Coos Bay
RANK #888 / 996 NAT · #17 / 18 OR · POP 64,908
1YR FORECAST: +0.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +12%
Coos County, Oregon, is distinguished by the Coos Bay estuary, the largest estuary entirely within Oregon, offering extensive opportunities for crabbing and clamming. The county seat, Coquille, is one of several notable towns, including Coos Bay and North Bend, which together form the largest urban center on the Oregon coast. Located on the southern Oregon coast, Coos County is linked to Interstate 5 by state highways, with an average commute time of 18.3 minutes for residents. The community embraces its natural surroundings, boasting numerous county and state parks, hiking trails like those in Golden and Silver Falls State Natural Area, and access to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.
Life in Coos County is shaped by its coastal environment and a community that includes retirees and families. Public transportation, provided by Coos County Area Transit (CCAT), serves towns like Bandon, Coquille, Coos Bay, North Bend, Myrtle Point, and Powers. Local public schools, such as Hillcrest Elementary and North Bend Senior High, serve the area's students. The economy, historically reliant on timber, has diversified, with forest products, tourism, fishing, and agriculture now playing significant roles. Recent economic developments include investments in port infrastructure and energy sectors, aiming to enhance shipping capabilities and create jobs.
Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Prices declining
Below national median (13x)
Housing looks overvalued at 7.1x — 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.
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 →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Offshore Wind Energy Development (Coos Bay WEA)
Multiple (Avangrid Renewables, BlueFloat Energy, Ocean Winds, Mainstream Renewable Power qualified to bid)
|
$3,100M | Proposed |
|
Pacific Coast Intermodal Port Terminal Planning Project & Rail Line Upgrades
Oregon International Port of Coos Bay
|
$100M | Under Construction |
|
Coos County Pipeline Acquisition and Repairs
NW Natural
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Coos County scores just 10/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #888 of 996 counties. Job growth at -0.6% and median household income of $57,563 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Coos County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $276,300 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.21 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $952/month on average.
Population and employment in Coos County are both close to flat — population +0.5% YoY and jobs -0.6%. Home values shifted -2.2% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.06% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Coos County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.