What Are The 10 Most Conservative Cities In Oregon?

Ashley Sutphin
by Ashley Sutphin
Oregon is a highly liberal place in the United States, so it may shock you to know that there are conservative cities there! Cities like Winston, Pendleton Falls, and La Grande are among the most conservative places in Oregon. Follow along as we explore the top 10 most conservative cities in Oregon.

In general, Oregon is thought of as being a highly liberal place. That’s primarily because of the reputation of Portland as being very progressive. Even so, more people in Oregon identify as being moderate or conservative than liberal, according to a Gallup poll. That poll found that among Oregon residents, nearly 35% described themselves as moderate, almost 34% as conservative, and around 28% as liberal.

So, what are the most conservative cities in Oregon? Baker City is considered one of the most conservative cities in Oregon, with nearly 71% of residents voting for the Republican party. Baker County voted Republican in the past five presidential elections. In Prineville, Oregon, almost 70% of residents voted for the Republican Party in the last presidential election. In Linn County, which is between Eugene and Salem, both liberal strongholds, voters have gone for the Republican presidential candidate since 1980.

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10 Most Conservative Cities in Oregon

The politics of Oregon are divided mostly by the Cascade Mountains. Western Oregon tends to vote Democratic, and eastern Oregon generally tends to be more Republican. The following are details about the most conservative cities in Oregon.

1. Baker City

  • Percentage of Republican voters: 70.8%
  • Percentage of Democrat voters: 20.5%
  • Percentage of Independent voters: 8.7%
  • Median household income: $40,120
  • Population: 9,800

Baker City is located in Baker County, Oregon. It’s often described as a base camp for eastern Oregon. Eastern Oregon is home to the Snake River, Hells Canyon, and the Oregon Trail. There are a lot of outdoor adventures and activities to enjoy in Baker City like nearby skiing and mountain biking. There are two mountain ranges that sit on either side of Baker City. There’s the Elkhorns to the west and the Wallowas to the east.

The cost of living in Baker City is around 10% lower than the U.S. average, and housing is 35% lower. As far as politics, Baker City is often described as being moderately conservative. Only around 20.5% of residents voted Democrat in the last presidential election, while almost 71% voted Republican. In the last five presidential elections, Baker County voted Republican.

2. Prineville

  • Percentage of Republican voters: 69.9%
  • Percentage of Democrat voters: 21.7%
  • Percentage of Independent voters: 8.4%
  • Median household income: $31,670
  • Population: 9,400

Prineville is located in Crook County, Oregon. There have been some tech investments in the area in recent years. For example, in 2010, Prineville was chosen as a data center location for Facebook, and in 2012, Apple said it would open a Green Data Center in Prineville.

In Prineville, the political environment is considered conservative. In the last presidential election, almost 70% of residents voted Republican, while 21.7% voted Democrat. Prineville is an affordable place to call home, with a median rent price of under $700 and homeownership costs being 13% lower than the U.S. average.

3. Ontario

  • Percentage of Republican voters: 68.9%
  • Percentage of Democrat voters: 21.5%
  • Percentage of Independent voters: 9.5%
  • Median household income: $27,260
  • Population: 11,000

Ontario is the biggest city in Malheur County, Oregon. It’s located at the border with Idaho, along with the Snake River. It’s the largest community in far-eastern Oregon, which is a region of the state known as the Western Treasure Valley. Some of the attractions in and near Ontario, Oregon, include Farewell Bend State Recreation Area and the Ontario State Recreation Site.

The cost of living in Ontario is 11% less expensive than the national average and 25% lower than Oregon. The median home value is around $108,500, and the median rent price is less than $650, making this conservative Oregon city a very affordable place to call home.

4. Klamath Falls

  • Percentage of Republican voters: 67%
  • Percentage of Democrat voters: 23.6%
  • Percentage of Independent voters: 9.4%
  • Median household income: $37,000
  • Population: 21,300

Klamath Falls is home to a number of historic buildings, and it’s also close to Crater Lake. There are a lot of outdoor activities for visitors and residents alike, including hiking and mountain biking, fishing, and golfing. It’s also home to Oregon’s longest zipline. The cost of living is low—3% less expensive than the U.S. average.

Politically, Klamath Falls is one of the most conservative cities in Oregon. Klamath County voted Republican in the last five presidential elections, and in the last election, it was very strongly republican, with only 23.6% of votes going toward the Democrat candidate.

5. La Grande

  • Percentage of Republican voters: 65%
  • Percentage of Democrat voters: 25.1%
  • Percentage of Independent Voters: 9.9%
  • Median household income: $40,500
  • Population: 13,100

La Grande is in Union County, Oregon. It’s in the eastern part of the states, and it’s only around 20 miles from Umatilla National Forest. La Grande is also home to Eastern Oregon University. The cost of living is appealing in La Grande, as it’s 8% less expensive than the U.S. average. The total crime is 16% lower in La Grande than in the rest of Oregon, and housing is 19% lower than it is nationally, on average.

In Union County, where La Grande is located, around 65% of residents voted for the Republican party in the last presidential election. The county voted Republican in the last five presidential elections.

6. Winston

  • Percentage of Republican voters: 64.6%
  • Percentage of Democrat voters: 26.3%
  • Percentage of Independent voters: 9%
  • Median household income: $31,900
  • Population: 5,360

Winston is around 10 miles southwest of Roseburg, in Douglas County, Oregon. Winston is located in a curve of the South Umpqua River. It’s in Southern Oregon, near Umpqua National Forest. It’s also within Oregon’s wine region, known as the Umpqua Valley. The Umpqua Valley is known for fly fishing, rafting, hiking, and mountain biking.

Median home values are around $150,000, which is 19% lower than the U.S. average, and the income per capita is $21,260. The median rent price in Winston is $670, and homeownership is 9% less expensive overall than the U.S. average.

7. Sutherlin

  • Percentage of Republican voters: 64.6%
  • Percentage of Democrat voters: 26.3%
  • Percentage of Independent voters: 9%
  • Median household income: $36,050
  • Population: 7,900

Sutherlin is located in Douglas County, Oregon. It’s considered the gateway to the Umpqua Valley wine region, and within 15 minutes of Sutherlin’s downtown, there are six wineries. You can fish for steelhead and salmon and the Umpqua River, and there are swimming, hiking, and watersports at Cooper Creek Reservoir. The area is also known for the Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway, Umpqua National Forest, and Diamond Lake.

Politically, all of Douglas County, where Sutherlin is located, is considered conservative. Nearly 65% of residents voted for the Republican party in the last presidential election, and in the past five elections, that has also been the case.

8. Roseburg

  • Percentage of Republican voters: 64.6%
  • Percentage of Democrat voters: 26.3%
  • Percentage of Independent voters: 9%
  • Median household income: $41,158
  • Population: 6,100

Roseburg, Oregon, is also in Douglas County, like several other counties on this list of the most conservative cities in Oregon. Roseburg is in the Umpqua River Valley, which is in the southern part of the state. It’s also the most populous city in Douglas County. The community is set along both sides of the South Umpqua River. It’s known for its natural beauty, including waterfalls nearby like Fall Creek Falls. The region is also home to more than 30 wineries, and there are numerous nearby areas for fishing.

The median home value in Roseburg is nearly $171,000, and the median rent price is 14% lower than the U.S. average, coming in at $800. The cost of living in Roseburg is 8% lower than the Oregon average.

9. Umatilla

  • Percentage of Republican voters: 61.8%
  • Percentage of Democrat voters: 27.8%
  • Percentage of Independent voters: 10.4%
  • Median household income: $42,000
  • Population: 7,000

Umatilla is in Umatilla County, Oregon. It’s part of the Hermiston-Pendleton metropolitan area. The area is home to the Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge and is on the shores of the Umatilla River. You can boat along the river or view wildlife. As far as cost-of-living, Umatilla is an inexpensive Oregon location. The overall cost of living is 26% lower than Oregon and 12% lower than the U.S. average.

10. Pendleton

  • Percentage of Republican voters: 61.8%
  • Percentage of Democrat voters: 27.8%
  • Percentage of Independent voters: 10.4%
  • Median household income: $47,000
  • Population: 16,900

Pendleton is in Umatilla County, and it’s known for the Pendleton Round-Up event. There are also craft beer breweries, and it’s home to the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute. Pendleton feels like an old Western town, and it’s located in eastern Oregon, at the foot of the Blue Mountains. Like much of eastern Oregon, a lot of the things to do in Pendleton center around the outdoors.

Pendleton is an inexpensive place to call home, with an overall cost of living that’s 22% lower than the Oregon average. The median home value is around $147,000, and the median rent price is $650. Umatilla County as a whole is considered a conservative part of Oregon, having voted Republican in the past five presidential elections.

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The Most Oregon Liberal Cities

While the above are the most conservative cities in Oregon, there are plenty of liberal areas as well. The eastern part of the state tends to be very conservative, while western Oregon is known as being among the most liberal locations in the country.

Portland is certainly the most liberal Oregon City. More than 73% of people in Portland voted Democrat in the last presidential election. Only 17% voted for the Republican party. Gresham has similar demographics as far as political affiliation, as it’s also in Multnomah County.

Beaverton is another area in Oregon known as being especially liberal. Located in Washington County, nearly 57% of people in Beaverton voted Democrat in the last presidential election. Washington County has gone Democrat in the previous five presidential elections as well.

In general, Oregon is often named as one of the most liberal states in the country, but less so than Washington State. Other very liberal states include Massachusetts, Hawaii, Vermont, New York, California, and New Jersey.

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Ashley Sutphin
Ashley Sutphin

Ashley Sutphin Watkins studied journalism at the University of North Carolina. She now works as a full-time writer with an interest in all things real estate and interior design. She lives in East Tennessee and enjoys the nearby Smoky Mountains with her family.

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