Finding the Best Places to Retire Since 2006!
Cannon Beach, Oregon
A Seaside Resort Community, Artsy, Understated Cannon Beach Has One of the Most Beautiful Beaches in Oregon and is a Popular Weekend Getaway Destination
The first European to see this gorgeous stretch along Oregon's rugged northern coast was William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1806. He wrote that it was "the grandest and most pleasing prospects which my eyes ever surveyed, in front of a boundless ocean."
Today, the area around Cannon Beach remains much as it was when Clark first came upon it. The beach is considered one of the most beautiful in Oregon, and the town itself is an upscale, seaside resort community and a favorite weekend getaway spot for Portland residents. In the summer, Canadians come to vacation. Scenic, charming, understated and artsy, it has a community playhouse, spas, lots of restaurants, a fun farmers' market and a dozen art galleries. Shopping is of the boutique and specialty kind as chain restaurants and retailers have been discouraged from locating here. The town also has an annual arts festival and an annual sandcastle building contest. Neighborhoods are wooded and have Cape Cods, cottages, Craftsmans and more.
Population: 1,600 (city proper)
Percentage of Population Age 45 or Better: 50%
Cost of Living: 105% above national average
Median Home Price: $950,000
Climate: Summers are cool with temperatures in the 50s, 60s and 70s. Winters are damp and even cooler, with temperatures in the 30s and 40s. On average, the area receives 76 inches of rain per year, mostly during the winter.
At Least One Hospital Accepts Medicare Patients? No, but Providence Seaside Hospital, eight miles away in Seaside, accepts Medicare patients.
At Least One Hospital Accredited by the Joint Commission? No, but Providence Seaside Hospital, eight miles away in Seaside, is accredited.
Public Transit: A shuttle runs up and down Hemlock Street, the main thoroughfare.
Crime Rate: Well below the national average
Public Library: No, but Seaside, eight miles away, has one.
Political Leanings: Liberal
College Educated: 32%
Is Oregon Considered Tax Friendly for Retirement? No
Cons: None, although winters can get a little lonely.
Notes: Many residents spend winters in warmer, sunnier climates. Summer traffic can be a headache. The population began to drop in 2020 but started to rebound in 2021. Home price have increased 2% from a year ago.
Recommended as a Retirement Spot? Yes, although it might be best as a part-time retirement destination.
Oregon:
Oregon became a territory in 1846, but its request to become a state was bogged down by Congress and the free versus slave state debate. Southern politicians finally allowed Oregon to enter the Union as a free state on February 14, 1859.
Although the 42nd parallel marks its southern border, water delineates most of the Beaver State's boundaries. The Columbia River separates Washington from Oregon on the north. The Snake River helps form the state's eastern border with Idaho. The Pacific Ocean is on its western edge.
Oregon is one of the country's most geographically diverse states and is characterized by volcanoes, dense forests, high deserts, and abundant bodies of water. For its latitude, its climate is mild. Mount Hood, at 11,249 feet, is the state's highest point. Crater Lake, the center of the state's only national park, is the deepest lake in the United States.
Timber, fishing, and hydroelectric power have pushed the state's economy in the past. Technology, however, is finding a firm footing. Tektronix and Intel helped establish the state's Silicon Forest. Notable companies who are or have been part of the forest include Google, eBay, Airbnb, and WebMD. Sportswear companies like Columbia and Nike also bring in billions to the state.
Portland, the state's most populous city, has more breweries in its boundaries than any other in the world. As of 2016, there were more than 60. The city boasts the world's smallest park. Mill Ends Park, dedicated in 1948, is a total of 452 square feet.
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