Most Americans have never been to small town Oregon. However, as the Oregonian who live there know, small town Oregon is an awesome place to call home.
But is it all roses? Definitely not. Just like any other state, Oregon has its trouble spots. This article aims to determine, using Saturday Night Science, the absolute worst small towns to live in the Beaver State. Don’t freak out, we will use data to show which places have high crime, poverty, and unemployment.
After analyzing more than 115 of Oregon’s smallest cities, we came up with this list as the 10 worst small towns in Oregon where you’d never want to live:
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
So what is the worst small town to call home in Oregon for 2024? According to the most recent census data, Warm Springs is the worst small town to live in Oregon.
While many of these small towns have seen better days, they have wonderful communities and people. This report in no way means to knock the folks that call towns like Warm Springs home. Everyone
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers, or scroll to the bottom to see how your town ranked.
And if you already know about the small towns, check out the best places to live in Oregon or the worst places to live in Oregon.
If you’re looking for something more national, check out the worst cities in America or the worst states in America.
The 10 Worst Small Towns In Oregon For 2024
1. Warm Springs
/10
Population: 2,453
Median Home Value: $148,941
Median Income: $59,167
Unemployment Rate: 11.0%
2. Mission
Population: 1,024
Median Home Value: $281,744
Median Income: $41,500
Unemployment Rate: 20.2%
3. Falls City
/10
Population: 1,321
Median Home Value: $329,578
Median Income: $39,167
Unemployment Rate: 14.0%
4. Toledo
/10
Population: 3,549
Median Home Value: $374,616
Median Income: $46,477
Unemployment Rate: 14.8%
5. Oakridge
/10
Population: 3,208
Median Home Value: $271,282
Median Income: $29,336
Unemployment Rate: 23.5%
6. Grand Ronde
/10
Population: 1,410
Median Home Value: $442,292
Median Income: $29,674
Unemployment Rate: 7.5%
7. Canyonville
/10
Population: 1,949
Median Home Value: $257,693
Median Income: $41,573
Unemployment Rate: 13.2%
8. Bunker Hill
/10
Population: 2,103
Median Home Value: $171,306
Median Income: $63,417
Unemployment Rate: 7.5%
9. Vale
/10
Population: 2,037
Median Home Value: $281,646
Median Income: $43,456
Unemployment Rate: 10.2%
10. Nyssa
/10
Population: 3,202
Median Home Value: $225,865
Median Income: $46,950
Unemployment Rate: 7.4%
Methodology: How do you decide if a small place in Oregon is lousy or not?
To rank the worst small towns to live in Oregon, we had to determine what criteria people like or dislike about a place. Assuming that people like low crime, solid education, things to do, and a stable economy isn’t a stretch.
We then analyzed the criteria using Saturday Night Science, the thinking you’d use at a bar. It seems like even your crazy Uncle would agree that a town with high crime is worse than a town with low crime; all else the same.
Using FBI crime data and the Census’s 2018-2022 American Community Survey, this is the criteria we used:
- Population Density (The lower, the worse)
- Highest Unemployment Rates
- Low housing costs (meaning there’s no demand)
- Adjusted Median Income (Median income adjusted for the cost of living)
- Education (Number of high school dropouts)
- High Crime
We looked at cities with populations between 1,000 and 5,000 people, of which there were many – 115 to be exact.
We get the crime numbers from the FBI, which gets them from the cities. Dropout numbers are based on the adult population, not just the current graduation rates of teenagers.
We base all our research on facts, which is meant as infotainment. We updated this article for 2024, which is our tenth time ranking the worst small places to live in Oregon.
There You Have It – The Worst Small Towns In Oregon
If you’re analyzing teeny places in the Beaver State with the worst economic situations, where there’s high crime and there’s not a lot to do, this is an accurate list.
The worst small towns in Oregon are Warm Springs, Mission, Falls City, Toledo, Oakridge, Grand Ronde, Canyonville, Bunker Hill, Vale, and Nyssa.
If you’re curious enough, here are the best small towns to live in Oregon, according to science:
- Stafford (Pop. 1,567)
- North Plains (Pop. 3,365)
- Maywood Park (Pop. 1,043)
For more Oregon reading, check out:
Worst Small Towns In Oregon
| Rank | Town | Population | Unemployment Rate | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Warm Springs | 2,453 | 11.0% | $148,941 | $59,167 |
| 2 | Mission | 1,024 | 20.2% | $281,744 | $41,500 |
| 3 | Falls City | 1,321 | 14.0% | $329,578 | $39,167 |
| 4 | Toledo | 3,549 | 14.8% | $374,616 | $46,477 |
| 5 | Oakridge | 3,208 | 23.5% | $271,282 | $29,336 |
| 6 | Grand Ronde | 1,410 | 7.5% | $442,292 | $29,674 |
| 7 | Canyonville | 1,949 | 13.2% | $257,693 | $41,573 |
| 8 | Bunker Hill | 2,103 | 7.5% | $171,306 | $63,417 |
| 9 | Vale | 2,037 | 10.2% | $281,646 | $43,456 |
| 10 | Nyssa | 3,202 | 7.4% | $225,865 | $46,950 |
| 11 | Drain | 1,055 | 5.5% | $313,175 | $49,130 |
| 12 | Burns | 2,735 | 6.6% | $170,484 | $41,374 |
| 13 | Union | 2,209 | 2.5% | $269,196 | $60,385 |
| 14 | Cave Junction | 1,910 | 10.3% | $304,631 | $34,594 |
| 15 | John Day | 1,561 | 8.2% | $261,609 | $67,083 |
| 16 | La Pine | 2,483 | 5.4% | $428,000 | $50,625 |
| 17 | Irrigon | 1,869 | 7.0% | $293,930 | $64,519 |
| 18 | Boardman | 3,830 | 1.8% | $334,708 | $60,694 |
| 19 | Chenoweth | 1,717 | 12.9% | $270,793 | $59,148 |
| 20 | Gold Beach | 2,533 | 9.6% | $458,213 | $49,018 |
| 21 | Myrtle Point | 2,689 | 10.3% | $311,179 | $44,716 |
| 22 | Myrtle Creek | 3,488 | 8.7% | $281,693 | $56,842 |
| 23 | Yoncalla | 1,104 | 13.4% | $308,343 | $50,234 |
| 24 | Lakeview | 2,947 | 7.5% | $178,969 | $52,574 |
| 25 | Clatskanie | 1,975 | 9.1% | $382,458 | $58,304 |
| 26 | Tri-City | 3,810 | 13.7% | $258,227 | $53,766 |
| 27 | Stanfield | 2,128 | 6.7% | $270,600 | $68,750 |
| 28 | Bandon | 3,317 | 14.0% | $474,049 | $42,404 |
| 29 | Glide | 1,523 | 7.5% | $388,601 | $69,875 |
| 30 | Heppner | 1,318 | 2.4% | $219,151 | $46,708 |
| 31 | Riddle | 1,157 | 8.2% | $281,732 | $60,121 |
| 32 | Hines | 1,608 | 6.7% | $225,520 | $47,321 |
| 33 | Roseburg North | 4,478 | 8.1% | $214,997 | $55,810 |
| 34 | Waldport | 1,950 | 17.3% | $456,419 | $49,659 |
| 35 | Mount Angel | 3,413 | 11.2% | $454,344 | $54,583 |
| 36 | Merlin | 1,814 | 10.9% | $475,671 | $65,670 |
| 37 | Dayton | 2,677 | 15.7% | $495,587 | $76,014 |
| 38 | Reedsport | 4,307 | 1.3% | $307,925 | $48,329 |
| 39 | Lakeside | 1,838 | 2.6% | $309,600 | $60,903 |
| 40 | Rose Lodge | 1,491 | 0.0% | $206,466 | $51,964 |
| 41 | Oakland | 1,288 | 15.1% | $422,258 | $60,909 |
| 42 | Terrebonne | 1,298 | 26.3% | $560,457 | $70,526 |
| 43 | Bay City | 2,224 | 3.6% | $385,147 | $64,167 |
| 44 | Rainier | 2,010 | 0.0% | $401,523 | $58,333 |
| 45 | Coquille | 4,009 | 6.0% | $323,357 | $48,008 |
| 46 | Athena | 1,333 | 10.5% | $256,506 | $66,333 |
| 47 | Wood Village | 4,548 | 2.3% | $394,850 | $67,014 |
| 48 | Mill City | 1,760 | 9.9% | $338,424 | $73,625 |
| 49 | Enterprise | 2,172 | 10.5% | $400,520 | $53,750 |
| 50 | Willamina | 2,287 | 6.4% | $338,479 | $54,310 |
| 51 | Barview | 1,726 | 10.2% | $223,758 | $70,294 |
| 52 | Tangent | 1,299 | 5.8% | $476,927 | $83,500 |
| 53 | Odell | 3,003 | 4.8% | $345,379 | $82,768 |
| 54 | Rogue River | 1,997 | 12.2% | $451,353 | $43,929 |
| 55 | Rockaway Beach | 1,393 | 6.9% | $469,910 | $47,788 |
| 56 | New Hope | 1,399 | 11.8% | $492,246 | $68,194 |
| 57 | Gold Hill | 1,261 | 3.3% | $454,524 | $39,338 |
| 58 | Redwood | 3,275 | 9.2% | $418,005 | $69,393 |
| 59 | Elgin | 1,603 | 2.1% | $244,292 | $49,155 |
| 60 | Gervais | 2,605 | 6.9% | $406,186 | $86,875 |
| 61 | Shady Cove | 3,084 | 9.0% | $385,242 | $60,702 |
| 62 | Lowell | 1,211 | 2.1% | $428,874 | $64,135 |
| 63 | Harbor | 2,003 | 5.7% | $278,977 | $46,528 |
| 64 | Phoenix | 4,389 | 4.1% | $374,450 | $47,382 |
| 65 | Ruch | 1,368 | 2.4% | $438,410 | $79,500 |
| 66 | Jefferson | 3,324 | 9.7% | $426,346 | $87,604 |
| 67 | Vernonia | 2,285 | 7.7% | $362,060 | $78,315 |
| 68 | Donald | 1,151 | 12.0% | $446,803 | $81,250 |
| 69 | Estacada | 4,619 | 6.1% | $531,656 | $78,594 |
| 70 | Pilot Rock | 1,271 | 3.3% | $227,635 | $71,650 |
| 71 | Harrisburg | 3,663 | 5.5% | $397,179 | $51,708 |
| 72 | Mulino | 2,203 | 11.6% | $684,469 | $98,417 |
| 73 | Amity | 1,764 | 2.9% | $578,228 | $90,000 |
| 74 | Cascade Locks | 1,418 | 3.8% | $381,984 | $62,195 |
| 75 | Joseph | 1,048 | 5.3% | $484,657 | $48,309 |
| 76 | Coburg | 1,539 | 12.4% | $552,652 | $79,732 |
| 77 | Hubbard | 3,427 | 2.5% | $484,033 | $89,016 |
| 78 | Lincoln Beach | 2,779 | 3.6% | $419,389 | $60,508 |
| 79 | South Lebanon | 1,084 | 0.0% | $344,457 | $54,507 |
| 80 | Lyons | 1,175 | 8.6% | $486,549 | $94,231 |
| 81 | Island City | 1,054 | 2.8% | $321,037 | $63,594 |
| 82 | Williams | 1,173 | 0.0% | $488,272 | $81,310 |
| 83 | Three Rivers | 3,762 | 8.2% | $463,541 | $75,313 |
| 84 | Carlton | 2,339 | 5.2% | $536,434 | $92,500 |
| 85 | Depoe Bay | 2,066 | 13.1% | $588,647 | $66,667 |
| 86 | Siletz | 1,134 | 5.3% | $420,123 | $84,205 |
| 87 | Halsey | 1,419 | 5.3% | $369,375 | $96,250 |
| 88 | Pacific City | 1,767 | 0.0% | $531,326 | $65,385 |
| 89 | Eagle Crest | 3,074 | 5.2% | $724,881 | $95,492 |
| 90 | Culver | 2,173 | 1.3% | $401,387 | $81,534 |
| 91 | Millersburg | 2,964 | 2.9% | $563,434 | $119,148 |
| 92 | Jacksonville | 3,008 | 8.8% | $587,472 | $100,486 |
| 93 | Dunes City | 1,223 | 1.5% | $605,721 | $71,058 |
| 94 | Aumsville | 4,219 | 4.8% | $461,119 | $85,636 |
| 95 | Brownsville | 1,832 | 2.0% | $427,626 | $78,348 |
| 96 | Metzger | 3,932 | 8.1% | $540,590 | $92,763 |
| 97 | Cannon Beach | 1,271 | 1.7% | $901,669 | $63,509 |
| 98 | Sisters | 2,992 | 4.0% | $803,798 | $84,088 |
| 99 | Durham | 1,860 | 3.2% | $742,426 | $98,839 |
| 100 | Gearhart | 2,060 | 2.6% | $640,772 | $100,536 |
Getting ready to build a new home right between #8 Long Creek and #4 Monument. Can’t wait to get the heck away from city folks.
I have lived in Portland for 15 years, but am from eastern Oregon. Having experience living in both rural and metropolitan areas, I can tell you that there are a lot of things that I miss about eastern Oregon, not the least of which is the wonderful, down-to-earth, people that live there. Most live there by choice to get away from the rat race in metro living. You can breathe fresh air, drive without the jerk behind you tailgating and cussing you out, enjoy the beautiful expanse of wilderness, and you can actually see the stars at nighttime… hmmmm, sounds to me like eastern Oregon is a terrible place to live 😉 Don’t ever move there! LOL
I’m totally with you. I believe city folks are jealous. They live in hell and we live in God’s country.
Completely agree Tammie!
Oh you guys are making it sound great. I live in the city with my family. We have had it. Im tired of it. I am trying to figure out what to do for work out there. I want a tiny house out there. Thanks for the extra info. Geez it sounds swell. Lol.
LOL, I grew up in a small farming community. I have never lived in any of these towns but I have for some obscure reason visited or driving through them and I would never ever consider raising a family or retiring in any of the towns. Education, medical, and crime rate, etc. etc. just to name a few.
I’ve spent almost all of my summers and nearly as many winter vacations in Seneca, 33 years now. It’s one of my favorite places in this whole country, and I’ve visited almost every state. Seneca is ridiculously beautiful and the people are friendly.
Uh, I think some of the numbers are messed up. Both Joseph and Prairie City have quite a few more people living there than “1”…
Normally I am a staunch defender of small towns in Eastern Oregon (which you have to understand mostly doesn’t have the per capita to qualify as rural, so it’s still technically considered “frontier”). However, I’d have to agree with most of the list here. But, between these towns there are also some real gems. (but I won’t spill the beans)
Ukiah’s $204,500 medium home price is the value of all of the houses there. The town is filled with older double wide trailers. Someone is feeding you BS.
Hahahahaha …. wait … HAHAHAHAHAHA …. Hey Bud of the Tapman. Try this for some real online info-tainment: ‘Ultimate Top 10 Best Worst Websites Ever’, by a person posing as a team of unqualified experts trying to convince unsuspecting online readers that their so called facts based on ‘data crunching’ numbers and ‘what kind of science bud?’ adds up to any truth, but really is just YOUR baseless opinion meant for info-taining. It’ll be redundant to list ‘RoadSnacks’ ten times, but eventually you’ll get the point bud and online readers will actually have some real quality info-tainment to snack on and enjoy.
Infotainment is a new word for me, but still, in articles like this, I’d appreciate a little honesty.
#5 is Falls City, and while it might be a raging shithole (Sorry Falls City people, you had to hear it from me) the picture of some downtown area in what you would suppose is Falls City is actually from Snow Hill, Maryland. I don’t know what level of inept you have to be to fake a pic, but there it is.
Maybe the author was too afraid to visit the area? (Wise choice!)
Port Orford has an Andy of Mayberry type atmosphere. Just stay away from the bars.
I appreciate your methodology and data that you use. Lakeview, Oregon is by far the worst place in Oregon that I know when you add in the “scenery”, the level of hatred for anyone who doesn’t fit into the town’s narrow world view, and the attitude towards education. I hope to see it higher on the list in the future, it is its own worst enemy and the data will soon follow.