Gearhart, Oregon

Gearhart is also known for its golf course, Gearhart Golf Links, which is the oldest 18-hole course west of the Mississippi River. Recently renovated, it includes a hotel and a pub. Gearhart's inviting town center features an art gallery, an old tyme grocery store, hanging flower baskets and one of the best bakeries on the coast. The Trail's End Art Association sponsors classes and an art walk. Razor clams are abundant along the beach, and Cullaby Lake County Park is within easy reach. A popular trail runs from the golf course to the Necanicum River Estuary, a tidal flat surrounded by dunes and forest. It is also home to a large number of bird species and is a favorite spot among birdwatchers.

Neighborhoods are leafy, and home styles include ranch ramblers, Cape Cods, bungalows and more. A few condo communities are here, too.

Population:   1,900 (city proper)

Age 45 or Better:  55%

Cost of Living:  82% above the national average

Median Home Price: $870,000

Climate:   Summer temperatures in the 60s and 70s and winter temperatures are in the 30s, 40s and 50s.  On average, the area receives 75 inches of rain and a dusting of snow per year.

At Least One Hospital Accepts Medicare Patients?   No, but Providence Seaside Hospital is two miles away and accepts Medicare patients.  

At Least One Hospital Accredited by Joint Commission?   No, but Providence Seaside Hospital is two miles away and is accredited.

Public Transit:   No

Crime Rate:  Below the national average

Public Library:   No, but nearby Seaside has one.

Political Leanings:    Liberal

College Educated:    30%

Is Oregon Considered Tax Friendly for Retirement?    No

Cons:   The beach is often windy.

Notes:   Gearhart does not have any traffic lights.  The town has grown 22% within the last decade and sits along U.S. Route 101, allowing easy access to nearby communities. Home prices have increased 15% since a year ago.

Recommended as a Retirement Spot?    Yes

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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