Best Rental Markets in Oregon (2026)

Data updated August 2026 · 55 cities screened

Oregon's median home value is $496,112 with a median rent of $1,597/mo across our 55 investable cities. At 3.9% annual rent-to-price (28th percentile nationally), it's a price-appreciation market more than a cash-flow one, with rents small relative to purchase prices. Expect entry prices well above the national state median of $345,226. Landlord-tenant law leans tenant-friendly, so budget for a longer eviction timeline.

Top Oregon cities for cash flow

Ranked by annual rent ÷ median home value. Higher means the rent check is bigger relative to what you paid, the first screen for a cash-flowing rental.

Top Oregon cities by rent-to-price ratio
#CityMedian Home ValueMedian RentRent / PricePopulation
1Cornelius$476,025$2,515/mo6.3%14,255
2North Bend$359,472$1,875/mo6.3%10,171
3Coos Bay$326,136$1,667/mo6.1%15,925
4Hermiston$345,761$1,708/mo5.9%19,546
5Central Point$418,391$2,015/mo5.8%19,216
6Pendleton$301,886$1,421/mo5.6%16,950
7Newport$446,670$1,986/mo5.3%10,583
8Sweet Home$349,781$1,548/mo5.3%10,078
9The Dalles$392,007$1,727/mo5.3%15,917
10Roseburg$364,060$1,561/mo5.1%23,778

Most affordable entry points

Lowest median home values, where a first deal or a limited budget goes furthest. Cheap is not automatically good: check rent and condition before assuming a bargain.

Most affordable Oregon cities by median home value
#CityMedian Home ValueMedian RentRent / PricePopulation
1La Grande$301,372$1,184/mo4.7%13,058
2Pendleton$301,886$1,421/mo5.6%16,950
3Klamath Falls$306,973$1,276/mo5.0%22,115
4Coos Bay$326,136$1,667/mo6.1%15,925
5Hermiston$345,761$1,708/mo5.9%19,546
6Sweet Home$349,781$1,548/mo5.3%10,078
7North Bend$359,472$1,875/mo6.3%10,171
8Roseburg$364,060$1,561/mo5.1%23,778
9The Dalles$392,007$1,727/mo5.3%15,917
10Lebanon$392,910$1,493/mo4.6%19,344

Fastest rent growth

Year-over-year change in Zillow's observed rent index. Rising rents lift future cash flow, but verify the driver (jobs and population, not a one-year blip).

Oregon cities by year-over-year rent growth
#CityRent Growth YoYMedian RentMedian Home Value
1Hermiston7.3%$1,708/mo$345,761
2Coos Bay6.8%$1,667/mo$326,136
3Ashland6.6%$2,143/mo$550,673
4Central Point6.3%$2,015/mo$418,391
5Gladstone5.8%$1,741/mo$512,432
6The Dalles5.1%$1,727/mo$392,007
7Tualatin5.0%$1,914/mo$631,966
8Redmond4.5%$2,089/mo$510,853
9Grants Pass4.5%$1,677/mo$399,420
10Monmouth4.2%$1,447/mo$475,714

Oregon fundamentals for landlords

The state-level numbers that shape every deal here: what taxes and law take out of the rent check, and whether demand is growing.

Effective property tax0.97%

Annual tax as a share of home value (Tax Foundation). Comes straight out of cash flow.

Top income tax rate9.90%

Top marginal state rate (Tax Foundation), the rate your rental profit is taxed at in-state.

Landlord friendliness28/100

Composite of rent control, eviction timeline, deposit caps, and notice rules in state statute.

Population growth YoY0.9%

Census ACS. People moving in = housing demand; sustained decline is the risk flag.

Unemployment5.3%

BLS, latest month. Tenant quality and vacancy risk track the job market.

Building permits (SF + MF)14,140

Census BPS, latest year. Heavy new supply competes with your unit at renewal time.

Violent crime rate296/100k

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Affects insurance, tenant pool, and appreciation.

Federal disasters since 195341

FEMA declarations, a proxy for insurance cost and climate exposure.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best rental market in Oregon for cash flow?

By rent-to-price ratio, Cornelius leads Oregon at 6.3%, with a median rent of $2,515/mo against a $476,025 median home value (Zillow, August 2026).

Does Oregon pass the 1% rule?

At state medians of $1,597 rent on a $496,112 home, monthly rent is 0.32% of the purchase price, so the median Oregon deal falls short of the 1% screen. Individual cities can still clear it. See the table above.

Is Oregon landlord-friendly?

Oregon scores 28/100 on our landlord-friendliness composite (rent control status, eviction timeline, deposit caps, notice requirements), less owner-friendly than 88% of states.

How high are property taxes in Oregon?

The effective property tax rate is 0.97% of home value per year (Tax Foundation). On the median $496,112 home, that is roughly $4,812 a year off your cash flow.

Compare with similar states

Vermont · South Dakota · New York · New Jersey · North Dakota

Planning a flip here? See typical Oregon renovation costs.

About this data: compiled by RehabRange from Zillow Research (ZHVI home values, ZORI rents), U.S. Census Bureau (ACS population and income, Building Permits Survey), Bureau of Labor Statistics (unemployment), FBI Crime Data Explorer, FEMA, and Tax Foundation. Last updated August 2026.

RehabRange is built by Mitchell Haughton, a practicing eastern-Connecticut real estate investor. These are the same screens he runs before walking a property. How we rank markets