117 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2002.
- 1909Pacific City is settled
Each edition grades its towns against each other only.

A town of 1,303, settled in 1909.
The best of Pacific City’s subject grades is an A− for the outdoors; the weakest is a D− for hazard risk. 38% of residents are 65 or older in Pacific City, where Oregon’s towns sit at 18% and U.S. towns at 18%. Only 12 of Oregon’s 228 towns score lower on hazard risk. The typical home is worth about $466K, 6.7 years of the county’s $69K median household income. 15% of the land in Pacific City is conserved, against 4.4% in Oregon’s towns and 4.3% across U.S. towns. The biggest park or preserve is Siuslaw National Forest, at 201 acres. Pacific City has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Pacific City beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Oregon), ordered by how far Pacific City is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2002.
Pacific City is unincorporated, so Tillamook County and regional agencies provide most services.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Oct 2, 2026.
Ordered by what stands out in Pacific City.
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 91% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
The median age in Pacific City is 60.4 years. People 65 and older are 38% of residents (19% statewide); children under 18 are 11% of residents (20% statewide). 28% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 37% across Oregon.
| Pacific City | Oregon towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 60.4 years | 39.4 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 28% | 27% | 29% |
48% women, 52% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±6.6 points. Across Oregon, 50.1% of residents are women.
| Pacific City | OR | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 2.5% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.6% | 9.6% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.6% | 8.5% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 7.5% | 14% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 12.5% | 14.1% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 2.3% | 12.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 20.4% | 12.2% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 25.1% | 11.5% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 12.4% | 7.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 0% | 8.2% | 10.4% |
| High school | 28.3% | 22.4% | 26% |
| Some college | 33.7% | 23.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 10.5% | 9.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 11.4% | 22.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 16.1% | 14.1% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,300, single groups can be off by several points
Pacific City has warm winters and cool summers, with plenty of rain. Pacific City’s July high is 66°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area | 2.7 mi | 139 |
| 2. Siuslaw National Forest | — | 201 |
| 3. Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge | — | 76 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Most working residents leave Pacific City for work: only 12% work in town. 17% of residents live below the poverty line in Pacific City. Of the 143 Oregon towns we compare, none has a lower average trip to work than Pacific City.
| Pacific City | Oregon towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 11 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 17% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 12% | 9.8% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Pacific City beats the Oregon average on 3 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 9. 40% of Pacific City adults have high blood pressure.
| Pacific City | Oregon towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 33% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 32% | 36% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 15% | 14% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 15% | 16% |
| What stands out | Pacific City | OR |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 78.1% | 71.4% |
| More adults getting a yearly checkup | 77.2% | 72.6% |
| More adults with COPD | 10% | 6.8% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
None within 15 miles of Pacific City; the nearest are
About 1 of every 100 Pacific City residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Oregon.
Unincorporated community in the state of Oregon, United States
Pacific City is a census-designated place (CDP) and unincorporated community in Tillamook County, Oregon, United States. The population was 1,109 at the 2020 census. Pacific City is home to the Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D.