What it's like to live in Astoria
Astoria is a small city in Oregon with rent below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Astoria deals with home prices well above the national average, household incomes below the national average, a population that has been shrinking, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Short commutes
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- High home prices
- Below-average household incomes
- Shrinking population
- High rent burden for renters
- Very rainy — 70" of rain per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Astoria compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Astoria
Based on Astoria's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,478
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $49,560 a year
- 52% of Astoria renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$88,960
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $44,480
- Homes cost 6.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 12% below US
$1,239/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,239 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices run above average, with a median around $444,800. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $444,800 · 52% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
5.1% county unemployment
Unemployment in Clatsop County is 5.1%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Clatsop County (county-wide)
SafetyNear US average
315 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 1505/100k · Astoria Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 16% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.8 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 22% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 67°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 38°F. It's a wet climate overall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 13% below US
31% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 31% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Lewis and Clark National Historical Park (8 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Astoria's strongest points are rent below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and household incomes below the national average. A year of median rent ($1,239/mo) equals 22% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, remote workers (22% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Astoria
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