Like all states, Oregon has certain places that are going on hard times. These Oregon places have an above-average percentage of people living in poverty, out of work, or not making as much as they should be.
Even as the economy continues to improve, it’s worthwhile to look at the places in each state struggling to make ends meet. So we set our sites on locating the poorest places in Oregon.
To do so, we used Saturday Night Science to analyze the newest Census data from the American Community Survey for the 80 cities in Oregon with more than 5,000 people.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Poorest Places In Oregon For 2026:
What’s the poorest city in Oregon? According to the facts, Klamath Falls is the poorest place in Oregon for 2026.
This isn’t a commentary on the people that live there or the vibrant culture and traditions of these places. Instead, it’s just a look at the facts.
For more Oregon reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Oregon
- Cheapest Places To Live In Oregon
- Most Dangerous Cities In Oregon
- The poorest states in the US
- The poorest cities in the US
The 10 Poorest Cities In Oregon For 2026
1. Klamath Falls
/10
Population: 22,115
Rank Last Year: 1 (No Change)
Median Income: $46,693 (2nd lowest)
Poverty Rate: 23.4% (4th highest)
People In Poverty: 5,172
More on Klamath Falls: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Klamath Falls, unfortunately, ranks as the poorest place in Oregon thanks to combination of low pay and and a lack of jobs.
The city of 22,115 people averages the 2nd lowest median household income in Oregon and the 4th highest poverty rate. At the very least, the cost of living ranks in the bottom 15% of place in the state, so things like housing are relatively affordable.
2. Ontario
/10
Population: 11,842
Rank Last Year: 2 (No Change)
Median Income: $46,308 (lowest)
Poverty Rate: 21.0% (6th highest)
People In Poverty: 2,485
More on Ontario: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The second poorest city in Oregon is Ontario.
The city ranks as having the 6th highest incidence of poverty and lowest median household income. However, the unemployment rate ‘only’ ranks as the 34th highest in the Beaver State.
3. Roseburg
/10
Population: 23,778
Rank Last Year: 3 (No Change)
Median Income: $53,918 (7th lowest)
Poverty Rate: 22.4% (5th highest)
People In Poverty: 5,326
More on Roseburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Placing as the third poorest city, Roseburg’s median income ranks as the 7th lowest.
And that’s a sign that there’s a relatively substantial jump in the quality of the economy from second to third place on our list. The poverty rate is 22.4% and ranks near the bottom of places in the state.
But what makes up for the relatively low incomes of the city is its low cost of living. The income you do make here goes further than in most parts of the Beaver State.
4. Winston
/10
Population: 5,690
Rank Last Year: 5 (Up 1)
Median Income: $56,667 (10th lowest)
Poverty Rate: 23.6% (3rd highest)
People In Poverty: 1,341
More on Winston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Winston ranks as the fourth poorest place in Oregon.
The town ranks as having the 10th lowest median household income and the 3rd highest incidence of poverty in the state.
That being said, there’s still a ton of cultural diversity in the city as it hosts many events throughout the year.
5. Seaside
/10
Population: 7,192
Rank Last Year: 4 (Down 1)
Median Income: $47,361 (3rd lowest)
Poverty Rate: 17.6% (12th highest)
People In Poverty: 1,262
More on Seaside: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The fifth poorest city in Oregon is Seaside.
The city ranks as having the 3rd lowest median income in the state. However, an extremely low cost of living prevents a good number of folks from living in poverty as the poverty rate only ranks as the 12th highest in Oregon.
Still not the best news for Seaside.
6. Sweet Home
/10
Population: 10,078
Rank Last Year: 14 (Up 8)
Median Income: $56,927 (11th lowest)
Poverty Rate: 19.4% (8th highest)
People In Poverty: 1,953
More on Sweet Home: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Sweet Home ranks as the sixth poorest place in the Beaver State.
It ranks as having the 8th highest incidence of poverty and the 2nd highest unemployment rate.
7. La Grande
/10
Population: 13,058
Rank Last Year: 6 (Down 1)
Median Income: $58,427 (13th lowest)
Poverty Rate: 20.9% (7th highest)
People In Poverty: 2,725
More on La Grande: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
La Grande places as the seventh poorest city in Oregon.
The city of over 13,058 ranks as having the 7th highest incidence of poverty in the state. However, it has a very low cost of living which helps to pay the bills each month.
8. Corvallis
/10
Population: 59,960
Rank Last Year: 8 (No Change)
Median Income: $65,012 (22nd lowest)
Poverty Rate: 24.3% (highest)
People In Poverty: 14,594
More on Corvallis: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Corvallis ranks as the eighth poorest city in Oregon.
The big issue for the town is the unemployment rate which ranks as one of the highest in the state.
9. Lebanon
/10
Population: 19,344
Rank Last Year: 12 (Up 3)
Median Income: $63,176 (19th lowest)
Poverty Rate: 17.8% (10th highest)
People In Poverty: 3,447
More on Lebanon: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Lebanon couldn’t stay out of the top ten poorest places in Oregon; it ranks number 9.
While the median income is the 19th lowest, there are a substantial number of people that live below the poverty line. Overall, Lebanon ranks as having the 10th most people living in poverty of all the places we analyzed in Oregon.
10. Coos Bay
/10
Population: 15,925
Rank Last Year: 19 (Up 9)
Median Income: $56,524 (8th lowest)
Poverty Rate: 15.3% (24th highest)
People In Poverty: 2,436
More on Coos Bay: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
And rounding out the top ten poorest cities in Oregon is Coos Bay.
The city of 15,925 people ranks in the bottom 20% for both median income and poverty rate in the Beaver State.
Methodology: How We Determined The Poorest Places In Oregon for 2026
The first thing that comes to most people’s minds when they think about determining the poorest places is to simply the poverty rate. That is, the number of people living below a federally established level of income for a household of a certain size.
However, we don’t think that one statistic wholly encompasses what it means to be one of the “poorest places”. So we used Saturday Night Science to look at this set of criteria from the newly released 2020-2024 American Community Survey:
- Poverty Level
- Median Household Income
After we collected the data for all 80 places with more than 5,000 people in Oregon, we ranked each place from 1 to 80 for each of the criteria, with 1 being the poorest.
We then averaged all the rankings for a place into a “Poor Score” with the place having the lowest overall Poor Score, Klamath Falls, crowned the “Poorest Place In Oregon For 2026”.
This report has been updated for 2026, which is our eleventh time ranking the poorest places in Oregon.
Summary: The Poorest Cities In Oregon For 2026
Like we said earlier, when we set out to identify the poorest places in Oregon, we weren’t sure what we’d encounter, but it ended up being some of the best places to live in Oregon.
When you look at the data, the cities and places mentioned above meet the criteria for being at the very bottom of the income ladder for everyone that lives there.
If you’re curious enough, here are the richest cities in Oregon, according to data:
-
Richest: Lake Oswego
2nd Richest: West Linn
3rd Richest: Sherwood
For more Oregon reading, check out:
- Richest Cities In Oregon
- Safest Places In Oregon
- Worst Places To Live In Oregon
- Most Expensive Places To Live In Oregon
Detailed List Of The Poorest Places To Live In Oregon
| Rank | City | Population | Poverty Rate | Median Income | People In Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Klamath Falls | 22,115 | 23.4% | $46,693 | 5,172 |
| 2 | Ontario | 11,842 | 21.0% | $46,308 | 2,485 |
| 3 | Roseburg | 23,778 | 22.4% | $53,918 | 5,326 |
| 4 | Winston | 5,690 | 23.6% | $56,667 | 1,341 |
| 5 | Seaside | 7,192 | 17.6% | $47,361 | 1,262 |
| 6 | Sweet Home | 10,078 | 19.4% | $56,927 | 1,953 |
| 7 | La Grande | 13,058 | 20.9% | $58,427 | 2,725 |
| 8 | Corvallis | 59,960 | 24.3% | $65,012 | 14,594 |
| 9 | Lebanon | 19,344 | 17.8% | $63,176 | 3,447 |
| 10 | Coos Bay | 15,925 | 15.3% | $56,524 | 2,436 |
| 11 | Eugene | 179,591 | 19.0% | $66,562 | 34,194 |
| 12 | Madras | 7,676 | 17.8% | $64,659 | 1,362 |
| 13 | Newport | 10,583 | 16.2% | $60,568 | 1,711 |
| 14 | Lincoln City | 9,968 | 14.1% | $56,635 | 1,407 |
| 15 | Grants Pass | 39,311 | 14.4% | $59,646 | 5,660 |
| 16 | Sutherlin | 8,599 | 12.6% | $51,250 | 1,086 |
| 17 | Astoria | 10,109 | 16.8% | $68,007 | 1,699 |
| 18 | Woodburn | 27,875 | 16.3% | $67,347 | 4,549 |
| 19 | Milton-Freewater | 7,036 | 12.6% | $52,183 | 887 |
| 20 | Umatilla | 7,508 | 17.4% | $68,826 | 1,303 |
| 21 | Fairview | 10,735 | 17.5% | $70,107 | 1,879 |
| 22 | Baker City | 10,210 | 14.0% | $61,580 | 1,432 |
| 23 | Pendleton | 16,950 | 15.0% | $66,563 | 2,544 |
| 24 | Monmouth | 11,428 | 16.1% | $69,170 | 1,836 |
| 25 | Tillamook | 5,218 | 11.8% | $58,176 | 617 |
| 26 | Ashland | 21,259 | 15.2% | $68,028 | 3,224 |
| 27 | Prineville | 11,470 | 16.2% | $72,980 | 1,859 |
| 28 | Brookings | 6,703 | 16.9% | $74,933 | 1,135 |
| 29 | Florence | 9,482 | 10.3% | $53,333 | 977 |
| 30 | Springfield | 61,499 | 14.9% | $68,761 | 9,175 |
| 31 | Dallas | 17,531 | 15.5% | $71,549 | 2,724 |
| 32 | Talent | 6,254 | 11.7% | $62,543 | 731 |
| 33 | McMinnville | 34,596 | 16.0% | $73,736 | 5,535 |
| 34 | The Dalles | 15,917 | 11.0% | $62,614 | 1,754 |
| 35 | Estacada | 5,152 | 23.8% | $94,435 | 1,226 |
| 36 | Salem | 178,865 | 14.4% | $75,487 | 25,702 |
| 37 | Medford | 86,315 | 13.2% | $73,230 | 11,367 |
| 38 | Sheridan | 6,339 | 11.9% | $70,785 | 757 |
| 39 | Hermiston | 19,546 | 10.1% | $66,998 | 1,968 |
| 40 | Albany | 56,839 | 13.5% | $78,114 | 7,667 |
| 41 | Gresham | 112,378 | 13.0% | $77,795 | 14,654 |
| 42 | North Bend | 10,171 | 14.0% | $81,320 | 1,422 |
| 43 | King City | 5,073 | 8.7% | $63,684 | 443 |
| 44 | Forest Grove | 26,529 | 15.4% | $87,933 | 4,074 |
| 45 | Veneta | 5,200 | 8.6% | $66,890 | 448 |
| 46 | Stayton | 8,292 | 10.5% | $78,268 | 870 |
| 47 | Silverton | 10,456 | 10.7% | $79,960 | 1,113 |
| 48 | Cottage Grove | 10,698 | 10.7% | $80,875 | 1,145 |
| 49 | Independence | 10,199 | 12.5% | $85,375 | 1,277 |
| 50 | Gladstone | 11,977 | 13.6% | $91,250 | 1,632 |
| 51 | Portland | 641,165 | 12.8% | $90,919 | 81,748 |
| 52 | Hood River | 8,361 | 10.8% | $85,647 | 901 |
| 53 | St. Helens | 14,258 | 10.0% | $82,865 | 1,428 |
| 54 | Eagle Point | 9,839 | 9.9% | $84,126 | 978 |
| 55 | Redmond | 36,092 | 9.6% | $84,164 | 3,450 |
| 56 | Warrenton | 6,327 | 7.0% | $70,670 | 441 |
| 57 | Junction City | 6,947 | 9.5% | $85,595 | 662 |
| 58 | Keizer | 39,082 | 8.1% | $84,813 | 3,146 |
| 59 | Philomath | 5,642 | 7.2% | $83,672 | 407 |
| 60 | Beaverton | 97,812 | 10.1% | $98,622 | 9,888 |
| 61 | Milwaukie | 21,392 | 7.9% | $86,892 | 1,685 |
| 62 | Cornelius | 14,255 | 9.1% | $96,273 | 1,291 |
| 63 | Wilsonville | 26,974 | 8.8% | $96,236 | 2,371 |
| 64 | Bend | 103,390 | 8.8% | $96,394 | 9,108 |
| 65 | Tualatin | 27,763 | 10.0% | $104,043 | 2,773 |
| 66 | Troutdale | 15,923 | 7.4% | $89,337 | 1,181 |
| 67 | Central Point | 19,216 | 6.7% | $86,058 | 1,293 |
| 68 | Newberg | 26,066 | 7.1% | $93,232 | 1,861 |
| 69 | Hillsboro | 108,231 | 8.5% | $106,409 | 9,167 |
| 70 | Canby | 18,134 | 8.0% | $100,989 | 1,441 |
| 71 | Scappoose | 8,179 | 7.2% | $97,708 | 587 |
| 72 | Molalla | 10,186 | 4.3% | $89,318 | 433 |
| 73 | Sandy | 12,854 | 7.8% | $108,984 | 1,006 |
| 74 | Oregon City | 37,755 | 6.8% | $97,829 | 2,578 |
| 75 | Happy Valley | 26,738 | 7.7% | $122,151 | 2,056 |
| 76 | Tigard | 56,011 | 6.7% | $108,823 | 3,775 |
| 77 | Creswell | 5,621 | 4.3% | $100,385 | 240 |
| 78 | Sherwood | 20,307 | 4.3% | $109,966 | 881 |
| 79 | West Linn | 26,935 | 5.5% | $146,507 | 1,486 |
| 80 | Lake Oswego | 40,381 | 3.4% | $141,549 | 1,389 |