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Jacksonville,ORJacksonville, #1 on this list · Photo: Oakshade at English Wikipedia · CC BY 3.0
Oregon rankings · Outdoors

Best towns for the outdoors in Oregon

Jacksonville ranks first on outdoors among Oregon’s 142 towns of 2,500+; 59 of the 142 grade A− or better on outdoors nationally.

The Outdoors grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the share of land conserved and the trail miles per square mile. How grades work

#1

Jacksonville

Jackson County · 2,972 people
A+

Outdoors grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall C · #69 of 142 in OR

#2

Fairview

Multnomah County · 10,762 people
A+

Outdoors grade, better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #102 of 142 in OR

#3

Troutdale

Multnomah County · 15,776 people
A+

Outdoors grade, better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #83 of 142 in OR

All 142 towns

Outdoors grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank; the overall grade and state rank are beside each.

142 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.

#TownGradeOverall
1JacksonvilleJackson County · 2,972 peopleA+among the top in the U.S.·Overall C · #69 of 142
2FairviewMultnomah County · 10,762 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #102 of 142
3TroutdaleMultnomah County · 15,776 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #83 of 142
4Heceta Beachunincorporated, Lane County · 2,651 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #115 of 142
5SeasideClatsop County · 7,092 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #141 of 142
6West LinnClackamas County · 26,567 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #6 of 142
7Rockcreekunincorporated, Washington County · 9,223 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #10 of 142
8AshlandJackson County · 20,889 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #45 of 142
9WarrentonClatsop County · 6,312 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #117 of 142
10PrinevilleCrook County · 11,994 peopleAbetter than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #57 of 142
11Lake OswegoClackamas County · 39,722 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #4 of 142
12SandyClackamas County · 13,323 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #36 of 142
13Bethanyunincorporated, Washington County · 33,106 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #1 of 142
14NewportLincoln County · 10,383 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #129 of 142
15PortlandMultnomah County · 635,109 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #61 of 142
16Eagle PointJackson County · 9,861 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #90 of 142
17CanbyClackamas County · 18,004 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #34 of 142
18BeavertonWashington County · 97,842 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #38 of 142
19AstoriaClatsop County · 9,838 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #92 of 142
20EugeneLane County · 178,618 peopleAbetter than 91% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #89 of 142
21Oregon CityClackamas County · 38,175 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #44 of 142
22Hood RiverHood River County · 8,315 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #43 of 142
23SherwoodWashington County · 20,535 peopleAbetter than 90% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #13 of 142
24BandonCoos County · 3,297 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #104 of 142
25Cottage GroveLane County · 10,851 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #95 of 142
26WilsonvilleClackamas County · 27,833 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #24 of 142
27GladstoneClackamas County · 11,865 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #63 of 142
28GreshamMultnomah County · 111,513 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #118 of 142
29RedmondDeschutes County · 38,547 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #53 of 142
30TigardWashington County · 57,929 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #47 of 142
31HillsboroWashington County · 111,126 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #56 of 142
32FlorenceLane County · 9,468 peopleAbetter than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #114 of 142
33CorvallisBenton County · 61,499 peopleAbetter than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #52 of 142
34Forest GroveWashington County · 27,252 peopleAbetter than 86% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #81 of 142
35King CityWashington County · 5,044 peopleAbetter than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #28 of 142
36Klamath FallsKlamath County · 22,111 peopleA−better than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #134 of 142
37PhoenixJackson County · 4,920 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #94 of 142
38TualatinWashington County · 28,139 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #42 of 142
39Lincoln CityLincoln County · 10,117 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #130 of 142
40TalentJackson County · 6,296 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #72 of 142
41Happy ValleyClackamas County · 28,916 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #26 of 142
42MillersburgLinn County · 3,583 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #60 of 142
43OakridgeLane County · 3,127 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #133 of 142
44StaytonMarion County · 8,488 peopleA−better than 83% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #74 of 142
45La PineDeschutes County · 2,563 peopleA−better than 83% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #51 of 142
46Oak Hillsunincorporated, Washington County · 11,131 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #2 of 142
47West Haven-Sylvanunincorporated, Multnomah County · 7,674 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #5 of 142
48CoquilleCoos County · 3,943 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #127 of 142
49SistersDeschutes County · 2,934 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #17 of 142
50St. HelensColumbia County · 14,450 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #84 of 142
51Garden Home-Whitfordunincorporated, Washington County · 6,979 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #11 of 142
52SalemMarion County · 181,779 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #116 of 142
53MolallaClackamas County · 10,104 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #46 of 142
54BendDeschutes County · 107,342 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #21 of 142
55Juniper Canyonunincorporated, Crook County · 2,666 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #31 of 142
56MilwaukieClackamas County · 22,114 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #39 of 142
57Alohaunincorporated, Washington County · 52,389 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #22 of 142
58Wood VillageMultnomah County · 4,706 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #85 of 142
59McMinnvilleYamhill County · 34,647 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #55 of 142
60Sweet HomeLinn County · 10,308 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #135 of 142
61CreswellLane County · 5,566 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #12 of 142
62Mount Hood Villagesunincorporated, Clackamas County · 4,703 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #25 of 142
63Coos BayCoos County · 15,686 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #137 of 142
64Crooked River Ranchunincorporated, Deschutes County · 5,160 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #88 of 142
65CorneliusWashington County · 15,520 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #70 of 142
66Central PointJackson County · 19,139 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #68 of 142
67Raleigh Hillsunincorporated, Washington County · 6,744 peopleB+better than 69% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #8 of 142
68NewbergYamhill County · 26,896 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #18 of 142
69LebanonLinn County · 20,267 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #78 of 142
70SpringfieldLane County · 61,431 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #123 of 142
71PhilomathBenton County · 5,699 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #23 of 142
72BoardmanMorrow County · 4,495 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #62 of 142
73MedfordJackson County · 86,494 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #91 of 142
74GervaisMarion County · 2,572 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #75 of 142
75NyssaMalheur County · 3,257 peopleB+better than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #59 of 142
76VenetaLane County · 5,138 peopleBbetter than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #100 of 142
77DundeeYamhill County · 3,193 peopleBbetter than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #29 of 142
78Cedar Millunincorporated, Multnomah County · 19,471 peopleBbetter than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #7 of 142
79EstacadaClackamas County · 5,814 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #40 of 142
80Junction CityLane County · 7,224 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #73 of 142
81The DallesWasco County · 15,745 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #136 of 142
82Metzgerunincorporated, Washington County · 3,714 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #20 of 142
83BrookingsCurry County · 6,431 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #119 of 142
84AlbanyLinn County · 56,894 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #82 of 142
85WoodburnMarion County · 31,948 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #140 of 142
86HarrisburgLinn County · 3,765 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #112 of 142
87DallasPolk County · 17,890 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #96 of 142
88HubbardMarion County · 3,399 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #49 of 142
89MadrasJefferson County · 7,829 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #108 of 142
90RoseburgDouglas County · 23,693 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #138 of 142
91AumsvilleMarion County · 4,241 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #48 of 142
92Oak Groveunincorporated, Clackamas County · 16,796 peopleBbetter than 55% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #37 of 142
93UmatillaUmatilla County · 8,220 peopleB−better than 55% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #103 of 142
94Eagle Crestunincorporated, Deschutes County · 2,677 peopleB−better than 55% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #67 of 142
95ToledoLincoln County · 3,473 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #121 of 142
96SilvertonMarion County · 10,450 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #41 of 142
97SublimityMarion County · 2,882 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #65 of 142
98Mount AngelMarion County · 3,454 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #124 of 142
99Marlene Villageunincorporated, Washington County · 5,439 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #14 of 142
100White Cityunincorporated, Jackson County · 10,750 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #107 of 142
101TillamookTillamook County · 5,162 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #111 of 142
102Jennings Lodgeunincorporated, Clackamas County · 7,971 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #50 of 142
103Cedar Hillsunincorporated, Washington County · 8,388 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #3 of 142
104BurnsHarney County · 2,692 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #120 of 142
105KeizerMarion County · 39,140 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #87 of 142
106OntarioMalheur County · 11,957 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #80 of 142
107Oatfieldunincorporated, Clackamas County · 13,294 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #33 of 142
108HermistonUmatilla County · 19,906 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #101 of 142
109PendletonUmatilla County · 16,989 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #99 of 142
110North PlainsWashington County · 3,414 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #27 of 142
111ReedsportDouglas County · 4,271 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #106 of 142
112Grants PassJosephine County · 39,239 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #126 of 142
113ScappooseColumbia County · 8,257 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #30 of 142
114DaytonYamhill County · 2,647 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #86 of 142
115Bull Mountainunincorporated, Washington County · 9,865 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #15 of 142
116Damascusunincorporated, Clackamas County · 11,437 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #64 of 142
117North BendCoos County · 9,966 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #122 of 142
118Myrtle CreekDouglas County · 3,481 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #131 of 142
119MonmouthPolk County · 11,543 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #76 of 142
120Milton-FreewaterUmatilla County · 7,029 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #105 of 142
121Four Cornersunincorporated, Marion County · 16,275 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #109 of 142
122WinstonDouglas County · 5,680 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #139 of 142
123West Slopeunincorporated, Washington County · 6,582 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #9 of 142
124LafayetteYamhill County · 4,705 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #16 of 142
125Santa Claraunincorporated, Lane County · 10,551 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #35 of 142
126Deschutes River Woodsunincorporated, Deschutes County · 5,797 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #19 of 142
127La GrandeUnion County · 12,985 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #79 of 142
128River Roadunincorporated, Lane County · 8,862 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #71 of 142
129Baker CityBaker County · 10,071 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #54 of 142
130IndependencePolk County · 10,195 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #97 of 142
131Shady CoveJackson County · 3,039 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #132 of 142
132Altamontunincorporated, Klamath County · 19,927 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #98 of 142
133Three Riversunincorporated, Deschutes County · 3,995 peopleCbetter than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #58 of 142
134SutherlinDouglas County · 8,635 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #128 of 142
135JeffersonMarion County · 3,299 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #110 of 142
136SheridanYamhill County · 6,243 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #77 of 142
137Roseburg Northunincorporated, Douglas County · 4,601 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #66 of 142
138Hayesvilleunincorporated, Marion County · 21,246 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #125 of 142
139Beavercreekunincorporated, Clackamas County · 4,894 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #32 of 142
140Redwoodunincorporated, Josephine County · 3,721 peopleDbetter than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #113 of 142
141Greenunincorporated, Douglas County · 7,541 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #93 of 142
142Tri-Cityunincorporated, Douglas County · 4,234 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #142 of 142
Quick answers

Questions people ask

Which Oregon town is best for the outdoors?

Jacksonville (Jackson County) ranks first on outdoors among 142 towns, with an A+; Fairview and Troutdale follow.

How are these towns ranked?

The Outdoors grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the share of land conserved and the trail miles per square mile. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a outdoors grade (142 in Oregon). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Oregon page.

Go deeper

More Oregon lists

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

All Oregon rankings →
Other states

Best towns for the outdoors in other states