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Portland, OR

Name: Portland, OR
Rating: 3.2

Population: 620,589

65

Key findings

Portland has a Livability Score of 65_/100, which is considered below average
Portland crime rates are 78% higher than the Oregon average
Cost of living in Portland is 8% higher than the Oregon average
Portland real estate prices are 29% higher than the Oregon average
Rental prices in Portland are 9% higher than the Oregon average

Best Places to Live in and Around Portland

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Compare Portland, OR Livability

What do the locals think about Portland?

42%Family friendly 63%Public transit is accessible 53%Walkable to grocery stores 28%Yards are well-kept 73%Lots of parks 58%Walkable to restaurants 42%Friendly neighbors 30%Safe at night 63%Pet friendly 60%Streets have sidewalks 28%A quiet area 37%Sense of community

Based on 60 votes from AreaVibes users. See all Portland poll results.

Portland Real estate & Rental prices

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Portland Demographics

Population620,589 Median Age36.8 Have Kids (under 18)45%

See more Portland demographic data

Portland, OR

Portland is one of the largest cities on the west coast of the US and it is by far one of the most unique. The city has a rich history of challenging social norms (in fact, one of the city's mottos is "Keep Portland Weird") and there is a little something for everyone there. Downtown is home to numerous attractions, including the famous Pioneer Courthouse Square and the Park Blocks. The streets give the impression of an up-and-coming city which combines nature and technology.

Portland became world renowned as the "Rose City" during World War II, when the threat to European rose species became so great that botanists wanted a safe haven in America to prepare for the worst. The International Rose Test Garden remains a free attraction to this day, with more varieties than almost any other. Much of modern day Portland was built around the same time, including the creation of Portland State University, a large institution in the area, and the development of famous neighborhoods, such as the Pearl District and Division.

Portland has been home to many corporate offices throughout the years, and Nike actually got its start in the Rose City. These offices have provided plenty of jobs to the area and supported the local economy greatly. Portland has done a wonderful job of balancing corporate growth and environmental protection. In fact, the city houses the biggest intercity park in the world, known as Forest Park. It has numerous hiking trails which stretch for miles.

Locals and tourists alike find Portland's transportation system excellent. Cars have no trouble in the area, but Portland prides itself on being inclusive to bikers, pedestrians, and public commuters. The Max is an above ground train which connects all of Portland's main neighborhoods and even goes as far as the main suburbs. Uber and Lyft have both taken off in the city as well, making transportation of all kinds possible, even to those who don't own a car.

Due to the fact that Portland is a growing city, cost of living has continued to rise. The average apartment is well above $1,000 per month and the increase does not seem to be slowing. However, this is combatted by local and state laws, which have begun to improve the minimum wage year-over-year to account for inflation and cost of living. It seems that Portland will only continue to grow as a prosperous location, with plenty of jobs and high wage opportunities to offset expenses.

The Pacific Northwest has become increasingly popular through the years and that popularity has not yet peaked. Expect to be welcomed with open arms and friendly greetings if you make the decision to call Portland your home.

Top Rated Schools in Portland

Name	Grades	Students	Proficiency
Findley Elementary School	KG - 5	726	92%
Jacob Wismer Elementary School	KG - 5	753	92%
Riverdale Grade School	KG - 8	400	86%
Le Monde French Immersion Public Charter School	KG - 6	311	85%
Bonny Slope Elementary School	KG - 5	638	83%
Forest Park Elementary School	KG - 5	443	82%
Winterhaven School	KG - 8	354	81%
Sato Elementary School	KG - 5	518	81%

See all Portland schools

The best places in Oregon

Here are the best places to live in Oregon

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Top 10 best public schools in Portland

Top 10 cities in Oregon with the best education system

Portland Reviews

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Leaving Portland after growing up here

Attractions2/10

Community2/10

Nightlife4/10

Dining6/10

Shopping10/10

I've been to 20 of the top 50 metro areas in the US and I've lived in Portland for 17 years so I think I can give a pretty balanced review of the city

Portland is neither horrible nor great. Alot of the news coverage about the protests was overblown, but the news coverage about the homeless population is not. Crackheads run all throughout downtown especially as you get closer to old chinatown. The city has lower speed limits than most cities and speed cameras so be careful driving even if you feel like you're not going that fast. The rain and cloudiness is soul-crushing at times, especially in the winter. There are more rainy days in the year than days with Sun. Also housing isn't affordable.

Big west coast cities in my experience are really about appearance. In LA it's the appearance that you have money. In Portland it's the appearance that you're good person by being liberal. People here vote for affordable housing but keep it from being built in their neighborhoods. I'm a black man and I actually lean left on things but when I disagree with people here they call me a bad person, recite something they read on instagram/facebook without any fact-checking, and question if I'm a Trump supporter (Which I definitely am not).

The only big plus to living here is the lack of sales tax. Also a lot of big clothing brands are based here like Nike, Adidas, and Columbia. I'm not sure about Columbia but Nike and Adidas give you 40% and 50% off at their employee stores respectively. The Adidas employee store is the easiest to get into but has the most limited selection. Also if your into food that's "healthy" you might like it here.

Overall this city is really for people 30+ who want to live in a liberal bubble or Intel and Nike employees.

0 0

A Pleasant Surprise

Attractions10/10

Community5/10

Nightlife8/10

Dining8/10

Shopping8/10

We just paid a visit to the beautiful State of Oregon and spent some time in downtown Portland. Before we left on our trip, I told others, mostly as a joke, that I hoped to not get hit by a lead pipe by some Antifa street thug. I have to say that, as usual, you cannot entirely believe what you see on the news or read in a newspaper, on any side of nearly any issue. I found the part of downtown Portland I saw was clean, no needles, no crap on the sidewalks, one homeless man and pleasant with a lot of amenities and nice people (however different from me many people may be). It's a reminder to me to not hold so many preconceived notions about people and places until you see for yourself what the reality actually is. No doubt, the video footage of political turmoil and weak police responses to political street clashes is real, but you cannot and should not assume it's everywhere in the city and happening as routine. Back to the real review. Powell's Bookstore was a big draw for me, and it didn't disappoint. You could spend a full day in the massive place and not really scratch the surface. The setting of the city is really beautiful and it's proximity to natural amenities is seemingly unequalled. Don't be put off by the media. Go and enjoy. You don't give up your convictions by simply being open to people and seeing a new place.

8 -16

Lots to do

Attractions9/10

Community7/10

Nightlife7/10

Dining8/10

Shopping9/10

Beautiful city are with lots of different activities to do, shopping, hiking, skiing, swim in the ocean and nice Breweries everywhere. People are progressive with an understanding social and environmental issues.

6 -9

READ BEFORE YOU MOVE TO OREGON: From an Oregon resident

Attractions8/10

Community5/10

Nightlife8/10

Dining8/10

Shopping5/10

Please make sure you have a job lined up. I'm meeting a lot of people who are having to move back to other states or are really struggling because most places don't pay past $10--12 (even bank tellers, medical/nurse aids) and if you have a family to feed without any plans in sight moving here might not be a good idea. The housing assistance list has a long wait---so if you plan on moving here "for an easy ride" it might take a while. Most Jobs require a current Oregon ID and license/background check as well----so if you're illegal, you will have a hard time finding a job. 66% of us voted against gving illegals drivers licenses----Portland progressives might want illegals here but the majority of us DO NOT. Portland is great for progressives but the rest of the state is strict and law enforcement are quick to do their jobs without pity. We are "down the middle" as far as politics go. In a nutshell: Oregon wages are VERY low. Rents are very high and employers are picky. Property taxes are very expensive. I would not recomment moving here unless you have a career and a job lined up. I was lucky enough to be able to transfer with my company. PLAN AHEAD, don't move here on a whim. The other reviews are right about the weather----cloudy, rainy, snow isnt too bad but we get a lot of icy roads (esp around Salem)

13 -7

Now I Know Why Native Oregonians Hate Portland

Attractions3/10

Community1/10

Nightlife2/10

Dining2/10

Shopping2/10

Food is over-rated. Crime is under-reported. Police are prevented from doing anything to curb street violence due to the ever-powerful Woke community leaders crying racism or sexism or ableism or whichever other ism will allow them to deny responsibility for the people they supposedly represent. Walk around downtown and find needles sprinkled about among the rose bushes, entitled homeless population that threatens you if you tell them no or tell them to stop blocking the public sidewalk with their bike-chop pop-up shops. Debauchery abound at virtually every bar due to the absent morals of this city. Noisy, horribly-planned highways. Terrible traffic. Residents who espouse "community" but who in actuality will only accept people who share their stirct political-beliefs. Self-absorbed, self-righteous, flaky and lazy people everywhere who would rather protest than put in actual work to make this a great city. May as well wait for the Big One to come and rattle those over-inflated housing prices down to near-nothing. 300k for an 650 sq ft 2bd 1 ba with outdated everything covered in mold...you'll probably pay 50k over that though once the bidding war happens.

I love Oregon and I still live here after relocating from Arizona years ago, but you couldn't pay me to live in Portland again.

20 -4

Portland not as advertised

Attractions4/10

Community6/10

Nightlife5/10

Dining5/10

Shopping5/10

Portland is underwhelming. The bones of the waterfront are great but have not been leveraged. As you walk down the boardwalk, it simply looks like an industrial wasteland. City center is not focussed. Minimal effectiveness on food. Public transit is excellent but the attractions are not as advertised. I have seen several Japanese gardens throughout the world. For claims that it qualifies as in the top echelon outside of Japan is a stretch. Oregon is home to some of the greatest natural beauty in the world. Canon beach is beautiful only to be surpassed by the drive along 26 to Portland. Unfortunately Portland leaves you with a sense of longing. There does not seem to be an emphasis on museum or non natural things to see. Any city that I have visited understands the importance of both leveraging the physical beauty of the environment they posess while also providing some form of intellectual challenge in the attractions they set up. I know that this may be sacrilege however Seattle who I visited for the first time seems to have struck that balance. I know that each individuals has there own beliefs in terms of what is interesting, however I believe that Portland is working its way to something that could be very special. Unfortunately they are 10 to 15 years away from that time.

9 -2

Lange & Associates

Attractions10/10

Community10/10

Nightlife10/10

Dining10/10

Shopping10/10

The entire process has been a nightmare with Lange & Associates. First of all there was a tremendous lack of response to phone calls. Then upon completion of my appraisal they completely left a bedroom out. Our heat sources were also stated incorrect we have baseboard heating as well as one wood stove and one pellet stove not mentioned. It was stated we have a gravel driveway, Incorrect we have 200' of asphalt not gravel. Also it was stated it is a 2 story home and our home is a 1 level ranch. Worst of all the comps given were not even in my zip code. To say the least I am very dissatisfied and am in the process of disputing this matter. I just wanted to let you all know so this does not happen to you.

3 -7

Americas Natural and Alternative Medicine Destination

Attractions12/10

Community12/10

Nightlife12/10

Dining12/10

Shopping12/10

In Portland, you are surrounded by Practices from traditional Chinese medicine to Integrative Physicians. The buffet of choice is very large, and after have many of my own experiences, I have to say two physicians to see are Dr. Samantha Du Moulin and Dr. Karen Cureton. The depth of knowledge and proper applications, along with a attentive, supportive, and nurturing supportive staff, namely Jackie, you will find the best overall care in Portland.

1 -7

Portland

Attractions1/10

Community1/10

Nightlife1/10

Dining1/10

Shopping10/10

portland looks like a city, but it's not. most of the downtown is shuttered. people living on the streets offer the area some diversity, vibrance. overpriced. lovely skies. xenophobic, rude, prejudice, racist, boring, boring, boring. museum and other cultural events way overpriced.portland northwests have little class when it comes to social graces it's not a city. and they don't have rent control and seem to think that's just fine. did i already say no social graces. no small talk. boring white boring xenophobic boring hostile boring rude. misogynistic hellhole. and they don't like "outsiders". transit sucks. environmentalists but everyone sucks up the oil with their driving. do people ever shower or do their wash? most look like they rolled out of a cave. must be systemic depression from the 364 days of gray sky and rain. thank the stars construction is happening and people are in tents on the streets--that's the only thing going on. besides hours of watching cars on the highways. portlanders don't like outsiders. i wonder why.

9 -8

WORST PLACE EVER

Attractions1/10

Community1/10

Nightlife1/10

Dining1/10

Shopping1/10

Why is rent for ANYONE so ridiculous??? When you want to go to downtown Portland to just walk around why does it cost a SMALL FORTUNE for a person to park one's car??? Traffic is a complete nightmare. I suppose all native Oregonians would be happy if no one from any other state would move here but reality is that they will. I WOULD NEVER ENCOURAGE ANYONE THAT I LIKED TO MOVE HERE. People are rude and obnoxious. Very unfriendly state.

9 -4

The amazing place of downtown Portland

Attractions9/10

Community9/10

Nightlife5/10

Dining5/10

Shopping10/10

Downtown here has a great attraction for visitors much like myself. I love to see the tiny "Portland cars," and the tall buildings filled with offices. It's easy to find work, just as it's easy to find shopping. There is a store for everyone: the teens have the mall, the girls have the American girl shop, and the house wives, the huge furniture stores. There is food for everyone, too. Whether you like Thai, pizza or fancy cakes, you've got it all here, in downtown Portland.

1 -5

New Explore Portland Bike share

Attractions?/10

Community?/10

Nightlife?/10

Dining?/10

Shopping?/10

Listen, orange is NOT the new black. Hear me when I say, People do not want to ride ORANGE bikes around the city. TRUST ME. Did you study this Color phenomenon??? It WILL have an impact on the success of this project. I mean for God's sake. Have some class Portland. Green and white. Blue and white. Or minimize the orange to a white and orange combo at the very least.... For the love of God, before it's too late. This is not a joke. I've seen it before. Color matters, and if people think they are riding around something less personalized than they are, there is a cut off. Many simply will not identify and will NOT ride those bikes. The opposite of what you are trying to do ?No¿. My guess is we are talking 5 out of ten potential riders will not ride based on color and feel of the bike alone. Don't even get me started on access on 10th and 11th street. That grid lock will just have to play itself out.

3 -4

What It's Like to Live in Portland, Oregon

Attractions9/10

Community10/10

Nightlife9/10

Dining9/10

Shopping9/10

I lived in Portland, Oregon and nearby cities in the metropolitan area for several years and it was one of the best places I've ever lived. First off, the transportation in Oregon is the best I've seen anywhere. We didn't own a car for a year and had zero problems getting anywhere. Between 24/7 bus routes (with bus stops everywhere and lines that go out of state), taxi services, light rails, streetcars, ferries, bike lanes, carpool lanes, and wide, well-maintained sidewalks even in the non-urban areas (and an airport and train station) you'll never find yourself wanting for a way to get around.

The community is friendly and celebratory. Not only are mainstream holidays like Christmas and Halloween eagerly decorated for but they have Portland-unique events like the Rose Festival. My favorite hangout was Ancient Wonders, a little game and comic store where I spent most of my free time as a child.

The music scene's excellent. When I lived in Portland and there was no shortage of venues or performers from big band & swing, jazz, blues, folk, reggae, to classic rock and country.

The scenery and climate are superb. It doesn't get too cold in the winter nor too hot in the summer. Consistent mild rains provide lush lawns and forests year-round. Did I mention how many trees there are? Deciduous and evergreen forests are everywhere, even interspersed with the urban and suburban zones themselves. The forest at Cook Park was my favorite walking spot with a path along the river. The city is green in a literal and metaphorical sense and incredibly clean. There's hardly any litter and the air and water are pure and clear.

3 -7

Portland, OR City Review

Attractions10/10

Community6/10

Nightlife10/10

Dining10/10

Shopping10/10

I have lived 15 minutes from Portland, Oregon since 1993. There's a lot to do in the city during the day and evening. The city serves as a tourist site for any personality, so getting bored would be difficult. There are children's activities such as museums, playgrounds, and play centers. There are also plenty of trails for hiking, biking, and popular swimming holes. At night the street comes alive and out comes the night owls who want to navigate the many night clubs and dance strips. One of the interesting things about Portland, Oregon is that it is one of the most diverse cities in the United States. The city has a rather large belly dance community and many of the belly dance superstars in the United States come from Portland! The city does have a bad side though, and you do have to be careful where you go or you could end up in a bad part of town. There are many streets in Portland that are considered druggy streets and prostitution landing grounds. So a person visiting should definitely do their research before venturing out.

Safe places to visit in Portland, Oregon include all of Portland Metro area, Healy Heights, Lair Hill, Ardenwald, and Northwest Heights. These places have the lowest crime in the city and are generally middle and upper class neighborhoods with nice shopping centers and lots of leisure activities.

Stay away from Gateway Transit center in Hazelwood; it's had a recent surge or rapes and murders in recent years, and it's considered a dangerous part of town, especially for a tourist. West Burnside Street in downtown Portland is another place to avoid because it's a high gang area with lots of crime and petty left.

3 -2

Portland, OR: Cool, Green and Friendly

Attractions8/10

Community10/10

Nightlife9/10

Dining9/10

Shopping9/10

Portland has been my home city since 1997, and I can't imagine getting tired of it. Portland is definitely cool; we are reputed to have the highest number of witches and lesbians per capita of any city in North America. As for green, there are trees and gardens everywhere; we have been voted the most bike-friendly city in the United States; and we have one of the largest urban parks in North America. Forest Park covers more than 5,100 acres on the west side of Portland, with over 70 miles of hiking and biking trails. REI was founded in Seattle, but the Portland stores are always packed. Hiking boots, kayaks, mountain bikes, and Gore-Tex are our best friends.

Portlanders are friendly. Imagine the way northern California was back in the 60's before too many people moved there - that is Portland. There are at least two bars and three coffee shops per non-residential block, there is live music everywhere, and Portland has the biggest and best independent bookstore in North America in Powells Books. House prices are reasonable and there is a great public transit system.

Gripes? Not enough parking spots downtown, but maybe that is a sneaky way to get us to drive less. And, oh yes, it rains. But you get used to it.

1 -4

Relish the Eccentricity of Portland, OR

Attractions9/10

Community10/10

Nightlife8/10

Dining8/10

Shopping7/10

In the summer of 2009, I was able to spend a week in the wonderfully diverse city that is Portland, Oregon. It's no wonder "Money" magazine named Portland North America's "Best Big City." The natural beauty and bustling streets make this city a comfortable, serene destination.

In Portland, I stayed in the gorgeous Hotel Vintage Plaza, which offers all the modern conveniences anyone could ask for, and is ensconced by a relaxing and tranquil atmosphere. Staying in this hotel is a bit pricey, but as it is a luxury hotel, I felt it was well worth the cost.

For a fun experience, stop in at Voodoo Doughnut for a list of gourmet doughnuts with unexpected flavor combinations. This wacky Portland restaurant expresses the spirit of the city perfectly. The eccentric and friendly vibe found here is prevalent throughout the city.

Portland is a very liberal city, which some might find undesirable. And locals relish the Portland weather, but frequent rain can be unwelcome to visitors. However, these characteristics add to Portland's uniqueness. Overall, Portland is an interesting place to visit.

0 -2

Source: The Portland, OR data and statistics displayed above are derived from the 2016 United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).

Portland, OR

Key findings

Best Places to Live in and Around Portland

Compare Portland, OR Livability

What do the locals think about Portland?

How Do You Rate The Livability In Portland?

Portland Real estate & Rental prices

Portland Demographics

Portland, OR

Top Rated Schools in Portland

The best places in Oregon

Portland Reviews