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Clackamas County

OR · Pop. 422,308 · Mixed County

11/100Homestead Score

Clackamas County is a mixed rural-suburban county in Oregon, spanning 1,871 square miles with 422,308 residents at a density of 225.7 people per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, haylage, grasses. A median home price of $578,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.87% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 8a with a 199-day growing season, average summer highs of 75.3°F and average winter lows of 31.6°F. Annual rainfall averages 70.5 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center is 23.4 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 93% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 0.87%
Growing Season: 199 days
Broadband: 93%
Density: 225.7/sq mi

Pros

  • A long 199-day growing season in USDA zone 8a supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
  • A low effective property tax rate of 0.87% holds annual carrying costs down.
  • Broadband reaches 93% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Annual rainfall of 70.5 inches supports rain-fed gardens and pasture in most years.
  • A low poverty rate of 7.5% signals a relatively stable local economy.

Cons

  • Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
  • Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
  • A median home price of $578,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.
  • The nearest hospital, Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center, is 23.4 miles away, a real consideration for medical needs.
  • At 225.7 people per square mile, this is a developed area where finding truly rural acreage is harder and pricier.

At a glance

Clackamas County, OR is a challenging place to homestead on the data.

Homestead score
11/100
Median home price
$578k
Property tax
0.87%
Growing season
199 days (zone 8a)
Annual rainfall
70.5"
Broadband
93%
Nearest hospital
Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center, 23.4 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.87%
Median Household Income$100,360
Poverty Rate7.5%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$578K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone8a
Growing Season199 days
Annual Rainfall70.5 inches
Avg Summer High75.3°F
Avg Winter Low31.6°F
Top CropsHay, Haylage, Grasses

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought2/10
Wildfire9/10
Tornado4/10
Flood10/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalProvidence Willamette Falls Medical Center (23.4 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities4

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage93%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate4.9%
Ag EconomyModerate

Homesteading in Clackamas County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Clackamas County?
Clackamas County is in USDA hardiness zone 8a with a 199-day growing season, average summer highs of 75.3°F, and average winter lows of 31.6°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, grasses.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $578,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.87%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 93% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center is 23.4 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 4 hospitals in the county.

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Data sources

Verified

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.