the country’s tallest elevation and greatest depths, respectively. Added to that, it is abundant for its vast harvest of mushrooms. The fungus is usually prepared in several delicacies, while Oregonians celebrate the Mushroom festival annually.

    Sportswise, the region is popular for its American football teams, especially the Ducks. Cycling, biking, and skiing are also common sports activities. Plus, its rich harvest of beavers earns it the nickname – the Beaver’s State.