What it's like to live in Oregon
Oregon is a small city in Wisconsin with rent below the national average, county unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, and crime rates well below the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Oregon deals with home prices well above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, cold, harsh winters, and snowy winters.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Low unemployment in the county
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
The not so good
- High home prices
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold, harsh winters
- Snowy winters — 36" per year
How Oregon compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Oregon
Based on Oregon's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,442
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $48,840 a year
- 57% of Oregon renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$83,440
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $41,720
- Homes cost 4.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 14% below US
$1,221/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,221 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices run above average, with a median around $417,200. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $417,200 · 57% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
2.6% county unemployment
Unemployment in Dane County is 2.6%, well below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Dane County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 90% below US
33 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 406/100k · Oregon Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 10% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.3 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 23% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 80°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 14°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 40% above US
50% 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
6 public schools inside the boundary
There are 6 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Ice Age National Scenic Trail (74 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Oregon's strongest points are rent below the national average and county unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin. A year of median rent ($1,221/mo) equals 14% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low), and anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near Oregon
All Wisconsin guides →Not sure Oregon is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.