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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Look, the 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. And in most cases, 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,…
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.
Look, the 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. And in most cases, 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.
5 of 5 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K. 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. If you're a planner, this number should anchor your spreadsheet.
A closer look at Gresham: the cost index of 107 breaks down to a Utilities index of 98 (strongest category) and a Housing index of 117 (weakest). Median rent is $1,594/month — 16% below the national median — while household income sits at $73,608, meaning locals spend about 26% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room.
On a $150K salary, the key number is $3,750/month — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Gresham ($1,594/mo, 13%), Salem ($1,600/mo, 13%), Portland ($1,710/mo, 14%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $94,633 to $94,633/year across these top picks.
Surprising? Maybe. But the data's clear.
And here's what ties it all together: Oregon — Portland premium contrasting with inland bargains. And broadly, the 5 cities we track here average a cost index of 110 and median income of $80,269. It lands right near the national baseline, which makes the differences between individual cities all the more important. The typical rent runs $1,752/month, which is $143 less than the national median. An outlier in the best sense.
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.
#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
110,685 residents · Oregon
Look, Gresham earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. 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 (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
177,432 residents · Oregon
Why Salem ranks #2: the numbers tell a clear story. And in most cases, at 105 on the cost index, residents save roughly 7% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,600/month while the median household pulls in $71,900/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 97, though Housing (113) lags behind. Home prices average $432,341 — $35,029 below the national median.
630,498 residents · Oregon
Dive into Portland's numbers: cost index 111 (1 points below national average), rent $1,710/month, income $88,792, and a home price of $524,251. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Utilities is the cheapest category at 102, while Housing runs 128. As a major city with 630,498 residents, amenities and job markets are robust (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
107,730 residents · Oregon
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 (we double-checked this one). Hard to argue with that.
177,899 residents · Oregon
The #5 spot goes to Eugene, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,988/month — costing renters $1,116 more per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 104, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 133. The 37% rent-to-income ratio is a pressure point — for median earners, housing takes more than recommended.
| 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 |
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.