Portland 66 Good
Portland Livability #135 ranked city in Tennessee#11,981 ranked city in the USARanks better than 59% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Portland

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Taking into account the cost of goods and services like housing, groceries, transportation and utilities, the overall cost of living in this area is well below average.

  • Housing 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.

  • Ratings Ratings

    Based on recent surveys and polls, locals gave high marks in the walkability to local amenities, safety, public transit, friendliness of neighbors and overall sense of community in the area.

CONS
  • Amenities 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 Commute

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

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    The low score in this category could be due to challenges related to air quality and the limited accessibility of health-related facilities like hospitals, nursing homes, doctors and pharmacies.

  • Schools Schools

    The low schools score could result from issues like below-average graduation rates, inadequate reading and math scores, and the unavailability of local elementary and high schools.

What's it like Living in Portland?

Portland is a mid-sized city located in the state of Tennessee. The city has a population of 13,381 inhabitants. If we look at the most recent Census, Portland is known to have a predominantly White population. The next two most common races are Black and Asian. Long commute times to work can be incredibly frustrating, ranking just behind housework on the list of life's annoyances. If you opt to make Portland your home, your one-way commute time will typically last around 28 minutes, a duration that aligns with the national average commute time of 26 minutes.

Without the right tools, relocating to any new city can be very stressful and challenging. Living in Portland, Tennessee could be a good experience for anyone who puts in the time to do the research required. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is paramount, ensuring a secure environment for you and your family. Proximity to workplaces or schools reduces commuting time and enhances convenience. Access to amenities like parks, grocery stores and healthcare facilities contributes to a comfortable lifestyle. Reliable public transportation options promote easy mobility. A strong sense of community fosters social connections and a welcoming atmosphere. With useful information like crime, cost of living, commute, health & safety, housing and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Portland and in the areas around Portland is a much easier task.

The livability score in Portland is 66 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 64th percentile of all cities across America. If we consider each of the categories individually, we see that Portland ranks well for crime (B+), cost of living (A+) and housing (A+). Portland does not fare well for the following: amenities (F) and education (D-). It might be wise to take a closer look at each category to find out why.

A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Portland excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.

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 $271,850, which is 3.7% higher than the Tennessee 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 3.3, which is 10.8% lower than the Tennessee average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Portland

See all the best places to live around Portland

How Do You Rate The Livability In Portland?

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      Portland transportation information

      Statistic Portland Tennessee National
      Average one way commute28min25min26min
      Workers who drive to work80.6%83.6%76.4%
      Workers who carpool11.9%9.2%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.0%0.8%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.1%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.5%1.4%2.8%
      Working from home5.0%3.9%4.6%
      Source: The Portland, TN data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.