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Florence is a coastal city of approximately 9,396 residents on the South Oregon Coast at the mouth of the Siuslaw River. The city is home to a historic Old Town bayfront, the Conde McCullough-designed Siuslaw River Bridge, and serves as the northern gateway to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. This page aggregates publicly available facts about the community, current real estate market data from RMLS®, and active property listings.
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Searching in: Florence, OR
Facts about Florence compiled from official and public sources. Each data point shows its vintage (when the source published it) so you know what you’re looking at.
At mouth of Siuslaw River; midway between Newport and Coos Bay
2020 Decennial Census ·
Eugene is county seat (inland)
Named possibly for State Senator A.B. Florence
Single ZIP covers the city and surrounding area
Low-lying coastal; Siuslaw River estuary at river mouth
Mix of single-family, retirement, and seasonal; 2020 Census
2020 Census / 2023 ACS ·
Predominantly owner-occupied; 12.9% vacancy rate
2020 Census ·
Well above Oregon median; strong retiree community
2020 Census ·
Via OR-126 through Eugene + I-5 · typically ~3 hours drive
Siuslaw Elementary, Siuslaw Middle (grades 6-8), Siuslaw HS
2020 Census ·
21-bed critical access · Level III trauma · opened 1989
Current ·
~170 mi NE · local Florence Municipal (6S2) general aviation only
Current ·
Köppen Csb · cooler/wetter than typical Mediterranean due to Pacific
Retirement-heavy; tourism, healthcare, retail drive employment
2023 ACS 5-year ·
Miles of beach plus Oregon Dunes NRA (40 mi of dunes) just south
Oregon Beach Bill (1967) ·
Siuslaw River Bridge (Conde McCullough, 1936) · Historic Old Town
Florence is the largest city on the South Oregon Coast north of the Coos Bay area, anchored by its role as a retiree destination, tourism hub for the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, and regional service center for western Lane County. The city’s housing stock of approximately 5,310 units (2020 Census) spans a mix of mid-century single-family homes, riverfront and oceanfront properties, retirement communities, and historic buildings in Old Town.
With a median age of 60.8 years, Florence has one of the oldest demographic profiles on the Oregon Coast, reflecting its strong retiree draw. Employment anchors include PeaceHealth Peace Harbor Medical Center, Three Rivers Casino Resort (Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw Indians; opened 2004), and the tourism economy around the Oregon Dunes. The market features a broad affordability range: inland single-family homes remain relatively attainable, while oceanfront, riverfront, and golf-course-adjacent properties command significant premiums.
Market prices and inventory shift quarter-to-quarter based on regional rates and migration trends. The market snapshot at right uses live RMLS® data via our MLS integration rather than static figures that could go stale.
Note: Market statistics activate with our MLS integration and refresh automatically from RMLS® data. The housing units figure (5,310) is from the 2020 Decennial Census and will remain static until revised.
Florence is organized around its Siuslaw River waterfront, with Historic Old Town at the bayfront, the main US-101 commercial corridor running north–south through the city, and residential areas spreading east of the highway and out toward the beach. Descriptions reflect location only; price ranges populate from live RMLS® data via our MLS integration.
Distances are approximate driving distances from central Florence. Florence sits at the northern edge of the South Coast region and connects to Newport (Lincoln County) to the north and Coos Bay/North Bend to the south along US-101, with Eugene as the nearest major inland city via OR-126.
Quick answers about Florence, each backed by an authoritative source. For questions specific to a particular property or listing, call (800) 256-9702 to reach a licensed Oregon broker.
Florence had a population of 9,396 residents as recorded in the 2020 Decennial Census. A 2024 estimate from Oregon’s Population Research Center places the city at approximately 9,482 residents.
Florence was officially incorporated on February 10, 1893, per the Oregon Blue Book. The city is named either for Oregon State Senator A.B. Florence, who represented Lane County from 1858 to 1860, or for a French vessel wrecked at the mouth of the Siuslaw River on February 17, 1875 — historical accounts differ.
Florence is approximately 165 miles southwest of Portland. Typical drive time is roughly 3 hours, most commonly via I-5 south to Eugene then OR-126 West through the Coast Range to the coast. The coastal US-101 route is substantially slower.
Florence students attend schools in Siuslaw School District 97J, which serves the Florence area and surrounding western Lane County. In-city schools include Siuslaw Elementary School, Siuslaw Middle School (grades 6-8, 2525 Oak Street), and Siuslaw High School.
PeaceHealth Peace Harbor Medical Center is located within Florence city limits. It is a 21-bed critical access hospital and Level III trauma center that opened in 1989. It serves Florence and the surrounding rural communities of Mapleton, Swisshome, Westlake, Waldport, Yachats, and Reedsport across Lane, Lincoln, and Douglas counties.
The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is a 40-mile stretch of sand dunes along the Pacific coast, extending from the Siuslaw River at Florence south to the Coos River at North Bend. Managed by the US Forest Service (Siuslaw National Forest), it features dunes up to 500 feet high and is popular for hiking, off-highway vehicle riding, and camping. Florence serves as the northern gateway to the NRA.
The Siuslaw River Bridge is a historic arch bridge on US-101 crossing the Siuslaw River at the southern edge of Florence. Designed by Oregon State Bridge Engineer Conde B. McCullough and completed in 1936, it is one of eleven major bridges on the Oregon Coast Highway designed by McCullough and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Yes. The entire Oregon shoreline, including the beaches at Heceta Beach and the Oregon Dunes, is public up to the high-tide line under the Oregon Beach Bill (1967). The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and US Forest Service manage the beaches and dunes.
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