What it's like to live in Tigard
Tigard is a smaller city in Oregon with household incomes running above the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Tigard deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- High rent burden for renters
How Tigard compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Tigard
Based on Tigard's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,564
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $71,280 a year
- 50% of Tigard renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$122,100
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $61,050
- Homes cost 5.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 26% above US
$1,782/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,782 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices are steep, with a median around $610,500. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $610,500 · 50% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 14% above US
4.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.9%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 22% below US
256 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 3523/100k · Tigard Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 12% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.9 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 26% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 79°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 40°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 42% above US
51% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
12 public schools inside the boundary
There are 12 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. 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 (15 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Tigard's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,782/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (26% of workers here already work from home) and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Tigard
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