RANK #502 / 1001 NAT · #9 / 18 OR · POP 801,477
1YR FORECAST: -0.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +18%
Multnomah County, Oregon, is perhaps best known for Multnomah Falls, a striking 620-foot waterfall in the Columbia River Gorge that draws over two million visitors annually. Located in northwestern Oregon, the county encompasses Portland, the state's largest city, and extends eastward along the Columbia River. Commuting within the county is facilitated by TriMet's extensive bus and MAX light rail system, which connects Portland City Center with various communities and employment hubs. The region boasts abundant outdoor recreation, including hiking and biking trails in Forest Park and Mount Tabor, and water activities on the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. The county's natural amenities, including lush forests and dramatic waterfalls, contribute to its appeal.
Life in Multnomah County offers a mix of urban and suburban experiences, with communities like Gresham providing a suburban feel with access to urban amenities. Public schools in the county are generally above average. While the county has faced recent challenges with job losses in some sectors, particularly between 2019 and 2024, there is a focus on workforce training and social programs to support economic development. The economy is diversifying, with ongoing activity in shipping and export due to its Columbia River location, and growth in manufacturing, especially in sports apparel and electronics.
Multnomah County is one of 78 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +0.0% runs above the profile's typical -0.8%.
See all 78 Western Premium Correction counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Speculative pricing
Housing looks overvalued at 10.7x — 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: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Multnomah County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Fairview Energy Project (Battery Storage)
NextEra Energy Resources
|
$250M | Planned |
|
Seaside Battery Energy Storage System
Portland General Electric (PGE)
|
$200M | Completed |
|
Sundial (Troutdale) Battery Energy Storage System
NextEra Energy Resources (operated for PGE)
|
$200M | Completed |
|
Earthquake-Ready Burnside Bridge Project
Multnomah County
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
New Construction Residential Developments (Combined)
Various
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Multnomah County scores 49/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#502). Median household income is $88,766 and job growth is running at -0.9%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Multnomah County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $552,700 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.16 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,646/month on average.
Population and employment in Multnomah County are both close to flat — population -0.3% YoY and jobs -0.9%. Home values shifted +0.0% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.81% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Multnomah County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.