The 10 Most Miserable Cities In Oregon For 2023


The most miserable cities in Oregon are Umatilla and Milton-Freewater for 2023 based on Saturday Night Science.

Do you live in one of the most miserable places in Oregon?

Only a third of Oregonians say they are truly happy. That’s too bad, considering that folks in Oregon don’t really have it too bad in the grand scheme of things.

But, we were curious – which Oregon cities might be the most miserable? We’re about to find out, using Saturday Night Science and data.

After analyzing the 77 largest cities, we sadly present the most miserable cities in the Beaver State.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table


Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. If you have a smile on your face, you probably don’t live in one of these cities.

Oh, and by the way, Ashland is the happiest place in Oregon.

For more Oregon reading, check out:

The 10 Most Miserable Places In Oregon For 2023

Umatilla, OR

Source: Wikipedia User Tedder | CC BY 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 7,224
Poverty Level: 17.1%
Median Home Price $156,000
Married Households 8.0%
Households With Kids 42.49%
More on Umatilla: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Milton-Freewater, OR

Source: Wikipedia User Bobjgalindo | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 7,143
Poverty Level: 12.0%
Median Home Price $156,200
Married Households 8.0%
Households With Kids 46.36%
More on Milton-Freewater: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Woodburn, OR

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 25,877
Poverty Level: 14.4%
Median Home Price $241,300
Married Households 11.0%
Households With Kids 36.03%
More on Woodburn: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Hermiston, OR

Source: Wikipedia User Williamborg | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 19,141
Poverty Level: 13.3%
Median Home Price $193,800
Married Households 16.0%
Households With Kids 42.8%
More on Hermiston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

St. Helens, OR

Source: Wikipedia User Cacophony | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 13,808
Poverty Level: 14.3%
Median Home Price $251,000
Married Households 20.0%
Households With Kids 37.27%
More on St. Helens: Data | Crime

Madras, OR

Source: Wikipedia User Tedder | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 7,381
Poverty Level: 21.3%
Median Home Price $227,500
Married Households 14.0%
Households With Kids 42.79%
More on Madras: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Independence, OR

Source: Wikipedia User Tedder | CC BY 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 9,850
Poverty Level: 9.5%
Median Home Price $260,400
Married Households 16.0%
Households With Kids 39.08%
More on Independence: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Molalla, OR

Source: Wikipedia User Ian Poellet | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 10,060
Poverty Level: 8.2%
Median Home Price $333,900
Married Households 26.0%
Households With Kids 39.36%
More on Molalla: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Cornelius, OR

Source: Wikipedia User M.O. Stevens | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 12,893
Poverty Level: 10.4%
Median Home Price $330,000
Married Households 11.0%
Households With Kids 35.82%
More on Cornelius: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Sweet Home, OR

Source: Wikipedia User Sword Fern | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 9,716
Poverty Level: 17.9%
Median Home Price $177,500
Married Households 20.0%
Households With Kids 30.0%
More on Sweet Home: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living

Methodology: How We Measured The Most Miserable Cities In The Beaver State

To rank the unhappiest places in Oregon, we had to determine what criteria make people happy. It isn’t a stretch to assume that happy people earn great salaries, are relatively stress-free, and have a stable home life.

So we went to the Census’s American Community Survey 2017-2021 report for the happy criteria, flipped the list with Saturday Night Science, and it spit out the answer.

Like magic.

Here are the criteria we used to measure misery:

  • Percentage of residents with a college degree
  • Average commute times
  • Unemployment rates
  • Cost of living
  • % of married couples
  • % of families with kids
  • Poverty rate

After we decided on the criteria, we gathered the data for the 77 places in Oregon with over 5,000 people.

We then ranked each place from one to 77 for each of the seven criteria, with a score of one being the most miserable (Any ties were given to the larger place).

Next, we averaged the seven rankings into a Miserable Index for each place with the lowest overall Miserable Index “earning” the title “Most Miserable City In Oregon.”

If you’d like to see the complete list of states, most miserable to happiest, scroll to the bottom of this post to see the unabridged chart.

We updated this article for 2023, and it’s our tenth time ranking the most miserable cities in Oregon.

There You Have It – The Least Happy Cities In Oregon

As we said earlier, trying to determine the most miserable cities in Oregon is usually a subjective matter.

But if you’re analyzing cities where people are not stable, where you’re stuck in traffic, and no one spent the time to go to college, then this is an accurate list.

If you’re curious enough, here are the happiest cities in Oregon, according to science:

  1. Ashland
  2. Corvallis
  3. Astoria

For more Oregon reading, check out:

Miserable Cities In Oregon For 2023

Rank City Population Poverty Level Median Home Value % Married % Kids
1 Umatilla, OR 7,224 17.1% $156,000 8.0% 42.49%
2 Milton-Freewater, OR 7,143 12.0% $156,200 8.0% 46.36%
3 Woodburn, OR 25,877 14.4% $241,300 11.0% 36.03%
4 Hermiston, OR 19,141 13.3% $193,800 16.0% 42.8%
5 St. Helens, OR 13,808 14.3% $251,000 20.0% 37.27%
6 Madras, OR 7,381 21.3% $227,500 14.0% 42.79%
7 Independence, OR 9,850 9.5% $260,400 16.0% 39.08%
8 Molalla, OR 10,060 8.2% $333,900 26.0% 39.36%
9 Cornelius, OR 12,893 10.4% $330,000 11.0% 35.82%
10 Sweet Home, OR 9,716 17.9% $177,500 20.0% 30.0%
11 Eagle Point, OR 9,600 9.4% $296,600 27.0% 40.75%
12 Winston, OR 5,591 13.7% $187,400 13.0% 37.92%
13 Veneta, OR 5,199 7.2% $248,600 23.0% 32.86%
14 Sandy, OR 12,383 7.7% $347,000 24.0% 47.12%
15 Tillamook, OR 5,183 15.5% $201,900 14.0% 33.27%
16 Lebanon, OR 18,150 15.4% $221,900 20.0% 28.05%
17 Ontario, OR 11,465 21.4% $145,300 13.0% 29.06%
18 Gresham, OR 114,164 15.1% $347,600 17.0% 33.68%
19 Silverton, OR 10,402 9.7% $344,000 22.0% 34.51%
20 The Dalles, OR 15,942 9.5% $238,500 17.0% 29.28%
21 Cottage Grove, OR 10,569 21.3% $236,000 18.0% 32.78%
22 Stayton, OR 8,199 9.4% $310,700 29.0% 38.62%
23 Redmond, OR 33,160 7.8% $319,900 21.0% 31.35%
24 Brookings, OR 6,706 8.6% $331,000 12.0% 22.24%
25 Pendleton, OR 16,861 15.5% $206,100 19.0% 34.36%
26 Springfield, OR 62,138 16.0% $250,800 19.0% 31.7%
27 Grants Pass, OR 38,902 16.4% $281,300 11.0% 32.1%
28 Prineville, OR 10,611 13.9% $235,900 29.0% 26.85%
29 Hillsboro, OR 105,909 7.8% $386,700 12.0% 32.95%
30 Troutdale, OR 16,353 7.9% $351,500 22.0% 38.95%
31 Warrenton, OR 6,123 5.7% $289,700 15.0% 30.39%
32 Klamath Falls, OR 21,710 23.0% $203,800 13.0% 28.25%
33 Albany, OR 55,776 11.1% $271,100 21.0% 31.22%
34 West Linn, OR 27,173 4.7% $572,000 15.0% 37.15%
35 Salem, OR 174,193 14.7% $289,500 16.0% 31.97%
36 Scappoose, OR 7,871 4.0% $339,800 28.0% 34.2%
37 Newberg, OR 25,108 8.8% $357,900 16.0% 33.82%
38 Coos Bay, OR 15,921 15.7% $211,900 16.0% 22.83%
39 Junction City, OR 6,718 12.6% $247,000 23.0% 27.0%
40 Dallas, OR 16,663 14.5% $276,800 22.0% 27.03%
41 Keizer, OR 39,119 10.4% $300,700 21.0% 33.72%
42 Central Point, OR 18,948 9.6% $293,500 23.0% 35.25%
43 Happy Valley, OR 23,442 4.0% $559,300 19.0% 43.69%
44 Forest Grove, OR 25,767 10.4% $370,900 17.0% 33.44%
45 Creswell, OR 5,625 6.0% $283,100 33.0% 44.85%
46 Wilsonville, OR 25,887 9.5% $464,100 14.0% 29.38%
47 La Grande, OR 13,212 19.6% $187,400 21.0% 30.88%
48 Oregon City, OR 37,160 6.0% $411,500 25.0% 33.53%
49 Sherwood, OR 20,281 4.3% $454,400 18.0% 44.36%
50 Hood River, OR 8,210 8.5% $433,400 8.0% 31.36%
51 Lake Oswego, OR 40,390 4.2% $691,700 15.0% 31.43%
52 Monmouth, OR 10,735 23.4% $279,700 15.0% 34.31%
53 Medford, OR 84,894 14.6% $307,200 15.0% 31.17%
54 Tigard, OR 54,750 6.7% $456,500 18.0% 31.24%
55 Seaside, OR 7,058 11.1% $339,600 14.0% 15.55%
56 Fairview, OR 10,439 12.1% $328,600 18.0% 20.6%
57 Portland, OR 647,176 12.6% $462,800 10.0% 23.28%
58 Sutherlin, OR 8,429 14.7% $188,100 19.0% 23.1%
59 Newport, OR 10,305 14.1% $299,300 10.0% 20.27%
60 Philomath, OR 5,353 6.0% $278,500 23.0% 30.49%
61 Florence, OR 9,353 13.0% $269,300 12.0% 14.51%
62 Milwaukie, OR 21,108 9.1% $388,700 20.0% 27.28%
63 Canby, OR 18,078 9.2% $385,700 24.0% 35.46%
64 Roseburg, OR 23,551 17.3% $214,900 14.0% 28.4%
65 Beaverton, OR 97,466 10.2% $419,600 11.0% 27.01%
66 Eugene, OR 173,278 19.6% $337,200 11.0% 23.26%
67 Baker City, OR 9,998 15.1% $169,500 24.0% 24.91%
68 North Bend, OR 10,224 18.8% $254,700 19.0% 28.08%
69 Tualatin, OR 27,821 10.2% $466,200 17.0% 32.74%
70 Talent, OR 6,256 18.3% $246,900 9.0% 26.6%
71 Mcminnville, OR 34,224 17.9% $311,500 14.0% 29.8%
72 Lincoln City, OR 9,655 14.4% $279,900 12.0% 20.81%
73 Gladstone, OR 12,017 16.2% $365,100 21.0% 25.7%
74 Bend, OR 97,042 10.0% $462,400 13.0% 30.61%
75 Astoria, OR 10,166 12.5% $330,700 16.0% 20.65%
76 Corvallis, OR 59,407 25.6% $387,200 7.0% 20.75%
77 Ashland, OR 21,348 16.2% $494,700 5.0% 15.97%
About Nick Johnson

Nick Johnson earned his masters in Business Administration from the Drucker School At Claremont Graduate University. He has written for 39 publications across the country and ran the media relations department at Movoto, a real estate portal based in San Francisco. He has been featured in over 500 publications as an expert in real estate and as an authority on real estate trends.

Nick's the creator of the HomeSnacks YouTube channel that now has over 260,000 subscribers and is an excellent source to learn about different parts of the country.

11 thoughts on “The 10 Most Miserable Cities In Oregon For 2023

  1. Monmouth does not need to be on this list. Monmouth is a beautiful town with a lot to offer..but it is in fact a college town. The numbers are going to be drastically lower in the categories your looking for because of that. I’ve lived in Monmouth\ independence my entire life and you will not find a better town in Oregon. The people are friendly, the crime rate is much lower than the other towns listed, it’s a cute little town and is townies are happy as clams with it.

  2. Survey comes out of Durham, NC .That tells me alot about this worthless article! I lived in Eugene, Bend, Lakeview, La Grande and Clay Creek (Oregon coastal mountains) I have friends in Springfield, Portland and Yachats. All these areas are fantastic places and I enjoyed living there very much. I would take any of Oregon’s towns over where I live now. Had to move to So Cal for work but my heart is still in Oregon. The people there are happy, mellow and friendly! More than I can say for the jerks I deal with in So Cal although my desert city of Hesperia is rural and pretty nice. In my opinion this article is stupid and I had to chime in! By the way GO DUCKS!

  3. Sheridan is right where it should be, #3, though I would have put it at #1. I lived there for 6 years. If your looking for meth users and the thievery that comes with it Sheridan is the place to go. Management and operations at the city hall is a pathetic joke and are unfriendly and uncooperative, especially if you rent. If you don’t want your things stolen rent a storage unit NOT located in Sheridan or bolt it down and strip the bolt heads (Did I mention the thieves?). At one time Sheridan was a nice place, then the lumber mills shutdown and anyone with money left. The people left are either commuters who aren’t interested, welfare families and single pregnant teenage girls (with and without previous children), teenage boys with no jobs and no opportunities and it has one of the worst public school systems in the state. While located in a very beautiful spot tucked away in the northwest corner of the Willamette Valley, it’s dying. Sheridan’s one saving grace is the Sheridan Japanese School, an excellent, top notch 4-12 charter school that is very challenging and relatively selective public charter school. Unfortunately, school district resents the school, probably for blowing them out of the water when it comes to academic excellence and the Japanese School gets treated like the ugly step child, when the school district should be using the Japanese School as a benchmark to overcome their own woeful deficiencies.

  4. just cause a person dont have a collage degree isn’t married or doesn’t own their home does not mean they are miserable because of it

  5. Just because you have a miserable life in Sheridan does not make the town an awful place. Like any other town on Earth Sheridan has its good and bad. Your bad experience with the city hall and the other people in our community isn’t typical by any means! What is typical is that in any community there are trash talkiing know it alls like Hinge here who seem to know the problems but refuse to to take action to better or community! If you don’t like to town Hinge Weilher then you know the roads out of town because the town folk of Sheridan don’t want or need people such as yourself! You could very easily point out what you think is wrong but have you looked at what was right and beautiful? No? Bet its because you are in fact just a MISERABLE person. Do us all a big favor and keep your big fat mud flaps closed and or leave!

  6. How come Salem is not number one with any doubt????????? Lived there for 8 years. Complete hell hole. Even the homeless people have their own special hell called UGM. Ran by religious right wing bigots. Back in Portland now and I would NEVER go the 44 miles south to Salem again

  7. I think there is an error is saying the list is based on cities of 2000 people or more. Based on the number of missing towns, including my hometown, my guess is that you meant 4000.

  8. Lmao I think this list is accurate. Just because you chose to see only the good things does not mean bad doesn’t exist. Calm down u defensive animals

  9. I can see where Salem would be on this list. It’s sad that the city can’t take care of the homeless situation. Nice they are building a new police station and renovating North Salem High School but, can’t come up with a viable solution for the homeless like converting shipping containers into shelters on one of the many empty lots around town, getting mental health ect., to that population.

  10. an unfair survey, what they used for data is stupid…Not everyone has to go to college to be successful and there are many wealthy farmers In Oregon. living in Oregon is like being on vacation every day. unless you live in Portland or Eugene ..Most places in Oregon experience light traffic and travel times…and in every town on this list near 50% of the population own their own homes or farms…oh wait they for got to tell you about the farmers… I am pretty sure whoever wrote this hasn’t even lived in Oregon…so they shouldn’t be judging it… ask the people in those town how they feel about their homes

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *