There are all types when it comes to being a snob in Oregon. You’ve got your Wine Snobs, Book Snobs, and, of course, Clothes Snobs. Then there are the Technology Snobs, Car Snobs, and yes, even City Snobsas in, I’m better than you because I live in (insert snooty city here).
How can we tell which Oregon cities are the snobbiest? By measuring snobby things, that’s how.
We used Saturday Night Science to look at things like expensive homes, high incomes, and overly educated populations by city in Oregon. These are the criteria you’d argue with a friend over a foodie dinner about who’s snobbier.
After analyzing 74 of the state’s most populous areas over 5,000 people, we came up with this ranking of the ten snobbiest places in the state of Oregon.
The Oregonian in these places aren’t snobby, they just know they’re better than you.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Snobbiest Places In Oregon
Don’t freak out.
What’s the snobbiest place in Oregon? The snobbiest place in Oregon is Lake Oswego based on the data. If we had their wealth and lifestyle, we’d probably be a little snobby, too.
The most laid back? That would be Milton-Freewater.
We’re not so full of ourselves as to make this ranking up from nowhere. So here’s a look at the top ten and more on how we did it. And if you’re curious, Oregon is the 9th snobbiest in the United States.
For more Oregon reading, check out:
The 10 Snobbiest Places In Oregon For 2024
/10
% Highly Educated: 74.0%
Median Income: $127,252
Median Home Price: $880,600
More on Lake Oswego: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
% Highly Educated: 64.0%
Median Income: $134,116
Median Home Price: $759,031
More on West Linn: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
% Highly Educated: 48.0%
Median Income: $126,108
Median Home Price: $682,410
More on Happy Valley: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
% Highly Educated: 49.0%
Median Income: $109,770
Median Home Price: $628,898
More on Sherwood: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
% Highly Educated: 48.0%
Median Income: $101,354
Median Home Price: $601,645
More on Tigard: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
% Highly Educated: 46.0%
Median Income: $105,542
Median Home Price: $637,027
More on Tualatin: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
% Highly Educated: 48.0%
Median Income: $82,671
Median Home Price: $728,806
More on Bend: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
% Highly Educated: 48.0%
Median Income: $88,899
Median Home Price: $534,974
More on Beaverton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
% Highly Educated: 53.0%
Median Income: $85,876
Median Home Price: $523,622
More on Portland: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
% Highly Educated: 46.0%
Median Income: $83,210
Median Home Price: $637,996
More on Wilsonville: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How we determined the snobbiest cities in the Beaver State
Do you think wed just come up with this list willy-nilly? Not a chance – we only use Saturday Night Science around here.
We gathered up all of the places in Oregon with populations of 5,000 people or more. This left us with a total of 74 places. Then, we looked at each place in terms of these snoot-er-iffic criteria (And no, its not a word. English snob.):
- Median home price (Higher is snobbier)
- Median household income (Higher is snobbier)
- Percent of population with a college degree (Higher is snobbier)
Incomes and college education levels come from the American Community Survey. Home prices come from Zillow.
Turned out this simple criteria was much better at sniffing out the snobby places then more snobby criteria like:
- Libaries per capita (Higher is snobbier)
- Museums per capita (Higher is snobbier)
- Private schools per capita (Higher is snobbier)
From there, we ranked each of our 74 places in each category with scores from one to 74. We then averaged each places ranking into one overall score, where the lowest score went to the snobbiest place in Oregon. So lets all flip a table in honor of Lake Oswego (with our pinkies up, of course.)
Before you get upset and ruin your blowout or something drastic here, lets remember that this is all in good fun. Would we live in one of these 10 places if we had the chance? Of course, we would.
And it’s not like your real estate agent would ever point out how snobby the town you’re moving to is. We’re here to keep you grounded, even if you’re wearing a monocle.
There You Have It – Now That You’re On Your High Horse
When it comes to snobbery, these places in Oregon are heading ever upward. Residents in these communities are well educated, well paid, and appear to have all the sophisticated culture and entertainment of an Ernst Lubitsch film right at their fingertips.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
The snobbiest cities in Oregon are Lake Oswego, West Linn, Happy Valley, Sherwood, Tigard, Tualatin, Bend, Beaverton, Portland, and Wilsonville.
If you’re also curious enough, here are the most laid back places in Oregon, according to science:
- Milton-Freewater
- Umatilla
- Ontario
For more Oregon reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Oregon
- Cheapest Places To Live In Oregon
- Most Dangerous Cities In Oregon
- Richest Cities In Oregon
- Safest Places In Oregon
- Worst Places To Live In Oregon
- Most Expensive Places To Live In Oregon
Table: The Snobbiest Cities In Oregon For 2024
Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Adult Highly Educated |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lake Oswego, OR | 40,457 | $127,252 | $880,600 | 74.0% |
2 | West Linn, OR | 27,167 | $134,116 | $759,031 | 64.0% |
3 | Happy Valley, OR | 24,381 | $126,108 | $682,410 | 48.0% |
4 | Sherwood, OR | 20,286 | $109,770 | $628,898 | 49.0% |
5 | Tigard, OR | 55,161 | $101,354 | $601,645 | 48.0% |
6 | Tualatin, OR | 27,804 | $105,542 | $637,027 | 46.0% |
7 | Bend, OR | 99,442 | $82,671 | $728,806 | 48.0% |
8 | Beaverton, OR | 97,554 | $88,899 | $534,974 | 48.0% |
9 | Portland, OR | 646,101 | $85,876 | $523,622 | 53.0% |
10 | Wilsonville, OR | 25,992 | $83,210 | $637,996 | 46.0% |
11 | Hillsboro, OR | 106,612 | $98,891 | $527,280 | 42.0% |
12 | Canby, OR | 18,127 | $91,823 | $566,045 | 29.0% |
13 | Newberg, OR | 25,379 | $87,873 | $519,518 | 38.0% |
14 | Hood River, OR | 8,292 | $70,791 | $691,118 | 43.0% |
15 | Philomath, OR | 5,429 | $80,599 | $496,750 | 44.0% |
16 | Ashland, OR | 21,401 | $64,767 | $543,829 | 63.0% |
17 | Gladstone, OR | 11,996 | $88,043 | $504,640 | 26.0% |
18 | Milwaukie, OR | 21,195 | $78,676 | $502,721 | 38.0% |
19 | Forest Grove, OR | 26,160 | $77,977 | $512,087 | 33.0% |
20 | Corvallis, OR | 60,050 | $61,610 | $530,933 | 60.0% |
21 | Silverton, OR | 10,439 | $75,167 | $518,976 | 29.0% |
22 | Sandy, OR | 12,592 | $98,341 | $500,027 | 21.0% |
23 | Troutdale, OR | 16,150 | $86,307 | $469,436 | 24.0% |
24 | Astoria, OR | 10,184 | $69,463 | $480,872 | 32.0% |
25 | Scappoose, OR | 8,003 | $96,339 | $474,121 | 22.0% |
26 | Brookings, OR | 6,719 | $79,109 | $485,283 | 24.0% |
27 | Creswell, OR | 5,607 | $85,126 | $455,141 | 25.0% |
28 | Redmond, OR | 34,191 | $72,798 | $504,145 | 24.0% |
29 | Eugene, OR | 176,755 | $61,481 | $464,226 | 44.0% |
30 | Fairview, OR | 10,515 | $78,407 | $456,132 | 23.0% |
31 | Keizer, OR | 39,122 | $75,753 | $434,715 | 26.0% |
32 | Newport, OR | 10,319 | $57,511 | $480,287 | 31.0% |
33 | Mcminnville, OR | 34,432 | $65,318 | $466,521 | 26.0% |
34 | Salem, OR | 175,754 | $67,540 | $418,511 | 31.0% |
35 | Albany, OR | 56,348 | $69,777 | $413,665 | 28.0% |
36 | Eagle Point, OR | 9,735 | $83,625 | $454,585 | 17.0% |
37 | Gresham, OR | 113,525 | $69,437 | $451,470 | 23.0% |
38 | Dallas, OR | 16,945 | $67,935 | $447,818 | 24.0% |
39 | Cornelius, OR | 13,245 | $83,051 | $471,048 | 15.0% |
40 | Monmouth, OR | 11,054 | $61,282 | $446,850 | 29.0% |
41 | Warrenton, OR | 6,254 | $69,400 | $492,143 | 20.0% |
42 | Central Point, OR | 19,123 | $79,731 | $399,880 | 22.0% |
43 | Stayton, OR | 8,210 | $72,639 | $434,159 | 22.0% |
44 | Talent, OR | 6,256 | $51,215 | $418,800 | 44.0% |
45 | Molalla, OR | 10,147 | $77,442 | $478,905 | 14.0% |
46 | North Bend, OR | 10,250 | $67,841 | $360,467 | 29.0% |
47 | Medford, OR | 85,539 | $65,647 | $392,181 | 28.0% |
48 | Seaside, OR | 7,142 | $44,087 | $493,204 | 26.0% |
49 | Florence, OR | 9,384 | $57,568 | $417,088 | 25.0% |
50 | Independence, OR | 9,981 | $73,361 | $395,971 | 21.0% |
51 | St. Helens, OR | 14,015 | $77,475 | $407,724 | 15.0% |
52 | Prineville, OR | 10,915 | $63,904 | $403,041 | 19.0% |
53 | Springfield, OR | 61,740 | $60,982 | $399,498 | 21.0% |
54 | The Dalles, OR | 15,988 | $59,714 | $376,552 | 22.0% |
55 | Veneta, OR | 5,177 | $58,825 | $422,592 | 18.0% |
56 | Pendleton, OR | 17,005 | $67,931 | $282,990 | 21.0% |
57 | Cottage Grove, OR | 10,583 | $60,219 | $386,561 | 21.0% |
58 | Woodburn, OR | 26,222 | $58,916 | $403,723 | 15.0% |
59 | Tillamook, OR | 5,215 | $53,711 | $449,832 | 13.0% |
60 | Grants Pass, OR | 39,131 | $53,941 | $398,971 | 19.0% |
61 | Hermiston, OR | 19,267 | $65,502 | $330,704 | 16.0% |
62 | Roseburg, OR | 23,657 | $50,297 | $344,982 | 23.0% |
63 | Coos Bay, OR | 15,949 | $53,331 | $329,613 | 21.0% |
64 | La Grande, OR | 13,097 | $52,039 | $273,962 | 23.0% |
65 | Lebanon, OR | 18,587 | $53,246 | $377,909 | 19.0% |
66 | Madras, OR | 7,494 | $52,500 | $341,687 | 21.0% |
67 | Klamath Falls, OR | 21,806 | $46,695 | $284,251 | 23.0% |
68 | Sheridan, OR | 6,237 | $56,989 | $378,924 | 13.0% |
69 | Sweet Home, OR | 9,852 | $56,783 | $345,316 | 9.0% |
70 | Sutherlin, OR | 8,513 | $48,610 | $334,639 | 16.0% |
71 | Winston, OR | 5,618 | $51,182 | $297,819 | 15.0% |
72 | Ontario, OR | 11,610 | $39,750 | $286,357 | 17.0% |
73 | Umatilla, OR | 7,433 | $56,413 | $271,351 | 12.0% |
74 | Milton-Freewater, OR | 7,137 | $46,372 | $214,651 | 10.0% |