East Cascades’ Population Growth Rate Outpaces the State in 2024
February 13, 2025Portland State University’s Population Research Center recently released 2024 population estimates for Oregon, as well as its counties and cities. Oregon’s population rose by 0.3% from 2023 to 2024, increasing by 13,358 to a total of 4,263,385.
The East Cascades counties hold the top five spots in terms of percentage growth. The region grew at 0.7%, increasing by 2,915. Deschutes County grew the fastest at 1.2%, adding 2,400 residents to total 208,612. Crook County added 286 residents, for a total of 26,366, growing at a rate of 1.1%.
After Crook County, Jefferson County grew at 0.9%, adding 230 residents to total 25,447. While Gilliam County added only 19 residents, it also grew at a rate of 0.9% to a total of 2,108. Rounding out the top five, Hood River County grew by 0.8%, adding 189 residents to total 24,168.
Sherman County found itself within the top ten, growing at 0.7%, the ninth fastest, adding 13 residents to total 1,927. Wheeler County grew at a rate of 0.3%, the 16th fastest in the state. They added 4 residents to total 1,483.
Klamath, Lake, and Wasco counties all experienced negative growth, along with nine other counties in the state. Klamath County ranked 27th in growth rate with a decline of 0.1%, losing 81 residents to total 69,878. Lake County declined by 0.2%, losing 14 residents to total 8,221. This was the 29th ranked growth rate in the state. To round out the East Cascades region, Wasco County lost 131 residents, for a total of 26,444, declining by 0.5%. This was the 35th ranked growth rate.
