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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Premium market, smart picks: while Oregon trends above the national average, the gap between the most and least expensive cities here is wider than you'd think. And for the typical household, gresham at index 107 is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving Oregon.
Premium market, smart picks: while Oregon trends above the national average, the gap between the most and least expensive cities here is wider than you'd think. And for the typical household, gresham at index 107 is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving Oregon.
What does daily life actually cost in Gresham? Start with the 26% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. On the category level, Utilities (index 98) is where the real savings show up, while Housing (index 117) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $73,608 — whether that matters depends on your situation — and homes at $463,410 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
If you're ready to act on this, three things to do next: 1) Click into the city pages for the top 3 and check rent trends — direction matters more than the snapshot. 2) Run your income through the salary calculator for a personalized cost comparison. 3) Compare your top two picks head-to-head on our comparison page. The data is here; the decision is yours.
#1 Ranked: Gresham — cost index 107, rent $1,594/mo, income $73,608
5 of 5 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
110,685 residents · Oregon
Dive into Gresham's numbers: cost index 107 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — (5 points below national average), rent $1,594/month, income $73,608, and a home price of $463,410. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Utilities is the cheapest category at 98, while Housing runs 117. With 110,685 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
177,432 residents · Oregon
Here's Salem by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 105. Rent: $1,600/month — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — . Income: $71,900/year. Home price: $432,341. Population: 177,432. The strongest category is Utilities at 97; the most expensive is Housing at 113. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $3,540 per year vs. the national median. The practical impact: more room for childcare, savings, or just breathing room.
630,498 residents · Oregon
Here's Portland by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 111. Rent: $1,710/month. Income: $88,792/year. Home price: $524,251. Population: 630,498. The strongest category is Utilities at 102; the most expensive is Housing at 128. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $2,220 per year vs. the national median. This is one of those rare cities where the math works from every angle.
107,730 residents · Oregon
A closer look at Hillsboro: the cost index of 114 — we had to double-check this one — breaks down to a Utilities index of 104 (strongest category) and a Housing index of 134 (weakest). Median rent is $1,869/month — 1% below the national median — while household income sits at $103,207, meaning locals spend about 22% of income on rent. That's a healthy margin by any standard (that's pre-tax, of course). Worth a deeper look.
177,899 residents · Oregon
Eugene earns its position at #5 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 113 cost index sits 1 points above the national baseline, and the $63,836 median income means purchasing power here is partially offset by higher costs. Homes list at $467,032 — $338 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Utilities leads the way at 104, while Housing trails at 133.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Gresham | 9.9% | 0% | 0.87% | $65,397 |
2Salem | 9.9% | 0% | 0.87% | $65,397 |
3Portland | 9.9% | 0% | 0.87% | $65,397 |
4Hillsboro | 9.9% | 0% | 0.87% | $65,397 |
5Eugene | 9.9% | 0% | 0.87% | $65,397 |
We calculate what percentage of a $100K gross salary goes to median rent. Cities where rent consumes less of your paycheck rank higher. We also factor in estimated take-home pay after federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Gresham ranks #1 in Oregon for this analysis with a cost index of 107 and median income of $73,608.
Yes. On a $100K salary in Gresham, rent would consume about 19% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Gresham (ranked #1) has a cost index of 107 and rent of $1,594/mo, while Eugene (ranked #5) has a cost index of 113 and rent of $1,988/mo — a 6-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Gresham is $1,594/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $301 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 9.9% state income tax, estimated take-home on $100K in Gresham is approximately $65,397/year ($5,450/month). After median rent of $1,594/month, you'd have roughly $46,269/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Gresham is $463,410, which is 6.3× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. The national median home price is $467,370.
Oregon has a 9.9% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 0%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.87%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.