RANK #829 / 1001 NAT · #8 / 18 OR · POP 423,975
1YR FORECAST: -1.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +22%
Oregon City, the county seat of Clackamas County, holds the distinction of being the first incorporated city west of the Rocky Mountains, established in 1844. Located in north-central Oregon, Clackamas County is part of the Portland metropolitan area, with downtown Portland approximately 15 miles north of the community of Clackamas. The county offers a mix of urban, suburban, and rural environments, characterized by natural beauty including Mount Hood, the Mount Hood National Forest, and several rivers like the Willamette and Clackamas. Residents and visitors engage in outdoor activities such as kayaking, fishing, hiking, and exploring numerous parks and trails, including the Springwater Corridor Trail and Mount Talbert Nature Park.
Life in Clackamas County balances suburban living with access to nature. The area is home to families, with various public and private school options available, including the North Clackamas School District and Clackamas Middle College. Commute options to Portland include Interstate 205 and the MAX Green Line, along with local TriMet bus routes and free county shuttles. The economy is diverse, with employment opportunities in healthcare, education, and retail. Recent economic developments show growth in private educational and health services, and leisure and hospitality sectors, contributing to a stable community.
Clackamas County is one of 78 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of -0.3% runs above the profile's typical -0.8%.
See all 78 Western Premium Correction counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Speculative pricing
Housing looks overvalued at 20.3x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Clackamas County 5-Year Transportation Capital Improvement Program
Clackamas County
|
$220M | Planned |
|
Clackamas Heights Master Plan Redevelopment
Clackamas County Housing Authority
|
$100M | Under Construction |
|
Community Solar Portfolio (Multiple Projects)
Various (e.g., SSD Clackamas 4, LLC, Sandy River Solar, Day Hill Solar, Kaiser Creek Solar, SSD Clackamas 7, LLC)
|
$50M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Clackamas County scores just 16/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #829 of 1001 counties. median household income of $103,517 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Clackamas County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $611,000 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.17 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,758/month on average.
Population and employment in Clackamas County are both close to flat — population +0.4% YoY and jobs 0.0%. Home values shifted -0.3% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.19% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Clackamas County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.