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Clackamas County, OR

RANK #788 / 996  ·  POP 420,925  ·  OR

PROJECTED GROWTH: -0.5%

Clackamas County ranks in the bottom tier of U.S. counties on economic momentum.

[01] Why Clackamas County?

Oregon City, the county seat of Clackamas County, holds the distinction of being the first incorporated city west of the Rocky Mountains, established in 1844. Located in north-central Oregon, Clackamas County is part of the Portland metropolitan area, with downtown Portland approximately 15 miles north of the community of Clackamas. The county offers a mix of urban, suburban, and rural environments, characterized by natural beauty including Mount Hood, the Mount Hood National Forest, and several rivers like the Willamette and Clackamas. Residents and visitors engage in outdoor activities such as kayaking, fishing, hiking, and exploring numerous parks and trails, including the Springwater Corridor Trail and Mount Talbert Nature Park.

Life in Clackamas County balances suburban living with access to nature. The area is home to families, with various public and private school options available, including the North Clackamas School District and Clackamas Middle College. Commute options to Portland include Interstate 205 and the MAX Green Line, along with local TriMet bus routes and free county shuttles. The economy is diverse, with employment opportunities in healthcare, education, and retail. Recent economic developments show growth in private educational and health services, and leisure and hospitality sectors, contributing to a stable community.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
9.4x

Overvalued relative to economy

GDP Growth
+2.4%

Below national median

Home Prices
-0.4%

Prices declining

Climate & Terrain
3.6

Favorable climate & terrain

Price/Rent
23x

Prices detached from rents

Housing looks overvalued at 9.4x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Clackamas County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
420,925
+0.56% YoY
Median Household Income
$95,740
Median Home Value
$532,200
-0.38% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,605
Average Annual Pay
$69,863
+3.1% YoY
Employment
174,320
+0.6% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.1799
Less affordable than average
Migration Inflow
4.3%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$600,000
Days on Market
72
Slower market
Months of Supply
3.2
Balanced market
Sale-to-List Ratio
98.7%
Near asking price
Sold Above List
24.9%
Listings w/ Price Drops
26.0%
Building Permits (2024)
1,140
Single-Family Permits
743

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Capital Investment

$370M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Clackamas County 5-Year Transportation Capital Improvement Program
Clackamas County
$220M Planned
Clackamas Heights Master Plan Redevelopment
Clackamas County Housing Authority
$100M Under Construction
Community Solar Portfolio (Multiple Projects)
Various (e.g., SSD Clackamas 4, LLC, Sandy River Solar, Day Hill Solar, Kaiser Creek Solar, SSD Clackamas 7, LLC)
$50M Operating

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +2.4% 44 percentile
Population Growth +0.6% 55 percentile
Income Growth +8.2% 40 percentile
Vacancy Rate 0.9% 66 percentile
Home Price Change -0.4% 27 percentile
Rent Growth +0.7% 16 percentile
Price/Rent 23x 3 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Clackamas County, OR a good place to move to?

Clackamas County has a Boom Town Index score of 21/100, ranking #788 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +0.6% and a median household income of $95,740, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.

Is Clackamas County affordable?

The median home value in Clackamas County is $532,200 with median rent at $1,605/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.1799, which is less affordable than the national average.

Is Clackamas County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: +0.6% year-over-year. Job growth: +0.6%. Home values changed -0.4% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Clackamas County?

Yes — 4.3% of Clackamas County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

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