Where to Live Off Grid in Oregon? 

Oregon is an ideal state for off grid living and homesteading. It has a low population, expansive geography, and fewer regulations than surrounding states. In addition, many people actually live off the grid in Oregon—and there are even a few communities.

Oregon’s greatest spots to live off the grid are in the southwest of the state. The almost Mediterranean climate allows you to grow vegetables and generate power using solar panels. The best counties for off grid living in Oregon are: Curry County, Josephine County, Coos County, Jackson County, Douglas County, Wheeler County, and Harney County.

Oregon has a ton of different climates. You should choose a mild climate, which may be found in the state’s southwestern regions. A mild climate provides a longer growing season and makes the winters a lot shorter (and more manageable)!

If you want to read more about living off grid in Oregon, check out our Complete Guide. Or, if you want to learn about a different state, we’ve got detailed guides for each state.

How We Picked?

Here are a couple things we focused on when looking for the perfect place for off grid living in Oregon:

• Zoning Restrictions: The last thing you want when living off grid is a property that you can’t use the way you want. This is why we selected the counties on our list (although it can be on a case-by-case basis for some properties).

• Property Cost: Land in Oregon is typically pretty expensive. We looked for counties that had more reasonable prices.

• Crime Rate: We looked for the counties with the lowest crime rate. Oregon has a bit a reputation for high crime rate—especially in the past couple of years.

• Low Cost of Living: The second factor we considered was the cost of living. We were looking for a place that was reasonably priced. While Oregon has a high-income tax, it makes up for it with no sales tax.

Looking for a cheaper state for off grid living? I recommend Montana!

What are the Best Counties for Off Grid Living in Oregon? 

Curry County

Curry County, located in the state’s far southwest, is a good place to live off the grid in Oregon. This means you’ll get the most out of the Mediterranean climate. Curry County has a low population density, with approximately 23k inhabitants living in 1,627 square miles. Suppose you desire to live off the grid in Curry County. In that case, your greatest alternatives will be in the county’s southernmost areas.

Josephine County

Josephine County is adjacent to Curry County, meaning you will continue to benefit from the Mediterranean climate. Despite having a very high population density, Josephine County lacks access to the coast. Approximately 85k people live in an area of 1,640 sq mi; adequate land for off grid living can still be found, but it will be somewhat more expensive due to the high population density.

Coos County

Coos County has a Mediterranean climate for the most part, with access to the coast. Keep in mind that if you want to live off the grid in this country, your greatest possibilities will be in the south and southwest. Coos County has a comparatively high population density of roughly 64k people living in 1,600 square miles. The cost of off-grid property is much lower in the county’s east than in the west.

Jackson County

Jackson County has a relatively high population density, with approximately 215k inhabitants living in 2,785 square miles. Even though most of the high population density is focused around the larger cities. Because of the county’s size, you should have no trouble finding adequate land for off-grid living. In general, the eastern areas of the county have the lowest land prices.

Douglas County

In Oregon, Douglas County is a medium-sized county; several counties are quite large. The good news is that the population density is modest compared to the county’s size. Approximately 110k people live in an area of 5,037 square miles, making it incredibly easy to discover suitable acreage for off-grid living. The finest places to live off the grid in Douglas County are mostly in the south.

Wheeler County

Wheeler County is located in the northern section of the state, and if you are on a low budget and want to live off the grid, this is the perfect option for you. This county has a very low population density, with only about 1500 people living in 1,715 square miles. Although this county lacks the Mediterranean environment, land prices are among the lowest in the state.

Harney County

Harney County is the largest county in Oregon. Yet, the population density is exceptionally low, with only about 8k people living in 10,135 square miles. If you want to buy a large property plot for off-grid living, Harney County is your best bet. The average price of land in this county is one of the lowest in the state, so you could get a good deal if you opt to live off the grid here.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, Oregon boasts a plethora of excellent off-grid living options. For the most part, if you want to save money when purchasing a plot of land, you should avoid the state’s western regions because the prices are much higher, especially the closer you come to the beaches.

Want to learn more about choosing the perfect place to live off grid? Read my article on How to Find Land for Off Grid Living.