Oregon population growth slows in 2018

(APRIL 20, 2019) For many years, Oregon's population was growing. Many people were moving to the state. Most of them were going to the Portland metropolitan area.

New census numbers now show that the growth has slowed significantly. A census is an official count of people by the government. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that Portland's 2018 growth rate is half what it was in 2016.

The population of the Portland metropolitan area is 2,478,810. This includes the Oregon counties of Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Columbia, and Yamhill. It also includes the Washington counties of Clark and Skamania.

Experts blame the economy. Migration, they say, is the main source of new residents. However, people move here for jobs. Now there are fewer jobs, so fewer people move here. That means less population growth.

Another problem is the high cost of housing and low salaries for middle-income jobs. That combination makes it difficult for people to afford to live in the area.

Crooke County is the state's fastest growing county. That is because there are new jobs from datacenters and solar power farms as well as construction and maintenance. Home prices are lower there, too, so people can afford to live comfortably in a small city like Prineville.