New report highlights gains in student progress, continued migration growth and data on household affordability across Oregon counties
ROSEBURG, Ore. — Today marks the release of Oregon by the Numbers 2026, the ninth edition of the annual report tracking community indicators for every Oregon county.
Produced annually by The Ford Family Foundation and Oregon State University (OSU) Extension Service, Oregon by the Numbers brings together the most current state and federal data available for all 36 Oregon counties — designed to help local leaders, community organizations and residents better understand their own communities and the state as a whole.
Oregon by the Numbers contains county-level profiles and in-depth reports on a variety of measures, including graduation rates, median income crime and more. Each measure includes rankings that allow readers to see how their county compares with the rest of the state and is primed to support community action. This report is one of the only data tools available for free to all Oregonians that reports on county-level data for every county, regardless of size.
“Behind every data point in this report is an Oregonian — many of them children,” said Kara Inae Carlisle, president and CEO of The Ford Family Foundation. “Kids do best when they grow up surrounded by strong supports, and communities are stronger when young people get a solid start in life. These indicators show us where progress is happening, where more support is needed, and how adults across Oregon can help kids lead happy, healthy lives.”
Several findings in this year’s edition illustrate both areas of progress and persistent disparities across Oregon’s 36 counties:
- The rate of ninth grade students on track for on-time graduation in rural Oregon increased from 83.4 to 84.6%.
- Rural Oregon continued to attract new residents at a much faster rate than urban Oregon. Between 2020 and 2024, rural counties have recorded net migration rates approximately five times higher than those of urban counties (29.7 compared with 5.4 people per 1,000 residents, respectively).
- In Oregon, the statewide average of adults age 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher is 36.8%. Only seven Oregon counties exceeded that statewide average.
- Child poverty remains especially acute along the Oregon Coast. Four of the six counties with the highest rates in the state are coastal: Tillamook at 25.3%, Curry at 23.7%, Coos at 23.4% and Lincoln at 22.5%.
This year’s data highlight section focuses on a challenge connected to many of the measures included in Oregon by the Numbers: the growing gap between what households earn and what it costs to meet basic needs amid rising costs of living. Oregon by the Numbers 2026 features the latest data insights from the national United for ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) research effort. Developed to capture households earning above the Federal Poverty Level but still unable to afford basic necessities like housing, childcare, food and more, ALICE provides a fuller understanding of the reality faced by 30% of Oregon households. Additionally, this year’s highlight reports on the diversity of ALICE households — a wide range of household compositions and occupations may face financial hardship without qualifying for public assistance.
“Understanding ALICE data helps us see how families can fall between the cracks, and then take steps to address it,” said Dr. Kasi Allen, vice president of learning and impact for the Foundation. “It helps ensure that the experiences of working families, including those in rural communities, are visible in the conversations and decisions that shape their futures.”
This promising news comes despite a challenging context, as seen in this year’s data for child poverty. The updated data source for the measure now reports rates for all 36 counties, revealing disparities across the state. In rural Oregon, 18.6 percent of children under the age of 18 are living in families whose income falls below the Federal Poverty Level for their family size. In urban counties, that rate is 12.2 percent.
At tfff.org/obtn, readers can download the complete findings in English and Spanish, access individual county profiles and sign up to receive news of future editions.
Download this press release PDF
About The Ford Family Foundation
The Ford Family Foundation believes in the power of rural communities. It is a private, nonprofit foundation proudly headquartered in Roseburg, Oregon, serving rural Oregon and Siskiyou County, California. Its investments through grants, scholarships and community building create the conditions so that children have the family, educational and community supports they need to succeed in life. www.tfff.org
General media inquiries
Jennifer Lindsey – Director of Communications
(541) 485-6223, jlindsey@tfff.org
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