RANK #890 / 1001 NAT · #13 / 18 OR · POP 108,734
1YR FORECAST: -1.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +19%
Yamhill County, Oregon, one of the state's four original counties, holds a unique place in the history of the American West. Located in the heart of the Willamette Valley, its northern boundary sits about 15 miles southwest of Portland. This positioning allows for commutes to nearby cities like Portland, Salem, Hillsboro, and Tigard, with Yamhill County Transit offering bus and reserved ride services. The county is known for its scenic beauty, including rolling hillsides, vineyards, and the Willamette River forming its eastern border. Outdoor recreation opportunities include hiking at Miller Woods, which features diverse ecosystems and educational trails, and various activities in its 17 county parks, such as picnicking, boating, bird watching, and fishing. Life in Yamhill County blends smaller community living with access to urban centers. The county's economy is significantly shaped by agriculture, particularly its wine industry, with over 80 wineries and 200 vineyards. Educational services also contribute, with institutions like George Fox University and Linfield University located within the county. Manufacturing, health care, and retail trade are other major employment sectors. The county has seen recent job growth in areas like private education, health services, professional and business services, and government.
Yamhill 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 -0.9% matches the profile's typical -0.8%.
See all 78 Western Premium Correction counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 22.4x — 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 →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
New Residential Construction
Various (e.g., Lennar, Holt Homes)
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Yamhill County scores just 10/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #890 of 1001 counties. Job growth at +1.4% and median household income of $90,063 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Yamhill County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $471,700 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.19 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,480/month on average.
Yamhill County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +0.6% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.4% clip. Home values shifted -0.9% in the past year.
In significant numbers — 5.25% of Yamhill County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.