Cottage Grove receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Cottage Grove
St. Helens
Opportunity
45 · Bottom 25%
vs36 · Bottom 12%
Growth
34 · Bottom 22%
vs37 · Bottom 28%
Climate
74 · Top 35%
vs73 · Top 37%
Physical resilience
28 · Bottom 22%
vs33 · Bottom 26%
Housing affordability
84 · Top 44%
vs75 · Bottom 40%
Schools
11 · Bottom 2%
vs10 · Bottom 2%
Access
86 · Bottom 31%
vs83 · Bottom 27%
Economic stability
61 · Top 49%
vs55 · Bottom 40%
Measured values
| Metric | Cottage Grove | St. Helens | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,698 | 14,258 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $80,875 | $82,865 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $33,651 | $37,404 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,757/sq mi | 2,936/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $346,600 | $394,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,254 | $1,413 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 59.0% | 62.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.4% | 6.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.5% | -0.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.1% | 16.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.7% | 10.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 9 | 7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.8 | 0.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -93.7% | -12.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 81°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 35°F | 34°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 40.8" | 42.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 24 mi | 21 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 32.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.9 | 39.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 7 | 6 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 17.69 | 18.44 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 11.7% | 7.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 65.5% | 70.7% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Cottage Grove
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
St. Helens
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Cottage Grove
53
Your Score
48
Area Score
St. Helens
50
Your Score
45
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Cottage Grove, OR · St. Helens, OR · How this is calculated: methodology