Loading
Assembling your view…
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $150K salary, 5 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 5 cities in Oregon using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Gresham…
#1 Ranked: Gresham — cost index 107, rent $1,594/mo, income $73,608
5 of 5 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K
5 of 5 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Gresham | 9.9% | 0% | 0.87% | $94,633 |
2Salem | 9.9% | 0% | 0.87% | $94,633 |
3Portland | 9.9% | 0% | 0.87% | $94,633 |
4Hillsboro | 9.9% | 0% | 0.87% | $94,633 |
5Eugene | 9.9% | 0% | 0.87% | $94,633 |
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $150K salary, 5 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 5 cities in Oregon using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Gresham comes out on top — here's the full ranking and analysis.
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 and homes at $463,410 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
It's worth mentioning — though it's outside our data model — that cities with these economics tend to attract remote workers, which can push prices up over time.
Bottom line: Gresham leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $150K salary, 5 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
The race is tight: Gresham, Salem, Portland, Hillsboro, Eugene are all within 6 points of each other. At this level, differences in rent, taxes, or a single category can sway the decision.
110,685 residents · Oregon
Gresham earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. Take it or leave it — the data is what it is. The 107 cost index sits 5 points below the national baseline, and the $73,608 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $463,410 — $3,960 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Utilities leads the way at 98, while Housing trails at 117.
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 — for better or worse — . 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
So, Portland. Cost index of 111, rent at $1,710/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $88,792, which is above average. That tracks. That's not nothing.
107,730 residents · Oregon
Look, Why Hillsboro ranks #4: the numbers tell a clear story. At 114 on the cost index, residents spend roughly 2% more than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,869/month while the median household pulls in $103,207/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 104, though Housing (134) lags behind. Home prices average $516,726 — $49,356 above the national median.
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.
Gresham ranks #1 in Oregon for this analysis with a cost index of 107 and median income of $73,608.
Yes. On a $150K salary in Gresham, rent would consume about 13% 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 $150K in Gresham is approximately $94,633/year ($7,886/month). After median rent of $1,594/month, you'd have roughly $75,505/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.