More Than Half of Young Oregonians Consider Moving Within Five Years, Most Would Leave State

Fifty-three percent of those considering moving in a DHM Research poll of 600 registered voters commissioned by The Oregonian/Oregon Live cited lower taxes as a reason.

The Younger Generation Indicate They May Leave Oregon

More than half of respondents in the 18 to 29 age group said they were considering moving within the next five years, and 70 percent confirmed their move would be out-of-state.

The findings amplify Oregon’s population stagnation, amid declining birthrates, an aging population, and a shrinking labor force, according to DHM President Michelle Neiss.

Neiss says this has led the state’s younger generation, frustrated by a questionable economy and high cost of living, to question their future in Oregon.

Sentiments were somewhat different among older age groups. Forty-one percent aged 30 to 44 said they were contemplating moving. However, that number dropped to 35 percent of respondents aged 45-64, and dropped to 26 percent among respondents over 65 years.

Business Economist Says Oregon’s Slowing Population Growth is a Long-Term Trend

Oregon Business Economist Damon Runberg reported in December last year that Oregon’s population increased by 0.33 percent in 2025. However, it was down from the 0.41 percent increase recorded the previous year.

Runberg said the state’s slowing population growth is part of a long-term trend.

In the 1990s, population growth was about two percent annually. This reduced to 1.2 percent between 2000 and 2010, while the annual growth rate in the 2020s has hovered around 0.3 percent.

By 2025, 13 of the state’s 36 counties recorded population declines. The population in rural Oregon declined by 0.2 percent, or 1,535 fewer residents. Counties within metropolitan areas maintained the previous year’s population growth rate of 0.4 percent, adding 15,550 residents.

More deaths than births are making Oregon entirely dependent on net in-migration to sustain its population growth. Runberg said slower population growth can lead to reduced job creation, tighter labor markets, and broader economic impacts.

The DHM Research poll was conducted statewide between September 24 and October 1, 2026.