The Town FilesDamascus, Oregon
Community in Clackamas County · population 11,050 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $653,100
- Household income
- $122,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 45.6
Damascus is a community of 11,050 people in Clackamas County, Oregon. The median home is worth $653,100, above the typical Oregon town ($394,200). It ranks better for families than 98% of Oregon towns, more upscale than 84% of Oregon towns, more of a college town than 82% of Oregon towns.
How Damascus ranks
Percentile among Oregon towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Oregon towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Damascus is worth $653,100, above the typical Oregon town ($394,200). Homes cost about 5.3 times the median household income of $122,500, which is more affordable than 46% of Oregon towns. Median rent is $2,654 a month. 90.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Damascus | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $653,100 | $394,200 |
| Median rent | $2,654 | $1,312 |
| Median household income | $122,500 | $76,221 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.3× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 90.5% | 71.1% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Damascus
| People | Damascus | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.6 | 41.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.5% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.6% | 23.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.2% | 10.8% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.5% | — |
| Work from home | 14.0% | 12.2% |
| Average commute | 27.7 min | 23.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 92.4% |
Weather in Damascus
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 37.3°F. About 40.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.0 inches of snow (typical Oregon town: 3.1 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 28 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Damascus since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Oregon town. The strongest, an F1, struck on October 9, 2000 about 9.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 13, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 4, 1999.
Severe weather in Clackamas County since 1996
Clackamas County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4907: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 13, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4768: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| September 10, 2022 | Fire | FM-5454: Milo Mciver Fire |
| May 4, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4599: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 15, 2020 | Fire | DR-4562: Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Clackamas County
Clackamas County had 174,320 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,863 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Damascus itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Damascus
2 public schools with 965 students, about 18.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beatrice Morrow Cannady Elementary | K-5 | 502 | 19.3 |
| Deep Creek - Damascus K-8 School | K-8 | 463 | 17.8 |
Towns near Damascus
- Happy Valley, OR3.2 mi · 23,733 people · home $725,300
- Gresham, OR5.2 mi · 114,247 people · home $458,700
- Oatfield, OR7.4 mi · 13,977 people · home $569,000
- Wood Village, OR7.6 mi · 4,387 people · home $311,500
- Gladstone, OR7.8 mi · 12,017 people · home $480,700
- Troutdale, OR8.2 mi · 16,300 people · home $456,100
- Fairview, OR8.4 mi · 10,424 people · home $427,700
- Jennings Lodge, OR8.7 mi · 7,503 people · home $462,100
Damascus questions
Is Damascus, Oregon a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Damascus scores better for retirees than 26% of Oregon towns and quieter than 39%. 23.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.6).
How much does a house cost in Damascus?
The median owner-occupied home in Damascus is valued at $653,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $122,500, so homes cost about 5.3 times income. Median rent is $2,654 a month.
What is the weather like in Damascus?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 37.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.7 inches of precipitation a year and 3.0 inches of snow.
Does Damascus get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Damascus since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on October 9, 2000. The typical Oregon town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)