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In 2026, despite advancements in gender equality, women in the United States continue to encounter significant hurdles compared to their male counterparts. Challenges such as wage disparities, underrepresentation in leadership roles, and disproportionate household responsibilities persist, affecting women’s overall well-being and economic stability.
To better understand these challenges, we analyzed data to pinpoint the cities in Oregon that present the most difficulties for women. Our findings reveal that the city you live in plays a critical role in shaping a woman’s experience and opportunities.
Continue reading to discover where your city stands and the criteria we used to determine the worst cities for women in Oregon.
The 10 Worst Cities To Be A Woman In Oregon
The following cities are recognized as the worst for women in Oregon. Read on to understand the underlying factors contributing to these rankings, or skip to the end to see the best cities for women in Oregon.
Methodology – How We Determined The Worst Cities For Women In Oregon
Each city was evaluated based on four key indicators:
- Percentage of Women in Management (Lower percentage indicates worse conditions)
- Percentage of Women Living in Poverty (Higher percentage indicates worse conditions)
- Women’s Earnings Compared to Men’s Earnings (Lower ratio indicates worse conditions)
- Percentage of Uninsured Women (Lower percentage indicates worse conditions)
To assess the income gap between women and men in each city, we utilized data from the Census’ American Community Survey. We calculated the ratio of median male income to median female income to determine how much women earn per dollar earned by men.
For the percentage of women in poverty, we again relied on data from the ACS. The poverty rate was determined based on household income, which includes contributions from husbands and other family members. To focus specifically on women, we examined those living alone, who typically earn less. This approach may lead to a higher poverty rate than the general population.
We reviewed the percentage of women in management through ACS data to gain insight into women’s representation in leadership roles. Since women are more likely to mentor and promote other women, this metric provides valuable context regarding advancement opportunities.
Finally, we sourced the percentage of uninsured women from the ACS.
Our analysis only included cities in Oregon with populations exceeding 5,000.
1. Milton-Freewater
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.63
Women In Management: 7.5%
Women In Poverty: 37.9%
Women Uninsured: 8.0%
Milton-Freewater ranks as the most challenging city for women in Oregon, evidenced by low scores across all metrics. Women in Milton-Freewater face high poverty rates and a significant lack of insurance. These statistics illustrate a clear struggle for women in this city.
2. Junction City
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.53
Women In Management: 34.3%
Women In Poverty: 17.6%
Women Uninsured: 9.6%
Junction City is the second most challenging city for women, with high poverty levels and generally poor statistics indicating a lack of opportunity.
3. Madras
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.69
Women In Management: 37.2%
Women In Poverty: 28.2%
Women Uninsured: 11.3%
Women in Madras face significant challenges, with only 37.2% in management roles and 28.2% living in poverty. This reflects a concerning situation for women in the area.
4. Altamont
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.67
Women In Management: 37.3%
Women In Poverty: 21.5%
Women Uninsured: 11.8%
Altamont ranks as the fourth worst city for women, with 11.8% of women lacking health insurance and 21.5% of women living in poverty.
5. Lebanon
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.56
Women In Management: 29.6%
Women In Poverty: 19.7%
Women Uninsured: 5.9%
Lebanon is the fifth most challenging city for women. While opportunities are slightly better than the top four cities, significant issues still persist.
6. The Dalles
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.58
Women In Management: 31.7%
Women In Poverty: 15.3%
Women Uninsured: 7.0%
The Dalles ranks sixth, with women facing a considerable risk of poverty and limited earning potential.
7. La Grande
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.54
Women In Management: 43.9%
Women In Poverty: 25.7%
Women Uninsured: 6.8%
La Grande presents a challenging environment for women, with high poverty rates and unfavourable income distribution.
8. Seaside
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.68
Women In Management: 25.4%
Women In Poverty: 12.8%
Women Uninsured: 9.6%
Seaside is not an ideal place for single women, who face a 12.8% chance of living in poverty and earn $0.68 for every dollar earned by men.
9. Ontario
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.77
Women In Management: 36.6%
Women In Poverty: 34.2%
Women Uninsured: 8.8%
Women in Ontario face challenges, earning $0.77 for every dollar earned by men, with 34.2% living in poverty and 8.8% uninsured.
10. Eagle Point
How Much Women Make For Male Dollars Earned: $0.49
Women In Management: 15.4%
Women In Poverty: 11.4%
Women Uninsured: 6.4%
In tenth place, Eagle Point offers slightly better conditions than the previous nine cities, yet still presents significant challenges for women, with 11.4% living in poverty.
Summary Of The Worst Cities to Be A Woman In Oregon
These cities represent the most challenging environments for women in Oregon. Although women throughout the state face various obstacles, these cities present particularly difficult circumstances.
While few cities in this analysis show women earning equal to or more than median male income, the disparities between the highest and lowest rankings are stark.
Ultimately, while Milton-Freewater may not be the worst city for every individual woman, it reflects a broader trend of challenges that women in the area face.
Explore the complete list below.
Detailed List Of The Worst Cities For Women In Oregon
| Rank | Place | Pay Gap |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milton-Freewater | $0.63 |
| 2 | Junction City | $0.53 |
| 3 | Madras | $0.69 |
| 4 | Altamont | $0.67 |
| 5 | Lebanon | $0.56 |
| 6 | The Dalles | $0.58 |
| 7 | La Grande | $0.54 |
| 8 | Seaside | $0.68 |
| 9 | Ontario | $0.77 |
| 10 | Eagle Point | $0.49 |
| 11 | Grants Pass | $0.73 |
| 12 | Hermiston | $0.69 |
| 13 | Sutherlin | $0.66 |
| 14 | Monmouth | $0.49 |
| 15 | Wilsonville | $0.65 |
| 16 | Redmond | $0.78 |
| 17 | Forest Grove | $0.59 |
| 18 | Baker City | $0.60 |
| 19 | Tillamook | $0.73 |
| 20 | Hillsboro | $0.60 |
| 21 | Cottage Grove | $0.64 |
| 22 | Tualatin | $0.66 |
| 23 | Four Corners | $0.68 |
| 24 | Klamath Falls | $0.74 |
| 25 | Brookings | $0.51 |
| 26 | Beaverton | $0.74 |
| 27 | Woodburn | $0.78 |
| 28 | Dallas | $0.66 |
| 29 | Gresham | $0.73 |
| 30 | North Bend | $0.71 |
| 31 | Lincoln City | $0.90 |
| 32 | Newberg | $0.74 |
| 33 | Hayesville | $0.74 |
| 34 | Medford | $0.76 |
| 35 | Sweet Home | $0.47 |
| 36 | Albany | $0.67 |
| 37 | Bend | $0.72 |
| 38 | St. Helens | $0.49 |
| 39 | Mcminnville | $0.73 |
| 40 | Cedar Mill | $0.49 |
| 41 | Sandy | $0.56 |
| 42 | Cornelius | $0.65 |
| 43 | Aloha | $0.74 |
| 44 | Keizer | $0.71 |
| 45 | Jennings Lodge | $0.88 |
| 46 | Corvallis | $0.83 |
| 47 | Bethany | $0.48 |
| 48 | Springfield | $0.79 |
| 49 | Cedar Hills | $0.69 |
| 50 | Eugene | $0.79 |
| 51 | Astoria | $0.77 |
| 52 | Tigard | $0.73 |
| 53 | Lake Oswego | $0.49 |
| 54 | Raleigh Hills | $0.58 |
| 55 | Molalla | $0.55 |
| 56 | Ashland | $0.81 |
| 57 | Damascus | $0.56 |
| 58 | Coos Bay | $0.74 |
| 59 | West Linn | $0.53 |
| 60 | Sherwood | $0.52 |
| 61 | Canby | $0.64 |
| 62 | Warrenton | $0.69 |
| 63 | Newport | $0.79 |
| 64 | Salem | $0.83 |
| 65 | Happy Valley | $0.50 |
| 66 | Talent | $0.98 |
| 67 | Roseburg North | $0.71 |
| 68 | Pendleton | $0.82 |
| 69 | Oatfield | $0.63 |
| 70 | Oak Hills | $0.71 |
| 71 | White City | $0.89 |
| 72 | Garden Home-Whitford | $0.69 |
| 73 | Rockcreek | $0.66 |
| 74 | Creswell | $0.57 |
| 75 | Central Point | $0.76 |
| 76 | Portland | $0.81 |
| 77 | Florence | $0.78 |
| 78 | Oregon City | $0.71 |
| 79 | Milwaukie | $0.73 |
| 80 | Deschutes River Woods | $0.85 |
| 81 | Oak Grove | $0.81 |
| 82 | Green | $0.65 |
| 83 | Scappoose | $0.53 |
| 84 | Bull Mountain | $0.59 |
| 85 | Stayton | $0.70 |
| 86 | Winston | $0.88 |
| 87 | Hood River | $0.99 |
| 88 | Roseburg | $0.96 |
| 89 | Troutdale | $0.75 |
| 90 | Independence | $0.86 |
| 91 | Gladstone | $0.87 |
| 92 | Silverton | $0.88 |
| 93 | West Haven-Sylvan | $0.91 |
| 94 | Fairview | $0.80 |
| 95 | West Slope | $0.84 |
Author
Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.
