Safety is likely the most pressing factor when considering a move, especially for young families and retirees. With that in mind, we looked into the safest and most peaceful places to live in Oregon, and identified the top 10, based on statistics. Keep in mind: this list is based on just one set of criteria, from Safewise, so if your favorite town didn’t make the list, don’t fret! You can view Safewise’s full list of the top 20 safest towns in Oregon here.

1. West Linn
West Linn, OR, USA
"Old Town Willamette" by Ulmanor at en.wikipedia. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Situated between the Willamette and Tualatin rivers in Clackamas County, West Linn is a delightful town that consistently ranks as one of the safest and most affordable places to live in Oregon. With great schools, a low unemployment rate, and stunning scenery, West Linn is also rated as one of the happiest cities in Oregon.
2. Sherwood
Sherwood, OR, USA
"Or sherwood dt" by Hrystiv - Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Located in lovely Washington County, Sherwood is Safewise's second safest city in Oregon. Living in Sherwood offers residents a low-key suburban lifestyle, with Portland's big-city amenities mere miles away. The public schools in Sherwood are highly rated, too.
3. Lake Oswego
Lake Oswego, OR, USA
"Lakewood Bay Oswego Lake" by Esprqii - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Despite being on the larger size in terms of population (roughly 40,000), Lake Oswego's violent crime rates are just 0.6% per 1,000 residents.
4. Monmouth
Monmouth, OR, USA
City of Monmouth, Oregon - Government/Facebook
Located just 20 minutes from Salem, Monmouth is a beautiful little town of around 10,000 residents. While the city has relatively high property crime numbers, Monmouth earned its number four spot on Safewise's list for its low violent crime rates.
5. Newberg-Dundee
Newberg Dundee Bypass, Dundee, OR, USA
Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
An idyllic suburban setting in Willamette Valley's wine country, Newberg-Dundee is actually two towns with a combined population of just over 27,000. The cities fall under the same police jurisdiction, and in recent years, violent crime rates for Newberg-Dundee (which were well below national average to begin with) have been on a steady downtrend.

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6. Canby
Canby, OR 97013, USA
"Canby wait park gazebo" by PlanesTranesNCars (talk) - Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
This quaint, smaller city has incredibly low rates of violent and property crimes. Located roughly between Portland and Salem, Canby is a quaint little town that's also home to the annual Clackamas County Fair.
7. Keizer
Keizer, OR, USA
City Of Keizer/Facebook
Keizer is a medium-sized city located in Willamette Valley. It's experiencing a sea change in both violent and property crime rates, down 0.6% and 6.2%, respectively, in the last year. The town is an all-around lovely place to live, too.
8. Independence
Independence, OR, USA
City of Independence/Facebook
The city of Independence is the third largest urban area in Polk County, Oregon. In addition to being a safe place to live for its size, Independence offers residents a lot in terms of community activities, arts programs, and outdoor recreation.
9. Bend
Bend, OR, USA
Bend Park & Recreation District/Facebook
With a population of over 100,000, Bend is one of the largest cities to make Safewise's 2021 list. While property crime rates are higher than average here, violent crime rates in Bend are well below national average, and on a steady downtrend. Bend is a beautiful place to live, offering those seeking big-city amenities a lower cost of living than Portland, with equally amazing outdoor recreation.
10. Central Point
Central Point, OR, USA
City of Central Point (City Hall)/Facebook
Central Point is a town of about 18,750 located in Jackson County, Oregon. Known for its good schools and vibrant downtown, Central Point rose five spots on Safewise's list from 2020 to 2021, due to a steady declines in both violent and property crime rates.

So there you have it. We’re not making this up, these really are the top 10 safest and most peaceful places to live in Oregon. Did your hometown rank on the list? What do you consider when you’re looking for a new place to live? Tell us in the comments below!

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most peaceful places to live in Oregon

Sarah | October 03, 2021

Is Oregon a dangerous place to live?

We happen to think that Oregon is the very best place to live. It’s the most beautiful state in the nation, with the best people. We also feel pretty safe here in The Beaver State, and according to the FBI’s Report of Crime Statistics for 2019 (the latest available data), our state ranks 32nd in the nation for violent crime. It comes as no surprise that Oregon’s larger cities are considered to be more dangerous than their small town brethren, but there are some odd anomalies that defy the stats (often in a good way, as with Beaverton — it’s one of Oregon’s larger towns, but its crime rates are quite low!). Here is a list of the 10 most dangerous places in Oregon to live in, according to the most recent data from the website RoadSnacks.com.

What's the best place to live in Oregon?

While we happen to think all of Oregon's big cities and small towns are amazing, West Linn is a place that consistently ranks as one of the safest and subjectively "best" places to live in the state. West Linn is located in Clackamas County, just south of Portland, and has a population of around 26,000 residents, making it not too big, but not too small. West Linn is the only city in Oregon to make Neighborhood Scout’s list of 100 safest cities; this site uses a variety of criteria to rank cities across the country. Money Magazine and Family Circle Magazine have also sung West Linn's praises, and you can read all about this delightful place in this article.

What are some of the best small towns to live in Oregon?

Big cities like Portland and Salem tend to take up the bulk of attention in Oregon. But really, it’s the small towns that dot the Beaver State that really are the heart of this place. Most of us, even if we grew up in a major metropolis, have roots in smaller communities, where perhaps our grandparents taught us good, old-fashioned values, where everyone knew each other, and where we developed our sense of community. Here are 10 of the most beautiful and charming small towns in Oregon. Did your favorite small town in Oregon make the list?

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