The Town FilesJefferson, Oregon
City in Marion County · population 3,327 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $373,000
- Household income
- $102,159
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 31.2
Jefferson is a city of 3,327 people in Marion County, Oregon. The median home is worth $373,000, below the typical Oregon town ($394,200). It ranks easier by car than 96% of Oregon towns, better for families than 77% of Oregon towns, more upscale than 75% of Oregon towns.
How Jefferson 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 Jefferson is worth $373,000, below the typical Oregon town ($394,200). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $102,159, which is more affordable than 88% of Oregon towns. Median rent is $1,328 a month. 87.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jefferson | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $373,000 | $394,200 |
| Median rent | $1,328 | $1,312 |
| Median household income | $102,159 | $76,221 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 87.2% | 71.1% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Jefferson
| People | Jefferson | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.2 | 41.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.7% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 30.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.6% | 23.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.2% | 10.8% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.7% | — |
| Work from home | 16.8% | 12.2% |
| Average commute | 25.4 min | 23.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.2% | 92.4% |
Weather in Jefferson
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 34.4°F. About 52.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.2 inches of snow (typical Oregon town: 3.1 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 50 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Oregon town. The strongest, an F1, struck on March 8, 1960 about 7.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 29, 2018.
Severe weather in Marion County since 1996
Marion County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 24, 2023 | Fire | FM-5483: Liberty Fire |
| May 4, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4599: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 15, 2020 | Fire | DR-4562: Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds |
| September 10, 2020 | Fire | EM-3542: Wildfires |
| September 8, 2020 | Fire | FM-5356: Beachie Creek Lionshead Fire Complex |
Jobs and pay in Marion County
Marion County had 171,271 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,787 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Jefferson itself the ACS puts it at 7.7%.
Public schools in Jefferson
3 public schools with 715 students, about 20.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Elementary School | K-5 | 298 | 19.9 |
| Jefferson High School | 9-12 | 237 | 21.5 |
| Jefferson Middle School | 6-8 | 180 | 20.0 |
Towns near Jefferson
- Millersburg, OR4.2 mi · 2,919 people · home $567,200
- Albany, OR7.6 mi · 56,472 people · home $389,200
- Aumsville, OR11.2 mi · 4,234 people · home $296,400
- Stayton, OR11.8 mi · 8,244 people · home $409,700
- Sublimity, OR13.1 mi · 2,967 people · home $480,800
- Independence, OR13.6 mi · 9,828 people · home $378,800
- Lebanon, OR13.7 mi · 18,447 people · home $336,800
- Monmouth, OR14.3 mi · 11,110 people · home $413,200
Jefferson questions
Is Jefferson, Oregon a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jefferson scores better for retirees than 28% of Oregon towns and quieter than 52%. 10.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.2).
How much does a house cost in Jefferson?
The median owner-occupied home in Jefferson is valued at $373,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $102,159, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,328 a month.
What is the weather like in Jefferson?
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 34.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.7 inches of precipitation a year and 2.2 inches of snow.
Does Jefferson get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on March 8, 1960. 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)