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Living in
Gresham.
About
Life in Gresham
Living in Gresham means you're getting genuine suburban life in the Willamette Valley without the intensity—or price tag—of Portland proper, even though you're only borderline neighbors with the city. With over 114,000 residents spread across 23 square miles, this is a real community where families have put down roots, not a bedroom town that empties out on weekends. The median household income sits around $77,795 with a median home value of $460,000, which is notably more affordable than Portland while still reflecting the Pacific Northwest's cost reality; you'll find a solid mix of homeowners (about 52% of residents own) and renters navigating the market together.
Gresham at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.0%
Foreign-Born
16.8%
Broadband Internet
91.7%
of households
Population Growth
-2.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics16.8% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Gresham: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Gresham, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (37.5%), and 15.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.7%
of residents
65 and Older
15.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.1%
of households
Married Couples
44.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.64
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 about average for OR
Rent, home values, and income in Gresham
Rent and home values here are close to the OR average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
56.3%
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
$4,174
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
55.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1981
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $462,189 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for OR
Unemployment in Gresham and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Gresham is close to the OR average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Gresham 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
Commute26 min avg
How Gresham residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Gresham, most residents drive alone to work (67%), and 62% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 10 mi
Portland International Airport (PDX)
Medium hub9.1M passengers boarded in 2025
- 135 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 10% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Gresham runs 10% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
362
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,339.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Gresham Police Department
Natural DisastersHeavy Snow most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Multnomah County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Multnomah County, which includes Gresham, the most common type is heavy snow, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Heavy Snow | $41,000 |
| 2024 | 10 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2023 | 4 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 14 | Winter Storm | $53,500 |
| 2021 | 8 | Flood | $35,000 |
| 2020 | 3 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2019 | 6 | Tornado | $29,500 |
| 2018 | 5 | Heavy Snow | $7,000 |
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
Multnomah County, county-wide
Air Quality37 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Multnomah County, which includes Gresham, is typically good — 283 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
37
Good Days
283
per year
Moderate Days
82
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Multnomah County, county-wide
Climate79°F summers, 37°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Gresham has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and mild winters (avg low 37°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/56°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
48°/37°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.7"
Annual Snowfall
3.4"
Hot Days/Year
16
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
28
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
159
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°F | 37°F | 5.01" |
| Feb | 51°F | 38°F | 3.71" |
| Mar | 57°F | 40°F | 4.41" |
| Apr | 62°F | 43°F | 3.58" |
| May | 69°F | 49°F | 2.91" |
| Jun | 74°F | 53°F | 2.11" |
| Jul | 82°F | 57°F | 0.55" |
| Aug | 82°F | 57°F | 0.63" |
| Sep | 76°F | 52°F | 1.75" |
| Oct | 64°F | 46°F | 4.02" |
| Nov | 53°F | 42°F | 5.83" |
| Dec | 46°F | 37°F | 6.15" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Gresham
Gresham has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
8.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Adventist Health Portland
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.7 mi away · Portland
Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.5 mi away · Clackamas
Providence Portland Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.5 mi away · Portland
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.
Education19.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Gresham
Gresham's student/teacher ratio is 19.5:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 23.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
27
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
23.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Gresham
Public · 2-year · 3,856 students · in-state tuition $5,418 · 25% graduate · median earnings $46,423 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (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 · 4,945 students · in-state tuition $5,366 · 42% graduate · median earnings $47,832 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,957 students · in-state tuition $60,100 · 80% graduate · median earnings $85,634 (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)
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, 14 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Gresham
Gresham has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (14 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
National Historic Site
14 mi awayLewis and Clark National Historical Park
National Historical Park
88 mi awayMount Rainier National Park
National Park
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in Gresham
Gresham Library
385 Nw Miller Ave, Gresham
Rockwood Library
17917 Se Stark St, Portland
Cities Near Gresham
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Gresham?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Gresham FAQ
Is Gresham, Oregon affordable?⌄
Gresham's median rent is $1,586/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $77,795/year. Median home value is $458,700.
Is Gresham, Oregon safe?⌄
Gresham's violent crime rate was 362 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2340 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Gresham, Oregon?⌄
Gresham has an unemployment rate of 5.3%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Gresham, Oregon?⌄
The cost of living in Gresham is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,586/month and median household income is $77,795/year. The median home value is $458,700. About 56% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Gresham, Oregon?⌄
The average commute in Gresham is 26 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