What it's like to live in Molalla
Molalla is a small city in Oregon with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, air quality that stays clean most of the year, 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. Molalla deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, and college degree attainment below the national average.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Clean air
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average commute times
- Low college degree attainment
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Molalla compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Molalla
Based on Molalla's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,308
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $66,160 a year
- 40% of Molalla renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$89,420
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $44,710
- Homes cost 5.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 17% above US
$1,654/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,654 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $447,100. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $447,100 · 40% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.9% county unemployment
Unemployment in Clackamas County is 4.9%, 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.
Clackamas County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 40% below US
198 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 524/100k · Molalla Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
28 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 28.3 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 78°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 36°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 48% below US
19% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a working-class city, and college degree rates reflect that. Trades, manufacturing, and service industries tend to dominate the local economy, which is a strength for some fields and a real constraint for others.
Schools
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (33 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Molalla's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,654/mo) equals 22% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime.
Other places near Molalla
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