Oakridge, Oregon, 1942
Oakridge’s story
114 years in pictures
Census counts: 520 in 1940, 3,206 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1942 and 3 maps from 1925 on.
- 1912Oakridge is settled
OakridgeOR
A town of 3,127, settled in 1912.
Photo: Chris Phan ("functoruser") · CC BY 2.0
Population
3,127
2025 Census estimate · −2.5% since 2020
Typical home
$282K
−0.4% in a year
Household income
$40K
median
Median age
60.2
years
Jobs based here
776
Balanced
TownGrade
D−
#133 of 142 in OR
Is Oakridge a good place to live?
Oakridge earns a D−, 133rd of 142 graded towns in Oregon, mostly because of incomes and schools. The median household income is $40K, and 24% of residents live below the poverty line. Its schools rank behind 96% of the state's. In its favor, 5% of its land is conserved. Oakridge’s average trip to work is 45 minutes, against 23 minutes in Oregon’s towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns. Only 2 of Oregon’s 228 towns score lower on health. FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 90% of U.S. communities, with inland flooding at the top.
What makes Oakridge stand out
Where Oakridge beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
WalkabilityA−
More walkable than 83% of U.S. towns
4.1% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
Oakridge SD 76 schools
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Oakridge Elementary School | K–6 | 280 |
| Oakridge Junior High School | 7–8 | 80 |
| Oakridge High School | 9–12 | 155 |
Worth knowing · SchoolsD−
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
How Oakridge grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Oregon), ordered by how far Oakridge is from typical.
Jobs & incomeD−Open →SchoolsD−Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listDOpen →HealthLess healthy than 93% of U.S. towns; Peacehealth Cottage Grove Community Medical Center 28.9 miles awayDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.8 of 20; 1.4% of households have no carA−Open →Cost of livingCOpen →SafetyBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors3 miles of trailsA−Open →HistoryC−Open →Civic life2.4 library visits per resident; 6 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateCold winters, 83° summer afternoons, 5″ of snow–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 60.2; 16% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Oakridge: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Oakridge, and how to reach them.
PowerLane Electric Coop13.3¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Oakridge water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNearest public drop-offOakridge Transfer Station, 2 miOpenStreetMap
Register to voteOnlineIn Oregon you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person until 21 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereLane County Clerk, Elections OfficeLane County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2021
ZIP code9746397463 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Oct 2, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Oakridge.
Oakridge fares better on crime within Oregon than nationally, but it is a long drive from an emergency room and has poverty well above the Oregon rate.
SchoolsD−
Oakridge earns a D− for schools
Its public schools are run by Oakridge SD 76. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
4%of OR districts it outscoresD−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakridge Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–6 | Grades K–6 | 280 | C+ |
| Oakridge High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 155 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within OR on state tests and graduation
HealthD
Oakridge stands out in Oregon and nationally, with more of its adults who report frequent physical distress
The nearest emergency room, Peacehealth Cottage Grove Community Medical Center, is 28.9 miles away in a straight line. Against the 2,477 U.S. towns with household incomes like Oakridge’s, it is less healthy than 64%, so its D isn’t only a matter of income.
21% of adults report frequent physical distress in Oakridge. Among 142 Oregon towns, just 2 have a higher share of adults who say their health is fair or poor than Oakridge. 17% of adults have diabetes in Oakridge.
7%healthier than U.S. townsDHealth Grade
| Oakridge | Oregon towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 15% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 11% | 12% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 20% | 19% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 44% | 33% | 35% |
26 measures vs. Oregon
2 better5 too close to call19 worse
| What stands out | Oakridge | OR |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 11.5% | 15.4% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 77.6% | 71.4% |
| More adults with COPD | 14.1% | 6.8% |
Peacehealth Cottage Grove Community Medical Center
28.9 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
OutdoorsA−
Conserved land covers 4.7% of Oakridge
2.8 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves. The trail density in Oakridge is 1.3 miles per square mile.
#43for trails in OR
| Oakridge | Oregon towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 1.3 miles per square mile | 0.8 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 4.7% | 4.3% | 4.3% |
4.7%
conserved · 65 of 1,387 acres
2.8 mi
of trails · 1.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Greenwaters Park | 0.4 mi | 19 |
| 2. Salmon Creek Park | — | 5 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Oakridge faces a very high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Among 142 Oregon towns, just 8 have a higher FEMA risk score than Oakridge.
90risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakes
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HousingCost of living grade C
Homes in Oakridge are worth about $282K, by Zillow’s estimate
67.6% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, against 52.5% across Oregon.
The typical Oakridge home is worth about $282,000, about the same as a year ago, 43% below the Oregon typical home. Oakridge’s median rent is $1,017 a month.
$282KZillow home value
| Oakridge | Oregon towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,017 a month | $1,415 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 68% | 65% | 73% |
Typical home value
Oakridge$282K
Oregon$493K
−0.4%
value change, 1 year
3
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
In Oakridge, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Oakridge has mild winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 82°, January nights drop to 34° and about 5 inches of snow falls in a winter.
5″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter33–47°
Spring38–60°
Summer50–79°
Fall42–64°
Oct 24
typical first frost
Apr 24
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D−
The median household income in Oakridge is lower than in most of Oregon or the rest of the country
The average commute for its 947 working residents takes 45.3 minutes, against 23 across Oregon. Jobs based here grew from 464 in 2013 to 776.
Since 2013, Oakridge has added 312 jobs, to 776 in 2023. About one in 4 of Oakridge’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Eugene (18%), Springfield (9%) and Portland (5%).
24%work in town
Where working residents work
In Oakridge24%
Eugene18%
Springfield9%
Portland5%
Salem3%
38 mi
median commute distance
776
jobs based in Oakridge
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 83% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SafetyB
Oakridge is safer than 57% of U.S. towns, by crime per resident
At 15.6 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports less crime than 86% of Oregon’s graded towns. Violent crime is rare: 3 reported in 2025, 1 per 1,000 residents.
57%of U.S. towns report more crimeBSafety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Oakridge1
Oregon3.2
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Oakridge8.3
Oregon21.8
U.S.15.5
57th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
86th
percentile among OR towns
3
violent crimes reported in 2025
26
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Oakridge
19pages on Oakridge
The big questions
SchoolsD−Behind 96% of OR districts · 3 schoolsSafetyB1 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthDBetter than OR on 2 of 26 CDC measuresCost of livingC$282K typical home · down 0.4% in a yearWork & commuteD−$40K median household income · 776 jobs hereNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 90% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Oakridge; the nearest are
Lane Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Eugene33.6 mi$6,202 in-state tuitionUniversity of OregonUniversity or college · Public · Eugene36.8 mi$16,137 in-state tuitionUmpqua Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Roseburg53.7 mi$6,104 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Oakridge residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Oregon.
About Oakridge
City in Oregon, United States
Oakridge is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. The population was 3,206 as of the 2020 census. It is located east of Westfir on Oregon Route 58, about 40 miles (64 km) east of Eugene and 150 miles (240 km) southeast of Portland. Surrounded by the Willamette National Forest and the Cascade Range, Oakridge is popular with outdoor enthusiasts for its hiking, mountain biking, wildflowers, fly fishing, birding, watersports, and the nearby Willamette Pass Resort. The city was originally a community called "Hazeldell", and its post office was established on July 26, 1888. When a station on the Southern Pacific Railroad opened in May 1912, it was named "Oak Ridge" by a railroad executive…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1912
- Area
- 2.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,247 ft
- ZIP code
- 97463
- Area code
- 458, 541
Questions about Oakridge
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Oakridge, OR a good place to live?
Oakridge grades D− overall, better than 3% of U.S. towns and #133 of 142 in Oregon. It grades D for health, B for safety and D− for schools. Jobs & income is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Oakridge, OR expensive?
That is 3.9 years of the area's median household income ($71,544 across the Eugene-Springfield, OR metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.