Buy or rent?

Not sure whether to buy or rent? SmartAsset, a financial technology company, put together a list of the best places to buy throughout the country, and ranked the top 10 counties in Oregon. Using stats from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau 2014 American Community Survey, they looked at the cost of renting vs. the cost of buying. For more on the methodology and to see an interactive map of the state, go here. We've put together a list of the top 10 counties for purchasing a home in Oregon, along with some representative cities in each county. All stats are from SmartAsset.

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Terry Richard/staff/2015

10. Lincoln County

Includes: Lincoln City (pictured), Newport, Depot Bay

Breakeven year: 3.5

Average monthly mortgage payment: $815

Average monthly rent: $1,291

Average home price: $201,086

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Terry Richard/staff/2014

9. Linn County

Includes: Lebanon, Sweet Home, parts of Albany (pictured)

Breakeven year: 3.5

Average monthly mortgage payment: $738

Average monthly rent: $1,216

Average home price: $182,108

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Oregonian file

8. Klamath County

Includes: Klamath Falls (pictured), Bonanza, Chemult

Breakeven year: 3.4

Average monthly mortgage payment: $675

Average monthly rent: $1,071

Average home price: $166,433

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Jamie Francis/staff/file

7. Josephine County

Includes: Grants Pass (pictured), Cave Junction

Breakeven year: 3.3

Average monthly mortgage payment: $809

Average monthly rent: $1,207

Average home price: $199,590

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Luke Hammill/staff

6. Tillamook County

Includes: Tillamook (pictured), Pacific City, Manzanita

Breakeven year: 3.3

Average monthly mortgage payment: $750

Average monthly rent: $1,133

Average home price: $184,906

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Terry Richard/Staff/2006

5. Coos County

Includes: Coos Bay, North Bend, Bandon, Myrtle Point

Breakeven year: 3.3

Average monthly mortgage payment: $698

Average monthly rent: $1,079

Average home price: $172,208

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Beth Nakamura/staff

4. Douglas County

Includes: Roseburg (pictured), Reedsport, Sutherlin

Breakeven year: 3.2

Average monthly mortgage payment: $836

Average monthly rent: $1,236

Average home price: $206,313

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Terry Richard/staff/2015

3. Curry County

Includes: Gold Beach, Brookings, Port Orford

Breakeven year: 3.1

Average monthly mortgage payment: $862

Average monthly rent: $1,237

Average home price: $212,566

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Faith Cathcart/staff/2011

2. Yamhill County

Includes: McMinnville (pictured), Newberg, Dundee

Breakeven year: 3.1

Average monthly mortgage payment: $1,001

Average monthly rent: $1,462

Average home price: $247,020

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Terry Richard/staff/2015

1. Clatsop County

Includes: Cannon Beach, Seaside (pictured), Astoria

Breakeven year: 3.1

Average monthly mortgage payment: $843

Average monthly rent: $1,217

Average home price: $207,961