Living in Lake Oswego, OR

Explore Lake Oswego and see how it fits the life you want to build.

40,381 Population Clackamas, Multnomah & Washington Counties Counties City Place Type Oregon State
Overall Match8.0 / 10

Baseline match from currently available location scores. Choose priorities to personalize it.

Lake Oswego at a Glance

Key facts and current data

Population40,381
Median Household Income$141,549
Median Home Value$932,200
Median Gross Rent$2,139
Median Age46.7
Average Household Size2.4
Unemployment3.4%
Work From Home31.8%
Homeownership69.3%
Housing Vacancy7.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year.

Lake Oswego is a mid-sized community where local neighborhoods, nearby job centers and regional access can matter as much as citywide averages. Housing costs are high relative to local household income, making affordability one of the more important factors to examine before relocating here. Unemployment is relatively low, which is a positive current labor-market signal.

Experience the Area

Experience Life in Lake Oswego Before You Move

Explore Short-Term Stays in Lake Oswego →Stay options powered by Stay22 · affiliate

NarrowTheList highly recommends you spend a week or two in Lake Oswego and experience everyday life before deciding whether it is the right place to call home. Use that time to explore neighborhoods, drive your normal routes, shop where residents shop, and get a feel for the area at different times of day.

NarrowTheList Ratings

Data-driven starter ratings. More categories appear automatically as new datasets are added.

Housing Value2.5 / 5Home values compared with local household income.
Employment4.2 / 5Lower unemployment produces a stronger rating.
Housing Stability3.6 / 5Combines homeownership and housing vacancy.
Remote Work Friendly4.6 / 5Based on the share of residents working from home.
Income Strength5.0 / 5Household income compared on a national scale.

These are location-wide baseline ratings, not your personal match score. Your own priorities can change which factors matter most.

Housing & Cost of Living in Lake Oswego

Current housing indicators from the U.S. Census Bureau

Median Home Value$932,200
Median Gross Rent$2,139
Homeownership69.3%
Housing Vacancy7.0%
Housing Value5.0/10
Housing Stability7.2/10

Home values are relatively high compared with local household income, so purchase affordability deserves close attention. The housing mix leans toward owner-occupied homes while still supporting a meaningful rental market.

Jobs, Income & Remote Work

Employment and household-income context for Lake Oswego, OR

Median Household Income$141,549
Unemployment3.4%
Work From Home31.8%
Employment8.4/10
Remote Work Friendly9.2/10
Income Strength10.0/10

The reported unemployment rate is relatively low. Working from home is relatively common among employed residents.

Population & Household Profile

Who lives in Lake Oswego and how households are structured

Population40,381
Median Age46.7
Average Household Size2.4

Lake Oswego is a smaller community, so its relationship with nearby towns, employment centers and services can be especially important.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year. NarrowTheList presents these values as relocation context; conditions can vary within a community.

Climate & Weather in Lake Oswego

Long-term NOAA climate normals and practical seasonal context

NOAA climate normals for Lake Oswego point to warm summers, cool winters, substantial annual rainfall and occasional snowfall.

Average Summer High83.9°F
Average Winter Low36.7°F
Annual Rainfall50.4 in.
Annual Snowfall3.6 in.

Seasonal Life in Lake Oswego

What the long-term climate pattern may mean for everyday living.

Spring

Spring is a good time to see how wetter conditions affect drainage, yards, commuting and the usability of outdoor spaces.

Summer

Summer is warm enough that shade and cooling still matter, but the typical high is below the extreme-heat range seen in many hotter U.S. markets.

Fall

Fall can be one of the best seasons for comparing neighborhoods because daily routines are active while temperatures transition away from summer conditions.

Winter

Winter is generally cool with limited snowfall. Heating needs still matter, but snow-related disruption should be less central than in colder markets.

Source: NOAA/NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Seasonal descriptions are relocation context derived from the available long-term normals, not a forecast.

County Intelligence

Lake Oswego & Its Counties

Data Pending Foreclosure Activity

Lake Oswego spans Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties.

Living in a community that crosses county lines can make location within Lake Oswego especially important. Property taxes, housing characteristics, public services and other county-level factors may vary depending on which part of the community you call home.

Current NarrowTheList data for Lake Oswego shows a population of about 40,381. These local figures become more useful when read together with county-level tax, housing, foreclosure and demographic conditions rather than treated as isolated city statistics.

Foreclosure Activity: Data Pending. A county-specific foreclosure signal is not available yet.

For someone comparing homes, county boundaries can matter because taxes, public services, court and recording systems, assessment practices and housing-market conditions are often administered or reported at the county level. NarrowTheList keeps that county relationship attached to the community so future tax, foreclosure, housing and demographic data can be interpreted in the correct geographic context.

County relationship Clackamas County, Multnomah County and Washington County
How NarrowTheList uses it

NarrowTheList connects Lake Oswego with all 3 of its counties rather than assigning the community to only one. As additional county data becomes available, those differences can be compared alongside city-level information to help identify which parts of the area may better fit your priorities.

For someone considering a move to Lake Oswego, the available data currently points to housing affordability that deserves careful budgeting and a relatively tight labor market. These signals are most useful when considered alongside the specific neighborhood, commute and housing type that fit the household making the move.

Nearby Cities & Communities

Nearby incorporated cities, towns, villages and other municipalities shown by straight-line distance.

Rivergrove, OR 2.5 miles away Durham, OR 3.1 miles away Tigard, OR 4.1 miles away West Linn, OR 4.4 miles away Milwaukie, OR 4.4 miles away Tualatin, OR 4.4 miles away King City, OR 5.3 miles away Gladstone, OR 5.5 miles away Johnson City, OR 5.9 miles away Beaverton, OR 7.2 miles away Oregon City, OR 7.2 miles away Sherwood, OR 7.8 miles away