$403,519Average Value$291Average Price per Sq Ft5Homes For Sale
Celebrating Jefferson’s farming heritage
In 1957, members of the Jefferson Lions Club organized a Mint Festival to raise money for local charities and honor what was then the region’s staple crop. The first Mint Festival was a modest success, but the organizers felt something was missing, so they decided to add a frog jumping competition to the festival, rebranding it as the Jefferson Mint Festival and Frog Jump. Over 60 years later, very few local farmers still grow mint, but the festival remains one of the region’s most famous small-town events. Competitors spend months training their frogs to leap, eventually gathering on the third weekend each July on Main Street for food, live music and fun. “We’re a quiet farming town, and that’s what most people here like about it,” says Tawana Bedortha, who has been bartending at Tommy’s Welcome Inn on Jefferson’s Main Street for over 20 years. “The Mint Festival and Frog Jump is our chance to all come together each summer.”
Craftsman homes near Main Street
Most of Jefferson’s 3,000 residents live within a few blocks of Main Street, a small commercial and dining district running along the Santiam River on the western edge of town. The wide streets fanning out from Main Street are lined with small trees and well-maintained sidewalks, allowing unencumbered views of the big western sky and the pine-forested hills surrounding the community. The housing market consists of ranch and Craftsman-style homes, most of which feature outdoor living space and large garages for the drift boats, kayaks and camping trailers common among Oregon’s rural residents. Prices in Jefferson range from $250,000 for a 2-bedroom ranch to $450,000 for a 2,000-square-foot Craftsman home.
Making the grade in Jefferson
Students in Jefferson are served by the three schools within the Jefferson School District, beginning with Jefferson Elementary, a C-rated school on Niche with a student-teacher ratio of 16-to-1. From there, students move on to Jefferson Middle School — which receives a C-minus grade from Niche — and Jefferson High School, a B-minus-rated school with an average SAT score of 1050. Graduates of Jefferson High School regularly attend prestigious local universities like Oregon State and the University of Portland.
Outdoor adventures on the Santiam River
The Jefferson community comes together at Jefferson Park, a neighborhood park featuring picnic areas, playgrounds, sports fields and an outdoor pool. When the pool gets crowded during the summer, residents bring their inner tubes and kayaks down to the Santiam River to float the calm stretch of river between the Jefferson Bridge Boat Launch and the Jacob Conser Bridge, careful to avoid the anglers fly fishing for native trout. “We have hundreds of floaters come into the bar every weekend after getting off the Santiam River,” says Bedortha. For nature lovers, the Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge provides miles of nature trails for hiking and bird watching, and the Pacific beaches in Lincoln City are a popular day trip and extended weekend destination.
Supporting Jefferson’s Local Businesses
Jefferson locals enjoy access to centrally located shops like Riverside Grocery, a friendly small-town market with a great selection and an in-store deli. For the freshest produce in town, residents can visit Greens Bridge Gardens, a local “U-Pic” farmers market where shoppers can select produce, vegetables, herbs and berries straight from the source. La Espiga Taqueria & Bakery serves authentic Mexican cuisine in its cozy and colorful dining room on Main Street, only a few blocks from the pool tables and jukebox at Tommy’s Welcome Inn, Jefferson’s favorite local bar. For retail shopping, locals must drive to Albany, where they will find familiar national retailers like Costco, Walmart and Kohl’s.
Getting around in rural Oregon
Situated on the western half of Oregon between Eugene and Portland, Jefferson is located 3 miles east of Interstate 5 on the banks of the Santiam River. Residents can drive 9 miles south to Albany or 17 miles north to Salem via Highway 164, and the sandy beaches of Oregon’s Pacific Coast are only 70 miles to the west. Portland is home to the nearest international airport, drivable from Jefferson in less than one hour.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
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an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge
Picnic Area
Trails
Hiking
Jefferson Park
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Jefferson
US
Homicide
2
4
Sexual Assault
3
4
Assault with Weapon
2
4
Robbery
2
4
Burglary
2
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
3
4
Larceny
2
4
Crime Score
2
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Jefferson, OR sell after 54 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Jefferson, OR over the last 12 months is $403,816, up 8% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Enjoy the charm of small-town living in this well-maintained 3-bedroom, 2-bath home offering 1,478 sq ft of comfortable living space. Nestled on a spacious corner lot with mature trees, this property provides extra privacy in a quiet, welcoming neighborhood near the scenic Santiam River. Inside, you'll find a cozy wood-burning fireplace, perfect for chilly evenings, and a newer heat pump (2023)
Welcome home! Upgrades galore on this single family residence including 2019: Laminate flooring, repiped with PEX pipes and 2021: water heater, AC unit, Leaf Guard Gutters, Exterior painting. Kitchen offers gas range, bar seating, tile backsplash, and glass front cabinets. There is a carport for extra parking, workshop with power, and the backyard backs up to peaceful farm fields. There is a
INVESTOR ALERT! This home is being sold AS IS. Seller will not do any repairs. With over half an acre, this property provides plenty of space. The detached shop is approx. 560 sq ft. County shows 3 bd, but the layout currently includes 2 bd, 2 bath, 2 additional rooms and a living room downstairs. Upstairs features 2 large rooms separated by a breezeway currently used as a closet.
This property boasts exceptional cash flow and a consistently low vacancy rate, making it a stella investment opportunity. Each unit is equipped with a refrigerator for added convenience. The top-floor units feature private balconies, while the ground-floor units enjoy charming patios. The property includes paved parking for residents, with easy access to Main Street, it's perfectly situated for
Beautifully updated manufactured home on generous corner lot. So many upgrades in the last 2 years: all new kitchen and primary bath, new vinyl windows, wood stove, and new furnace w/heat pump! Exterior has a fenced back yard, a peach and an apple tree, as well as established herb garden in the front. Front siding replaced and entire exterior painted. Home is also prewired for a generator. You
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Nick Shivers,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
3,193
Median Age
38
Population Density
7 ppl/acre
Population under 18
27.3%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
16.4%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$76,691
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$89,217
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
81.7%
College Graduates
17.5%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
3.7%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
71.3%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
39''
Average Winter Low Temperature
35°F
Average Summer High Temperature
83°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
43/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
51/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
