The 20 Safest Places To Live in Oregon
Are you planning a move to the state of Oregon? If so, you might be wondering which city has the best safety rating. With the recent riots in Portland, crime rates have risen, but not all cities are adversely impacted by social unrest. Our guide for the 20 safest places in live in Oregon is based on the cities and towns with the lowest crime rates for the past 12 months, along with ratings for amenities that make the area a good choice to make your home. We’ve included statistical data gathered from reliable sources including safewise.com, niche.com, homesnacks.com and areavibes.com Here are the most highly rated cities to live in Oregon if your priority rests on safe neighborhoods.
20. Cornelius, Oregon
Violent Crimes: 2.8 per 100,000
Cornelius is a smaller town with a population of just 12, 580. This is one of the safest towns in the state with a violent crime rate of 2.5 per 100,000 persons in 2018. It rose to 3.0 in 2019, but dropped to 2.8 in 2020. In 2018 there were 19.7 property crimes committed, dropping to 18.6 in 2019, then rising to 23.6 per 100,000 in 2020. The median income in Cornelius is $60,766 per year. It’s not quite as affluent as Tigard, but the crime rate is a bit lower and the income opportunities are good for such a small community.
19. Hillsboro, Oregon
Violent Crimes: 2.6 per 100,000
Hillsboro is a more metropolitan city with a population of 109,121 people residing in the city. The violent crime rate was 2.9 per 100,000 in 2018. This dropped to 2.5 in 2019, then rose slightly to 2.6 in 2020. The property crime rate was 19.2 per 100,000 in 2018. This rose to 20 in 2019, then declined to 19.2 in 2020. The median income for families living in Hillsboro, Oregon is $75,999 annually. The city is more affluent than some of the surrounding communities.
18. Canby, Oregon
Violent Crimes: 2.5 per 100,000
Canby has a population of just 17,914 residents. The violent crime rate for 2018 was just 1.2 per 100,000 rising to 1.6 in 2019, and further rising to 2.5 in 2020. The property crime rate was a low 10.3 per 100,000 in 2018, rising to 12.7 for 2019, and showing an increase to 14.5 for 2020. The median annual income is $66,220. Canby is situated close to Tigard.
17. Tigard, Oregon
Violent Crimes: 2.4 per 100,000
Tigard is a city that is North of Beaverton. It has a population of 53,880 residents. Over the past three years, the violent crime rate saw a decline from 2018 with 2.1 violent crimes per 100,000, dropping to 1.9 for 2019, then rising to 2.4 in 2020. Property crimes were at 28.8 per 100,000 in 2018, dropping to 27.2 in 2019, then rising to 28.9 in 2020. It’s a fairly affluent city to live in the the median income at $70,120.
16. Tualatin, Oregon
Violent Crimes: 2.2 per 100,000
Tualatin is a bit larger than Cornelius, but it has a lower crime rate. The populations is 27,671 residents. It’s still considered a smaller city. The violent crime rate for 2018 was just 1.9 per 100,000, dropping to 1.4 in 2019 and rising slightly to 2.2 in 2020. Property crime rates for Tualatin were assessed at 26.4 per 100,000 in 2018, rising to 30.7 in 2019 and dropping to 26.3 in 2020. The median income is $72,580, making this a place where the prospects for getting a good paying job high, and suggesting a greater affluence.
15. Keiser, Oregon
Violent Crimes: 2.1 per 100,000
Keiser is a smaller city with a population of 39,727 residents. The violent crime rate for 2018 was 1.7 per 100,000 persons. It rose slightly to 2.0 in 2019, then rose slightly to 2.1 in 2020. The property crime rate was 20.2 in 2018, rising to 21 in 2019, then escalating to 22.4 per 100,000 in 2020. The median income is a moderate $60,722 annually.
14. Central Point, Oregon
Violent Crimes: 1.9 per 100,000
Central Point has a population of just 18,402 residents. The violent crime rate was 1.8 per 100,000 in 2018, rising to 2.6 in 2019 and dropping to 1.9 for 2020. Property crime rates were 28.4 per 100,000 in 2018, rising to 25.7 in 2019, then dropping to 25.1 in 2020. The median income is fairly low at $48,409 annually. The employment opportunities are not as high in Central Point with average wages lower than some of the surrounding communities.
13. Beaverton, Oregon
Violent Crimes: 1.9 per 100,000
Beaverton has a population of 98,616 residents. It is one of the larger towns in the region with a violent crime rate of just 1.4 per 100,000 in 2018, rising to 1.7 in 2019, then making a slight increase to 1.9 in 2020. The property crime rate was 14.3 per 100,000 in 2018, rising to 17.8 in 2019, and further escalating to 20.7 per 100,000 in 2020. Although the statistics show that crime is on the rise in Beaverton, the increase is slow. The median annual income in Beaverton is $64,619.
12. Bend, Oregon
Violent Crimes: 1.7 per 100,000
Bend is a city with a population of 97,403 residents. The violent crime rate for 2018 was 1.1 per 100,000 persons, rising to 1.6 in 2019, and slightly increasing to 1.7 in 2020 The property crime rate in 2018 was 22.5 per 100,000, dropping to 20.9 in 2019, then slightly increasing to 21.3 in 2020. The median annual income for Bend is $60,563.
11. Forest Grove, Oregon
Violent Crimes: 1.7 per 100,000
Forest Grove has a population of 24,560 residents. It’s a smaller city with a violent crime rat of 2.0 per 100,000 in 2018. This rose to 2.5 in 2019, but there was a significant decline to just 1.7 per 100,000 for 2020. Property crime rates were 21.3 per 100,000 in 2018, dropping to 17.6 in 2019, then slightly increasing to 17.7 for 2020. The property crime rates are lower than many surrounding communities. The Median annual income for Forest Grove is $54,503.
10. Milwaukee, Oregon
Violent Crimes: 1.7 per 100,000
Milwaukee has a population of 20,873 residents. The violent crime rate was 1.4 per 100,000 in 2018. This slightly increased to 1.5 in 2019, and saw another slight rise to 1.7 in 2020. The property crime rate was 21.3 per 100,000 in 2018, rising to 22.6 in 2019, then sharply declining to 14.8 per 100,000 in 2020. The median income in Milwaukee is $58,911 annually.
9. Corvallis, Oregon
Violent Crimes: 1.6 per 100,000
Corvallis is a larger city with a population of 58,491 residents. The violent crime rate for 2018 was assessed at 1.6 per 100,000, dropping to 1.3 in 2019, and holding steady at just 1.3 for 2020. The property crime reports for 2018 were at 27.8 per 100,000, dropping to 25 in 2019, then rising to 31.4 in 2020. The median income for people living in the city is lower at $46,285. There may be a connection with a lower earning potential and the number of property crimes committed, but violent crime rates are remarkably low for a city of its size.
8. Newberg-Dundee, Oregon
Violent Crimes: 1.5 per 100,000
Newberg-Dundee has a population of 27,122 residents. The violent crime rate for 2018 was 1.3 per 100,000, rising slightly to 1.4 in 2019, then showing another slight increase to 1.5 in 2020. The property crime rate was 17.0 per 100,000 in 2018, dripping to zero remarkably, for 2019, then rising to 14.5 per 100,000 in 2020. The median income for Newberg-Dundee is $54,856 annually.
7. St. Helens, Oregon
Violent Crimes: 1.5 per 100,000
St. Helens is a small community of 13,800 residents. The violent crime rate for 2018 was 2.9 per 100,000. This dropped to 1.6 in 2019, and further declined to 1.5 in 2020. The property crime rate was 24.8 per 100,000 in 2018, dipping to 18.1 in 2019, and further declining to 14.8 in 2020. The median income is $45,789 annually for residents of St. Helens.
6. Independence, Oregon
Violent Crimes: 1.3 per 100,000
Independence is a small community of just 10,280 residents. In 2018, the violent crime rate was 2.4 or 100,000. It rose to 28 in 2019, but declined sharply in 2020 to just 1.3. The property crime rate was 19.2 per 100,000 in 2018, dropping to 14.7 n 2019, then rising to 17 in 2020. The median income is $48,283 annually for residents of Independence.
5. Monmouth, Oregon
Violent Crimes: 1.2 per 100,000
Monmouth is a small community of just 10,457 in its population of residents. The violent crime rate for 2018 was 1.4 per 100,000, dropping to 1.3 in 2019, then further declining to 1.2 in 2020. The property crime rate was 19.6 per 100,000 in 2018, dropping to 12.9 in 2019, and further lowering to just 13.8 in 2020. The median income for residents of Monmouth is low at just $36,748 annually.
4. Silverton, Oregon
Violent Crimes: 1.1 per 100,000
Silverton is a town with a population of 10,477 residents. The violent crime rate for 2018 was 1.0 per 100,000. This rose to 1.8 in 2019, then dropped down to 1.1 in 2020. The property crime rate was 19.5 per 100,000 for 2018, rising to 21.5 in 2019, then dropping to 20.4 in 2020. The median annual income for people living in Silverton is $60,603.
3. La Grande, Oregon
Violent Crimes: 0.9
LaGrande has a population of just 13,186 residents. The violent crime rate for 2018 was 1.6 per 100,000, rising to 1.4 in 2019, then dropping to 0.9 for 2020. The property crime rate was 27.6 per 100,000 in 2018, dropping to 21.4 in 2019, then dropping again to 20.0 in 2020. The city shows a yearly decline in both property and violent crimes trend. The median income in LaGrande, is fairly low at $40,750 annually.
2. West Linn, Oregon
Violent Crimes: 0.9 per 100,000
West Linn has a population of 26,934 residents. The violent crime rates for 2018 and 2019 are not available, or are the property crime rates for these years. This is a fairly new community that has a median income of $100,188 annually. It’s an affluent community with a 2020 violent crime rate of 0.9 per 100,000 persons, and a property crime rate of a low 8.7 per 100,000.
1. Lake Oswego, Oregon
Violent Crimes: 0.5 per 100,000
Lake Oswego is a city with a population of 39,557 residents. The violent crime rate was just 0.8 in 2018, dropping to 0.4 in 2019, then showing a slight rise to 0.5 in 2020. The property crime rate was also low when compared to other communities in Oregon. In 2018, the property crime rate was 11.5 per 100,000, remaining steady at 11.5 for 2019, then rising slightly to 13.4 for 2020. This is an affluent community with a median income of $93,993 annually.