7 Most Affordable Towns To Retire In Oregon
Retiring in small towns is one of the best ways to live your older years to the fullest. Suppose you are among the 26% of Americans looking to retire in small towns for the warm community, beautiful culture, vibrant history, low crime, and stunning landmarks. In that case, towns like Klamath Falls, Ontario, Prineville, and many more should be at the top of your list. Whether this is a decision you are about to take now or something you are considering, learn more about the best and most affordable towns to retire in Oregon.
Klamath Falls
Klamath Falls is the sunshine city of Oregon, with optimal weather conditions during all seasons and sunshine all year long. Retirees get to enjoy clean outdoor air around their homes. The neighborhood is peaceful, with about 3,421 senior residents out of 22,133 population. It has a median home price of $368,000 with a yearly uptrend of 11.5%.
Residents get treated at the 176-bed community hospital, Sky Lakes Medical Center, or clinics like BestMed Urgent Care. While living in Klamath Falls, spend your retirement years visiting the beautiful parts of the town and participating in outdoor activities like sightseeing at the Klamath Waterfalls. Take a senior-friendly trolley bus tour around Crater Lake. Relax by Lake Ewauna. Learn the town’s history at Favell Museum. Walk with your dog at OC and E Woods Line State Trail. Spend most of your afternoons bonding with locals and neighbors at Moore Park.
Brookings
The beach town of Brookings is home to over 6,700 people, with 26.5% of them being seniors. If you love pristine waters, mountains, forests, and peaceful parks. You should retire here. As of February 2024, the median home price in Brookings is $681,000. The town is a rainy town. It is ideal for those who love listening to the sound of the rain on the roof any time of the day.
Residents are safe with walk-in clinics like Sutter Coast Health Center and a medical center like Brookings Harbor. Brookings-Harbor Senior Center/Chetco Activity Center provides meals, classes, yoga and tai chi exercises for seniors and retirees, and an opportunity to mingle with other community members.
On a sunny day, visit Harris Beach State Park, Azalea Park, or Chetco Point Park, where you can sit on park benches and enjoy the scenic views of the lakes or participate in watersports activities. Visit the scenic Natural Bridges with friends or family. Take a solo walk along Lone Ranch Beach while enjoying the peaceful ambiance. Hike the Oregon Redwoods Trail with a picnic spot at the end. Check out art exhibits at Brian Scott Gallery on a cool day.
Cottage Grove
Cottage Grove is a senior living town with various activities and benefits for retirees, like the Coast Fork Nursing Center, Middlefield Oaks Senior Living, and Magnolia Gardens Assisted Living. With 1,790 seniors out of 10,820 residents living in Cottage Groove, retirees will enjoy a community of their peers. Cottage Grove has a median home price of $360,000, with a downtrend of 11.1%. The weather in this town is partly sunny, partly rainy.
Peace Health Cottage Grove Hospital is dedicated to the health and safety of the residents. Chambers Covered Railroad Bridge, Oregon’s remaining covered bridge, is a great walking area in town. Go out with family on occasion to Jack Sprats Restaurant. Learn the town’s gold mining history at Bohemia Gold Mining Museum. If you are interested in aviation, you should see the Oregon Aviation Historical Society & Museum. On some days, see art performances at Cottage Theatre. Watch birds and other wildlife at the Row River Nature Park. Go on a picnic or take a walk at Bohemia Park.
Ontario
The town of Ontario has a weather suitable for seniors with cold winters and hot summers. It is an affordable community encouraging retirees with high and low retirement savings to live a peaceful and enjoyable life. You will find about 2,210 seniors living in Ontario. With a year-to-year uptrend of 4.6%, the median price is $339,900. The well-equipped 49-bed emergency hospital, Saint Alphonsus Medical Center, caters to the medical needs of the members of the community and its environs.
Get acquainted with the town’s culture at Four Rivers Cultural Center. On the north side of Ontario is the Ontario State Recreation Site, where seniors can go fishing, swimming, and sightseeing. Get gifts for special occasions at The House That Art Built. On a chill movie day, grab a ticket at the Ontario Luxe Reel traditional movie theater. Sit under a shade tree at Lions Park to enjoy the cool evening breeze as you watch other residents and tourists have fun or join in the fun. If you enjoy playing poker, there is a card house at East Lane called Actions Card House, where you can play with other community members. Go picnicking with your spouse, children, grandkids, or friends at Beck-Kiwanis Park or Winners Horseshoe Park.
Prineville
About 25% of people 65 years and above live in Prineville, a senior living and retirement community with a median home price of $471,400. Seniors who need assistance as they age can also live in Regency Village, a tranquil part of town with amenities and activities to make life easier for seniors.
Prineville has more rainfall during winter than in summer. Summer is usually preferable to the winter because it is warm and dry. St. Charles is a family medical center in Prineville with over 198 caregivers. Prineville has a charitable organization for Seniors at Prineville Senior Center, where people 60 years and over get all kinds of support. If you love reading, visit the quiet Crook County Library. Ochoco Wayside State Park offers a beautiful panoramic view of the town. Go birdwatching at Prineville Reservoir State Park, a wildlife area and park. The memorable Wildland Firefighter Monument is a nice place to visit with friends and family to honor the memories of lost firefighters.
Port Orford
Port Orford is Oregon’s oldest townsite, known for being settled in 1851 by Europeans before it was founded in 1856. Port Orford provides seniors with lakes like Garrison Lake, parks like Cape Blanco State Park, Humbug Mountain State Park, Buffington Memorial Park, and Port Orford Heads State Park, clean air, green space, and outdoor facilities.
With 373 seniors living in this town out of 1,150 residents, the town has about 32% seniors. As of February 2024, the town’s median home price is $462,000.
Port Orford has dry summers and cold winters. The town has several hospitals nearby, such as the Curry Community Health and Coast Community Health Center. Check out the Port Orford Senior Center to receive assistance and participate in activities with fellow senior citizens. Shop for homewares at Quilter's Corner. Check out beautiful artworks at any of the art galleries in town, such as Hawthorne Gallery, Point. B Studio, or Cook Gallery. Learn some of the fishing town’s history at Port Orford Lifeboat Station.
Pendleton
Pendleton is a beautiful town suitable for people of all ages. If you are a senior thinking of retiring, this is a town to consider. It is a small town with a population of 17,120 people and about 17% of the residents are seniors. It has a median home price of $339,000. Pendleton is a town easy to navigate. It is connected to other towns in the region, making it easy to visit surrounding towns. Pendleton has limited job opportunities, making it more suitable for retirees looking to relax and enjoy their years out of work.
The temperature is usually from 29°F to 91°F. If you are feeling unwell, the 25-bed CHI St. Anthony Hospital is a great place for a checkup. The Senior Center at Pendleton is great for getting to know and bonding with other seniors. Visit museums in town like Heritage Station Museum, Pendleton Round-Up & Happy Canyon Hall of Fame Museum, or go with little children to The Children's Museum of Eastern Oregon. If you enjoy adventures, go on a city tour with Pendleton Underground Tours. Get to know locals at Rainbow Cafe or Hamley Steakhouse & Saloon over coffee or a plate of steak. Take solo walks or visit the scenic Deadman Pass Lookout Area with your dog.
Whether you are a senior looking to retire soon or you are looking for a great town for a senior to retire with the best facilities, ambiance, and community, these seven towns will help your decision. You can also check out which town’s features match what you want or visit any of the towns to meet with the locals.
