Moving near Portland, Oregon? Check out these 7 County Options.
Updated 07/2024.
When looking for a new home near a city center like Portland, Oregon, do you consider the county where the property is located? It may have important features and facets that impact your quality of life.
County policies and practices trickle down to suburban cities and towns, then to individual neighborhoods, and the county’s boundaries may not be clear. One example of this is Portland, Oregon. The city is located in Multnomah County, but Multnomah reaches beyond the confines of the city’s boundaries. Small parts of Portland are also in Clackamas and Washington counties.
Portland’s three counties, known as the tri-county area, are three of Oregon’s most populated counties, with 1,837,201 total residents, according to Census.gov‘s 2020 report. Multnomah County makes up 815,428 of that number, with Washington County at 600,372 and Clackamas County at 421,401.
We explored the tri-county area and other Oregon counties within a 75-mile radius. Keep reading to see what we discovered. But first, let’s look at why counties matter and how you can find essential information about each.
Why do Counties Matter?
When people decide to move to a new locale, they’re usually concerned with picking the right neighborhood. But learning more about the county you’ll be living in is just as important. Why? Because counties can own, operate, and invest in many necessities for quality of life, like roads, hospitals, bridges, parks, airports, utilities, police departments, jails, and courts. A county can hold sway over a community’s support systems. Property and business taxes can also vary significantly from county to county.
Here are some ways to learn more about Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas Counties.
Oregon County Tools and Resources
To help make your exploration of Oregon counties surrounding Portland easier, we found these handy tools to give you answers to some of your questions.
County Property Tax Rates
Remember that counties can have a multitude of zones that are then used to calculate property taxes, depending on each area’s desirability. Property taxes can also have bonds attached to them, making exact comparisons difficult. A big-picture view of the tri-county area tells us that Clackamas County generally has lower property taxes, with Washington County next and Multnomah County being the highest.
If property tax is high on your list of concerns, check out these free Clackamas, Washington, and Multnomah Counties guides and calculators.
County Locator Map
Knowing the county location of the property you’re interested in is a good thing to know sooner than later. The last thing you want is to have your heart set on a home only to discover that it falls in a county with policies and tax rates you want to avoid.
To help with this, PDX Maps has this handy County Boundaries Map. Simply enter the address of the property in the search bar in the upper right-hand corner of the map. When you know the appropriate county, you can then visit their website to learn about what the county is involved in locally, its latest news, and more.
Your Real Estate Agent
Overlapping county jurisdictions in a large metro like Portland can create confusion around rules and regulations, as well as quality of life factors. We’re happy to share our knowledge about Portland and surrounding cities and counties so you can make a well-informed decision about where you want to call home.
1. Multnomah County
Multnomah County consists of all of Portland proper and also extends far to the east, nearly all the way to Mt. Hood. Multnomah County has the distinction of being home to Downtown Portland, Portland International Airport, and large sections of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers. Other cities, towns, and municipalities within Multnomah County lines are Gresham, Fairview, Troutdale, Wood Village, and Maywood Park.
Here’s a closer look at what Multnomah County has to offer.
Highlight: Transportation
The Trimet transit system consists of the MAX Light Rail system and the bus system. The MAX provides transportation between Portland’s City Center, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Clackamas, Gresham, Milwaukie, north/northeast Portland, and Portland International Airport. Trains run every fifteen minutes or less, with most lines running from 4:00 am to midnight, seven days a week. The bus system transports people within the city and far-flung surrounding towns like Estacada and Forest Grove, with some lines running up to 20 hours daily. Portland’s Streetcar system is separate from Trimet. It operates from early morning to late at night, running north to south on Portland’s west side, while the A and B loops cross the river to the city’s close-in northeast and southeast quadrants.
The river has few public transportation options, but what is available is found in Multnomah.
Highlight: Food Culture
Portland has earned itself the ranking of one of the top ten best foodie cities in the US. In 2023, Wallethub ranked it #2, and US News and World Report ranked it #9. These rankings are no surprise, given the Rose City’s penchant for quality food, whether at high-end, award-winning restaurants, farmers markets, or food carts. And though food prices are increasing, the food here is cheaper than in Seattle and California’s large cities.
Highlight: Strong Rankings by Niche
Niche.com is well known for its city and county rankings, and the website loves Multnomah County. The area ranks:
● #1 for Best Counties for Outdoor Activities
(remember that the county extends out much further than the Portland city boundary lines)
● #1 Best Healthiest Counties in Oregon
(lots of outdoor activities and highly ranked hospitals)
● #1 Best College in Oregon: Reed College
Highlight: The County’s Art Scene
This is the county to prioritize if you value art. All types of art trends live here, including local and international trends. This county is home to the Portland Art Museum.
Lowlight: Crime
Visit the Portland police crime map for information.
Lowlight: Taxes
The property tax rates in all three tri-county areas are near the state average, but Multnomah has the highest at 1.11%. Clackamas comes in second at 1.09%, followed by Washington at 1.08%. Multnomah also has a lot of unique extra taxes and ranks fairly high in the country.
2. Hood River County
While Hood River County borders Multnomah County, it is one of the farthest counties from Portland on our list, coming in at 75 miles. This is primarily due to the shape of Multnomah County, which has a “panhandle” on the eastern edge.
Hood River County is home to the communities of Cascade Locks, Hood River, Mt. Hood, Rockford, Parkdale, Oak Grove, and Odell. The county is known as the “Windsurfing Capital of the World” because the pristine stretch of the Columbia River is perfect for windsurfing and kiteboarding. If you’re a fan of the great outdoors, Hood River County is a great place to live.
Let’s take a closer look at everything Hood River County has to offer, and you’ll understand why this hidden gem just outside of Portland is well worth a second look.
Highlight: River Access
Hood River County is where the Columbia River Gorge and the Cascade Range meet, creating gorgeous scenery and a natural paradise perfect for the adventurous individual. If you’re a fan of windsurfing, kiteboarding, or boating in general, being this close to the Columbia River is a real boon. Plus, with the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and Koberg Beach State Recreation Site both within driving distance of this County, you’ll never run out of gorgeous water features to explore.
Highlight: Hiking Trails
As mentioned earlier, Hood River County is right against the Cascade Range, meaning there’s plenty of hiking in and around this area. In fact, the City of Hood River has an up-to-date page outlining some of the local trails perfect for beginner hikers and historic routes to explore. If you’re looking for a more intense hike, the Cascade Range is right out your front door (metaphorically of course), so you’re able to head into the mountains whenever the spirit moves you.
Highlight: Highly Rated Schools
Niche.com rates Hood River County #1 spot for the best county for families in Oregon. It also rates it the #2 county for public schools. Pretty impressive indeed.
Lowlight: Commute
If you’re looking for a county close to Portland, OR, Hood River County is right outside of a reasonable commute. Depending on which town you decide to live in, you could be looking at an hour-and-a-half drive into Portland.
While that’s not the worst drive for a day trip, working in Portland means more travel time than the average commuter wants. To be fair, it does have some of the best scenery you’d see on any commute across the country.
3. Washington County
Just to the west of Multnomah County lies Washington County, home to expansive forest land and some of Portland’s largest suburbs. Here you will find the communities of Hillsboro, Tigard, Beaverton, Forest Grove, Sherwood, Aloha, Cornelius, North Plains, Banks, King City, Cedar Hills, Metzger, Durham, Raleigh Hills, Laurelwood, West Slope, Westhaven-Sylvan, Garden Home-Whitford, Dilley, Timber, and Mulloy.
Highlight: Transportation
While the county doesn’t have its own mass transit system, many of the towns and cities within its boundaries are well-served by Multnomah County’s Trimet system and Clackamas County’s SMART (South Metro Area Regional Transit) system. Washington County is currently working to create even more systems to fill in gaps in outlying communities, those in residential areas to connect with employers and already-existing mass transit options, and door-to-door transit options.
Highlight: Strong Health Scores in the State
County Health Rankings and Roadmaps ranks Washington County #1 for Oregon, and Niche ranks the county #2 for a long list of categories:
- Healthiest counties in Oregon
- Best counties for families
- Best counties to live in Oregon
- Most diverse counties in Oregon
- Counties with the best public schools in Oregon
- Best counties for outdoor activities in Oregon
Traits that went into rankings for life expectancy and physical and mental health include:
- Air pollution
- Medical care
- Birth rates
- Social and economic factors
- Smoking
- Obesity
Highlight: Diversity
Based on data from Census.gov, Washington County remains Oregon’s most diverse, with the cities of Hillsboro and Beaverton leading the pack. The county’s population sits at 600,372, which is relatively flat over the last three years. (In 2020, the population was 600,369 mark in 2020, and in July 2021 it was 600,811). At the same time, the area continues to become more diverse, with the non-Hispanic white population dropping from 69.7% to 61% and the Hispanic and Asian populations growing from 15.7% to 18.7% and 8.6% to 13%, respectively.
Highlight: Top Job Opportunities at World-Renowned Companies
Washington County is home to the global Nike headquarters and multiple Intel Campuses. Other highly recognized employers include Columbia Sportswear, Kaiser Permanente, Epson, Adobe, Lam Research, and more.
Highlight: Lower Property Taxes
As you can see above, Washington has much to offer, but it goes beyond by offering the lowest property taxes in the tri-county area at 1.08%.
Highlight: Ranked the #2 County by Niche
Niche ranks Washington County #2 with an overall score of A-. The factors above all go into the high rankings, but other factors include ample nature, restaurants, bars, and coffee shops.
Improving Culturally
Washington County may not be home to historic areas like Oregon City’s downtown, but modern areas like Orenco Station in Hillsboro and Beaverton’s downtown have improved over the last few years, adding art centers and more local shops and restaurants.
4. Clackamas County
This county just south of Multnomah sits next to Hood River County, home to majestic Mt. Hood, and consists primarily of beautiful forest land. But nature isn’t all you will find. Many towns call the area home, such as Clackamas, Oregon City, Happy Valley, Milwaukie, Canby, Sandy, Estacada, Gladstone, West Linn, Molalla, Damascus, Boring, Oak Grove, Beaver Creek, Government Camp, Molino, Mt. Hood Village, Stafford, Barlow, Oatfield, Johnson City, and Jennings Lodge. The blend of nature and suburban living has earned the county the #2 spot for outdoor activities by Niche.
Highlight: Mt. Hood / Government Camp
Thanks to nearby Mt. Hood, this county offers ski resorts and year-round skiing, giving it the honor of the longest ski season in North America. You will find vacation cabin rentals, shopping, and dining, all a short drive from Portland’s amenities. In nearby Government Camp, you’ll find more skiing and vacation rentals and a variety of year-round outdoor activities.
Highlight: Public Schools and Downtown Areas
The educational system in the county isn’t just good; it’s great. Located within Clackamas County boundaries, Lake Oswego and West Linn have some of the country’s highest-rated public schools in the nation. You will also find award-winning shopping and dining. The quaint downtown districts in Oregon City and Lake Oswego have much to offer.
Lowlight: Real Estate and Property Taxes
Living in a beautiful place with access to many life-enhancing amenities often means higher real estate prices and property taxes, and Clackamas County is no exception. According to rockethomes.com, Clackamas County’s median sold price in 2024 is $610,100, which is $80,000 more than Portland.
Lowlight: Dangerous Rivers
This county has been ranked the “most dangerous in the US for beachgoers.” This is an impressive feat because it doesn’t reside on the ocean. Raging rivers are the culprits.
5. Columbia County
With a population of 53,880, Columbia County is sixty miles from Downtown Portland, with its borders partially consisting of 62 miles of Columbia River shoreline. The county serves the towns of Scappoose, St. Helens, Rainier, Columbia City, Clatskanie, Vernonia, Warren, Deer Island, Prescott, and Birkenfield.
Outdoor Activities and Marine Parks: Highlight
Thanks to Columbia County’s close proximity to water, residents here enjoy easy access to popular boating and fishing grounds and windsurfing. The county is also home to the only two marine parks in Oregon:
- J.J. Collins Memorial Marine Park is a 23-acre island on the Multnomah Channel, only accessible by boat. The island offers a 1.5-mile nature trail, camping, and outstanding birding.
- Sand Island is on the Columbia River and covers 32 acres, with lots of camping and kayaking. A former mill pond, Vernonia Lake was converted into a city park—another sought-after natural feature of the county—taking up 45 acres and providing residents and visitors with prime camping, fishing, and birdwatching.
Highlight: Sauvie Island
Columbia and Multnomah Counties share the much-coveted Sauvie Island, a land of farms, lakes, beaches, and wildlife. Throughout the year, you’ll find people reveling in nature’s bounty on the island with hiking, swimming, sunbathing, boating, camping, and gathering luscious produce from one of the many U-pick farms.
Highlight / Lowlight: Fluctuating Revenue Sources
Columbia County has four primary industries that bring revenue to the area: agriculture, lumber, fishing, and tourism. Since these industries are nature-related, uncontrollable outside influences like weather can affect each revenue stream. However, the weather has been good in recent years. The area received above-average precipitation in 2022, resulting in wheat crops flourishing, and the last few years have maintained average rainfall. The lumber industry in the county is also going strong.
6. Yamhill County
Yamhill County has a population of 108,644 and is comprised of several small towns—Yamhill, McMinnville, Carlton, Newberg, Sheridan, Dayton, Dundee, Amity, and Lafayette—nestled in lush rolling hills of Yamhill Valley wine country.
Highlight: An Overabundance of Wineries and Vineyards
If you love wine, you might love living in Yamhill County. And if you set out to visit all the county’s wineries and vineyards within a year, you’d have to quit your day job. Within its 718 square mile area, you’ll find 80 wineries and over 200 vineyards. Yamhill County has the largest concentration of wine producers and winegrowers compared to all other counties in Oregon.
Highlight: Excess of Small-Town Charm with a Side of Adventure
Yamhill County is blessed with several towns and thriving downtown areas that offer quality dining establishments serving a variety of delicious cuisine and, of course, wine. McMinnville, Dundee, Carlton, and Dayton are all excellent spots to spend a Sunday and enjoy the unique vibe of each of these lovely communities. Then there’s Newberg, voted #4 by USA Today’s 10 Best Small Town Food Scene for 2022 and known as the Gateway to Oregon’s Wine Country. When you’ve had your fill of shopping, food, and wine, decide which adventure you’ll do first: more wine tasting—but by helicopter or horseback, a hot air balloon ride, or an afternoon with the family at Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum.
Highlight: Mass Transit
One thing that can ease the stresses of life is getting where you need to go, whether it’s for work, shopping, or socializing. Yamhill County recently celebrated ten years of mass transit success. While their system doesn’t run all the way to Portland, it does allow you to make a connection in Hillsboro to hop on a Trimet bus. Yamhill County Transit also runs to McMinnville, West Salem, Grand Ronde, and Tigard. They also offer para-transit services for those with ADA eligibility.
7. Tillamook County
Tillamook County has 27,748 residents spread across the towns of Tillamook, Pacific City, Garibaldi, Rockaway Beach, Bay City, Manzanita, Nehalem, Oceanside, Netarts, Wheeler, Cape Meares, Neskowin, Cloverdale, Hebo, and Beaver. While many of these towns are small and out-of-the-way, some reach the coast and offer a sublime experience of beautiful beaches, protected parks, and thick, lush forests. In fact, 44% of Tillamook County is owned by the State of Oregon in Siuslaw National Forest. The county is also home to four wildlife refuges: Cape Meares, Nestucca Bay, Oregon Islands, and Three Arch Rocks.
Highlight: Health and Wellness are Top Priorities
Tillamook County Wellness (TCW) is a coalition led by local friends, families, and organizations working in cooperation to improve community health. Partnering with local health systems, businesses, and organizations, TCW provides the county with education and activities that inform and encourage the healthiest of lifestyles.
Lowlight: Tsunami Threat
Life on the Oregon coast is pretty serene. Until you notice all the “Tsunami Warning” signs on the beaches. While the threat of the “Big One,” the earthquake that could disrupt the entire west coast, has been talked about for years, the reality is that with any degree of quake, tsunamis are possible. Some would rather not think about it and assume it will happen far enough into the future that they won’t be affected. For others, visiting the coast now and again is better than putting down roots.
Highlight/Lowlight: Award-Winning Cheese and… What’s That Smell?
Tillamook County is home to the revered Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA), maker of Tillamook dairy products and routine winner of many awards from the American Cheese Society and other groups. But of course, to get all that delicious cheese, ice cream, yogurt, and all the other products TCCA produces each year and sells nationwide, you need cows. And Tillamook County has a lot of them.
If you haven’t been to Tillamook before, you’ll know you’re getting close by the pungent smell in the air. What is it? Manure. There’s the natural cattle byproduct, as well as liquid manure that’s frequently used in the county as fertilizer, so there’s no getting away from it. And the problem isn’t just about the ever-present, unpleasant smell that permeates everything; it’s also about the health hazard caused by manure-produced methane and nitrous oxide emissions. While steps are being taken to address the issue, it’s hard to tell how long it will take, if ever, to disappear.
If you want the coast life experience and you don’t want to deal with the stench of Tillamook, you can head north up the coast to Garibaldi, Rockaway Beach, or Manzanita, south to Pacific City or Neskowin, or further inland to Cloverdale, Hebo, or Beaver.
Special Mention: Polk County
Covering 744 square miles and housing 89,805 residents, Polk County is the land of plenty. Towns served by Polk County are Dallas, Independence, Monmouth, Rickreall, Falls City, Grand Ronde, Eola, and McCoy.
Highlight: High Quality of Life in Natural Abundance
It’s hard to know where to begin with all the perks Polk County offers. In addition to a massive amount of outdoor activities, family-friendly fun, and museums and galleries, Polk County is home to verdant land brimming with vineyards, farms, and nurseries.
Highlight: Oldest, Most Affordable University and the County’s Biggest Employer
Founded in 1856, Western Oregon University (WOU) is the oldest higher-learning institution in Oregon and also the most affordable. But the benefits don’t stop there. WOU provides students with a well-rounded education and is situated in a pretty idyllic location. It’s also an Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution, the first four-year public university in Oregon to have this designation.
Highlight: Real Estate Prices
It’s rare these days to point out real estate prices as a highlight anywhere. Still, compared to surrounding areas in Oregon, Polk County’s are reasonable. Rocket Homes reports that the recent median sold price in the county was $445,000. Not too shabby when you consider all the perks of living here.
The Best County is Washington County?
Everyone’s needs are different. As for us, we find Washington County and Polk Counties the best, and of the two, Washington is the winner. Factors that rank it higher are access to city amenities, diversity awareness, job opportunities, and easy access to nature and the freeway, all without high property taxes.
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