RANK #840 / 1001 NAT · #9 / 18 OR · POP 50,964
1YR FORECAST: -0.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +22%
Lincoln County, Oregon, distinguishes itself with its dramatic Pacific coastline and notable towns like Newport, home to the Oregon Coast Aquarium and Hatfield Marine Science Center, and Depoe Bay, known as the "whale watching capital of the world." Situated on the central Oregon Coast, roughly 88 miles from Portland and 58 miles from Salem, the county offers a temperate climate and a community feel that blends coastal relaxation with access to outdoor recreation. Residents and visitors enjoy miles of sandy beaches, rocky cliffs, and opportunities for surfing, fishing, crabbing, and hiking in areas like the Siuslaw National Forest and numerous state parks. The county's natural amenities, including its diverse landscapes and water access, are highly rated.
Life in Lincoln County is shaped by its coastal environment and a growing retiree population. While traditional industries like timber and fishing have seen a decline, tourism remains a major employer, alongside trade, services, and an emerging "Blue Economy" focused on marine science and technology. The Lincoln County School District serves approximately 5,200 students across 11 regular and 4 charter schools, with a student-teacher ratio of 16:1. Commute options within the county include local bus services and Dial-A-Ride in Newport and Lincoln City, with regional connections to cities like Corvallis, Albany, and Salem via the Coast to Valley Express.
Lincoln County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +0.2% YoY, population +0.7%, wages +4.4%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 21.3x — 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 →
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Lincoln County scores just 15/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #840 of 1001 counties. Job growth at -0.4% and median household income of $63,165 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Lincoln County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $410,800 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.15 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,201/month on average.
Lincoln County's population is growing — up +0.7% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of -0.4%). Home values shifted +0.2% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.35% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Lincoln County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.