Multnomah County, Oregon Eviction Risk: High

Multnomah County carries an average eviction-risk score of 8/10 (High) across its 10 incorporated places, placing it rank 1 of 36 Oregon counties, meaning no other county in the state scores higher. For landlords and investors, that top ranking signals a operating environment shaped by aggressive tenant protections, a high renter share of 46.9%, and an average rent burden of 31.8% that keeps financially stressed tenants common. Individual city scores span a meaningful range of 7.9 to 8.7, so picking the right submarket within the county still matters even if the overall picture is uniformly challenging.

With a total population of 780,644 and an average asking rent of $1,648, Multnomah County is Oregon's largest and most densely rented county. Landlords here deal with state-mandated just-cause requirements, strict rent-increase caps, and timelines that make a contested eviction a multi-month undertaking. Understanding those constraints before acquiring or managing a rental is not optional.

The cities inside Multnomah County

Gresham (population 112,378) is the county's highest-risk city at 8.7/10, driven by a large renter base and economic pressures that consistently produce higher eviction-filing rates. Close behind is Durham at 8.5/10 and Portland (population 641,165) at 8/10, the county seat and by far the largest city, where local ordinances layer additional tenant protections on top of state law. Troutdale and Wood Village both score 8.3/10, while Orient comes in at 8.2/10.

The lowest-scoring cities, Dunthorpe, Maywood Park, and Rivergrove, each score 7.9/10, which is still firmly in the high-risk tier by any statewide comparison. The practical lesson is that risk is hyper-local: a landlord operating in Gresham eviction risk faces materially worse odds than one in Dunthorpe, even though both addresses share the same county. Reviewing the city-level scores in the grid below before committing to a specific submarket is worth the time.

State-level laws that apply here

The Oregon eviction process is governed by ORS § 90 (Residential Landlord and Tenant). For nonpayment of rent, Oregon requires a 14-day notice under ORS 90.394. A material, non-curable lease violation triggers a 3-day notice (ORS 90.396). No-cause terminations are permitted only during the first year of tenancy with 30 days notice; after one year, landlord-based no-fault terminations require 90 days notice under ORS 90.427. Oregon mandates just-cause for termination after the first year, and rent increases are capped at a formula of 7% plus CPI, with a maximum of 10%. Oregon does not preempt local rent control, which is why Portland eviction risk carries its own supplemental rules on top of state law.

On costs, court filing fees run $165 to $275, sheriff lockout fees add $50 to $175, and attorney fees typically range from $750 to $3,500. An uncontested case resolves in roughly 30 to 60 days; a contested case can stretch 60 to 150 days. Understanding the full scope of Oregon eviction costs and Oregon tenant protections before a problem tenant appears, rather than after, is the practical starting point for anyone owning rentals in this county.

With a county-wide poverty rate of 12.7% and nearly half of all households renting, the financial stress that drives eviction filings is built into the local market structure, making the city-by-city scores in the grid above the most actionable data point for anyone deciding where to place capital.