Jun 2, 2026 - Climate
Oregon households without A/C face rising heat risks
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Clatsop County — home to coastal towns like Astoria, Cannon Beach and Seaside — has the highest share of households without air conditioning in Oregon, according to recent census data.
Why it matters: As heat waves get more common and more intense due to climate change, more Oregonians may install A/C to stay cool and healthy — especially in places that aren't as used to extreme heat.
Zoom in: In Multnomah County, roughly 46,000 households don't have A/C — about 13% — as of 2023.
- To help close that gap, Portland launched Cooling Portland after the 2021 heat dome, focusing on seniors with medical conditions that are exacerbated by high temperatures.
- 78% of those who died during the deadly four-day event were 60 years and older.
- The program has since installed more than 20,300 portable cooling units since 2022, funded primarily through the city's clean energy fund.
- It aims to add 25,000 more by the end of 2026.
The bottom line: In Oregon, A/C is no longer just about comfort — it's increasingly a matter of public health.