The Town FilesGaston, Oregon
City in Washington County · population 676 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $466,400
- Household income
- $125,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 40.2
Gaston is a city of 676 people in Washington County, Oregon. The median home is worth $466,400, above the typical Oregon town ($394,200). It ranks better for families than 94% of Oregon towns, better transit than 91% of Oregon towns, better for retirees than 90% of Oregon towns.
How Gaston ranks
Percentile among Oregon towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Oregon towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Gaston is worth $466,400, above the typical Oregon town ($394,200). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $125,625, which is more affordable than 88% of Oregon towns. Median rent is $1,563 a month. 81.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gaston | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $466,400 | $394,200 |
| Median rent | $1,563 | $1,312 |
| Median household income | $125,625 | $76,221 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 81.5% | 71.1% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Gaston
| People | Gaston | Typical Oregon town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 41.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.1% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.1% | 23.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.3% | 10.8% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 12.2% |
| Average commute | 31.9 min | 23.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 100.0% | 92.4% |
Weather in Gaston
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 32.6°F. About 46.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.2 inches of snow (typical Oregon town: 3.1 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 61 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Gaston since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Oregon town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on October 29, 2018 about 8.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 29, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on May 25, 1998.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 9, 2024 | Fire | FM-5529: Lee Falls Fire |
| September 15, 2020 | Fire | DR-4562: Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds |
| September 10, 2020 | Fire | EM-3542: Wildfires |
| September 10, 2020 | Fire | FM-5371: Chehalem Mountain Bald Peak Fire |
| September 8, 2020 | Fire | FM-5358: Powerline Fire |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 308,680 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $90,292 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Gaston itself the ACS puts it at 0.9%.
Public schools in Gaston
2 public schools with 482 students, about 16.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaston Jr/Sr High School | 7-12 | 254 | 15.9 |
| Gaston Elementary School | K-6 | 228 | 16.3 |
Towns near Gaston
- Cherry Grove, OR5.1 mi · 503 people · home $398,800
- Forest Grove, OR6.4 mi · 26,225 people · home $479,600
- Yamhill, OR6.8 mi · 1,147 people · home $474,700
- Cornelius, OR7.4 mi · 12,694 people · home $452,900
- Carlton, OR9.8 mi · 2,220 people · home $420,600
- Hillsboro, OR12.0 mi · 106,447 people · home $521,100
- Banks, OR12.6 mi · 1,837 people · home $446,800
- Newberg, OR12.6 mi · 25,138 people · home $472,100
Gaston questions
Is Gaston, Oregon a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gaston scores better for retirees than 90% of Oregon towns and quieter than 78%. 13.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.2).
How much does a house cost in Gaston?
The median owner-occupied home in Gaston is valued at $466,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $125,625, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,563 a month.
What is the weather like in Gaston?
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 32.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.7 inches of precipitation a year and 5.2 inches of snow.
Does Gaston get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Gaston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on October 29, 2018. The typical Oregon town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)