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Find Jobs in the Best Places to Live in Oregon

By Jennifer Verta, Monster Contributor

If you’re considering relocating and are wondering how to pick the best places to live in Oregon, we’re not surprised. Who wouldn’t want to live in a place where outdoor recreational options are endless thanks to beautiful mountains, forests, beaches, rivers valleys, high deserts, and volcanic plateaus? With just over four million people, Oregon is also one of the least densely populated states. Plus, here they are really into wineries, microbreweries, and coffee. What else could you ask for?

Here are some interesting facts about living and working in Oregon that you might find useful:

  • It’s a no sales tax state. Oregon is one of only five states where you won’t have to pay any taxes when you buy goods and services.
  • It has its own high-tech hub. You can find this in the greater Portland area, and it specializes in hardware, computer chips and electronic displays among others. it’s been nicknamed the “Silicon Forest”.
  • It’s home to five national parks. These are: Crater Lake, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Oregon Caves National Monument, Lewis & Clark National Historical Park, and the McLoughlin House.
  • It has a four-season weather. Oregon looks out on the West Coast, but it enjoys all the seasons. Summers are warm and wet, while snow in the winter is not unusual.
  • It’s extremely environmentally friendly. Oregon leads the way when it comes to introducing policies to promote recycling, renewable energy, and the use of public transportation.
  • The legal age to work in Oregon is 14 years old. Restrictions around the hours allowed exist, but your kids can start learning about financial responsibility and building their resumes with part-time jobs as early as the eighth or ninth grade.

Let’s now dive in and analyze what the best cities to live in Oregon have to offer and which one is the answer to your lifestyle and career needs.

Beaverton

Beaverton is a city of around 100,000 people in the western Portland metro area. The two cities are so close and interconnected that you only need to drive five miles between them. If you prefer a more sustainable option, the area has an excellent public transportation system with buses and rail lines. Beaverton is also one of the best cities to live in Oregon because it’s a foodie paradise with one of the richest and most diverse restaurant scenes. Plus, there’s an infinite number of wineries and breweries.

To burn all those delicious calories, you have lots of parks and hiking trails less than 20 minutes away. In Beaverton, you’ll also have the best of both worlds being a couple of hours both from the ocean and from ski resorts. As far as jobs go, being in the “Silicon Forest”, Beaverton is one of the best places to live in Oregon for opportunities in high tech. This is the home of Nike, Tektronix, IBM, and Reser’s Fine Foods, among others.

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Eugene

Eugene is a city of around 170,500 residents located in the Willamette Valley 60 miles from the Pacific coast. It’s one of the best places to live in Oregon for families and young adults alike. Here you can bike and walk almost everywhere, it’s safe, and traffic is not a problem. There’s plenty to do outdoors for every level from hiking and rafting, to climbing and much more. Check out the local arts and culture scene as well when you move here. You’ll find the Museum of Natural and Cultural History, the Eugene Ballet, the Opera and the Eugene Symphony among others.

The University of Oregon is located here as well providing excellent education and many activities for its students. In terms of job prospects, Eugene’s most important industries are lumber and wood manufacturing, agriculture, wine production, services, government, and tourism.

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Gresham

In our list of the best places to live in Oregon, we can’t forget Gresham, a city of about 110,000 people and part of Portland's east metro area. Living in Gresham you’ll experience a lively growing city with a small-town feel, where schools are great and there’s no lack of job opportunities. The sectors that employ the most people here include aerospace, food processing, and semiconductor manufacturing.

Gresham strives to build a healthy community encouraging an active lifestyle with miles of trails, parks, green areas, and bike lanes. Plus, there is always something going on between festivals and events like the Gresham Arts Festival, the Teddy Bear Parade, the Spirit of Christmas, and many more.

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Hillsboro

Hillsboro is the fifth largest city in Oregon and the heart of the Silicon Forest. It sits in the Tualatin Valley west of Portland and is the home of Intel, that employs over 17,000 residents. Other major companies in the area include Salesforce, Epson, Oracle, and Synopsys. Jobs are a big reason people move here, but it’s what the city offers in off-work hours that convinces them to stay.

Here you’ll live in a quiet suburban area with everything you need and easy access to Portland. In your free time in Hillsboro, you can visit nine sites on the National Register of Historical Places, the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, 23 parks, golf courses, the farmers’ market, and much more. There are also a great deal of boutiques, cafes, and pubs. If you move with your family and your furry friends, rest assured that this is one of the best places to live in Oregon for its family-friendly and pet-friendly attitudes.

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Portland

With around 650,000 residents, Portland is the largest metro area in the “Beaver State” and one of the best places to live in Oregon, and in the U.S. overall. With an unofficial city motto like "Keep Portland Weird", you can imagine how the city is ideal for those that embrace and celebrate self-expression. People here are friendly and have a laid-back attitude. Portland is also a favorite among millennials that ditched suits to go to work and prefer a more casual and relaxed style as a direct reflection of their life.

For instance, around 7% of people commute to work by bike. The freedom you feel here also breeds the creativity at the base of the many startups and businesses that were born in the city. In Portland, you’ll find plenty of opportunities in tech, computers, and production, as well as in healthcare and sports.

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Salem

Located 50 miles south of Portland, we find Salem, the state capital of Oregon. With a population of just below 172,000 people, this is the second urban area in the state that still cherishes its small-town feel. That is not to say there’s nothing to do here. Quite the opposite, you can explore beautiful outdoors, visit Schreiner’s Iris Garden, the Hallie Ford Museum of Art, pop on the Riverfront Carousel, and enjoy some fruity wine at Cristom Vineyards.

Salem is also one of the best places to live in Oregon for its affordability, especially as far as housing is concerned. And if you need to commute to Portland from here, you can take the Amtrak Cascades train. Don’t worry, though, the “Cherry City” provides many jobs itself, especially in agriculture, advanced manufacturing, production, transportation, and distribution.

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Monster Helps You Find the Right Job for You in The Best Places to Live in Oregon

Still deciding where to live in Oregon? Perhaps finding the right job will decide for you. Get on Monster and set up a free account in no time. Upload your resume and activate the alerts for the positions you’re seeking in any city you like. In this way, you’ll be among the first to apply. Companies and recruiters will also be able to contact you directly if you meet their skillset requirements.