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Living in
Damascus.
Damascus is an unincorporated community in Clackamas County, OR. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Damascus
Damascus is a community of 10,888 people in Oregon. The median household income is $122,500, median rent runs about $2,654 per month, and median home values are around $653,100. The average commute is 29 minutes.
Damascus at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
45.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.2%
Foreign-Born
6.5%
Broadband Internet
95.0%
of households
Population Growth
-2.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.5% foreign-born, most often from Ukraine
Who lives in Damascus: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Damascus, the largest foreign-born group is from Ukraine (19.0%), and 2.8% of residents speak Russian/Slavic at home.
Under 18
20.1%
of residents
65 and Older
23.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
15.2%
of households
Married Couples
69.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.00
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 74% above OR average
Rent, home values, and income in Damascus
In Damascus, rent runs 74% above the OR average, and home values are 37% above the OR average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
35.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
105.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,340
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
90.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1978
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $663,163 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for OR
Unemployment in Damascus and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Clackamas County, which includes Damascus, is close to the OR average.
Unemployment rate
Damascus: Clackamas County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Clackamas County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Damascus is about 3% of Clackamas County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Damascus Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area
Commute27.7 min avg
How Damascus residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Damascus, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 58% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 14 mi
Portland International Airport (PDX)
Medium hub9.1M passengers boarded in 2025
- 140 mi
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Major hub25.4M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 36% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, which covers Damascus, runs 36% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
210.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,624.8
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Clackamas County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersHeavy Snow most common — 11 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
94.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Clackamas County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Clackamas County, which includes Damascus, the most common type is heavy snow, with 11 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | Heavy Snow | $2,000 |
| 2024 | 10 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2023 | 1 | Flood | None reported |
| 2022 | 7 | Debris Flow | $151,200 |
| 2021 | 1 | Flood | None reported |
| 2020 | 3 | Flood | None reported |
| 2019 | 3 | Heavy Rain | $15,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
7 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Clackamas County, county-wide
Damascus is about 3% of Clackamas County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality31 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Clackamas County, which includes Damascus, is typically good — 318 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
31
Good Days
318
per year
Moderate Days
43
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Clackamas County, county-wide
Damascus is about 3% of Clackamas County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate81°F summers, 37°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Damascus has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and mild winters (avg low 37°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
64°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/56°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
49°/37°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.4"
Annual Snowfall
3.4"
Hot Days/Year
20
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
30
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
159
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48°F | 37°F | 6.54" |
| Feb | 53°F | 38°F | 4.46" |
| Mar | 58°F | 40°F | 4.78" |
| Apr | 64°F | 43°F | 3.84" |
| May | 71°F | 48°F | 2.54" |
| Jun | 76°F | 53°F | 1.79" |
| Jul | 84°F | 57°F | 0.50" |
| Aug | 84°F | 58°F | 0.56" |
| Sep | 78°F | 53°F | 1.64" |
| Oct | 65°F | 47°F | 4.23" |
| Nov | 53°F | 41°F | 6.73" |
| Dec | 47°F | 36°F | 7.20" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Damascus
Uninsured
3.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Damascus's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5 mi away · Clackamas
Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.4 mi away · Gresham
Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.5 mi away · Oregon City
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education17.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Damascus
Damascus's student/teacher ratio is 17.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 33.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
1
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
33.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Damascus (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 19,531 students · in-state tuition $5,430 · 20% graduate · median earnings $48,571 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 13,182 students · in-state tuition $12,315 · 59% graduate · median earnings $62,447 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 4,963 students · in-state tuition $6,525 · 32% graduate · median earnings $49,259 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 3,856 students · in-state tuition $5,418 · 25% graduate · median earnings $46,423 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,120 students · in-state tuition $68,048 · 72% graduate · median earnings $64,090 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,320 students · in-state tuition $71,770 · 79% graduate · median earnings $64,977 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, 17 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Damascus
Damascus has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (17 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
National Historic Site
17 mi awayLewis and Clark National Historical Park
National Historical Park
91 mi awayCities Near Damascus
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Damascus?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Damascus FAQ
Is Damascus, Oregon affordable?⌄
Damascus's median rent is $2,654/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $122,500/year. Median home value is $653,100.
Is Damascus, Oregon safe?⌄
Damascus is policed by the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 211 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1625 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Damascus, Oregon?⌄
Clackamas County, which includes Damascus, has an unemployment rate of 4.9%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Damascus, Oregon?⌄
The cost of living in Damascus is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,654/month and median household income is $122,500/year. The median home value is $653,100. About 36% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Damascus, Oregon?⌄
The average commute in Damascus is 28 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from