Portland 74 Excellent
Portland Livability #58 ranked city in Connecticut#4,119 ranked city in the USARanks better than 85% of areas

Pros and Cons of Living in Portland

PROS
  • Crime

    Crime per 100,000 people is significantly lower than the national average, making it a safe place to live. These crime statistics include both violent and property crimes.

  • Employment

    Higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates are seen in this area. The result is a high score in the employment category.

  • Housing

    High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.

  • Health & Safety

    Good air quality as well as nearby health facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, fire and police stations all contribute to a higher than average health and safety score.

  • Schools

    The schools category earns a high score due to factors like exceptional test scores, strong education levels and the close proximity of elementary and high schools in this area.

CONS
  • Amenities

    The majority of amenities are not ideally located within walking distance. To access these amenities, residents may be required to rely on a vehicle or public transit.

  • Commute

    A low commute score could be due to longer-than-average work commutes and the limited availability of public transportation in this area.

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What's it like Living in Portland?

Portland, Connecticut is a smaller city with a population of 5,937 inhabitants. At 93%, the majority of the Portland population is White; this is followed by 1% Black and 0% Asian. On a daily basis, the typical American spends approximately 26 minutes on their one-way work commute. Reduced travel times not only contributes to increased overall happiness, but also affords more opportunities to cherish moments with family and friends. If you're living in Portland, your commute time will align closely with the national average, spanning a one-way duration of approximately 25 minutes.

Whether you’re relocating to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Portland could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Connecticut if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. The best areas in Portland and in surrounding cities are easier to find when you are able to make informed decisions. Using data from crime, cost of living, employment, you will see a detailed breakdown of the most important information as well as comparisons to the Connecticut and national averages.

The livability score in Portland is 73 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 84th percentile of all cities across America. For each of the livability categories, we see that Portland ranks very well for crime (A+), education (A-), employment (B+) and housing (A-). Regrettably for Portland, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (F) and cost of living (D).

Crime rates can be the deciding factor for anyone looking to relocate to a new area, as the result is often a greater level of safety and security as well as an improved quality of life. Portland gets top scores for their low violent crime rates of 42 crimes per 100,000 residents, which are significantly lower than the national average.

Finding affordable real estate and housing in Portland can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.

Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Portland is real estate affordability. Median real estate prices in Portland come in at $222,900, which is 17.2% lower than the Connecticut average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Portland, the home price to income ratio is 2.9, which is 23.7% lower than the Connecticut average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Portland

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Portland?

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Compare Portland, CT Livability

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      Portland transportation information

      Statistic Portland Connecticut National
      Average one way commute25min26min26min
      Workers who drive to work90.7%78.3%76.4%
      Workers who carpool3.9%8.1%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.0%4.9%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.3%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.7%2.9%2.8%
      Working from home4.4%4.6%4.6%
      Source: The Portland, CT data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).