Living in Portland, OR
Big city in Oregon
Portland is a big city in Oregon, home to about 643,000 people, with 2.2 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, you can walk or take transit almost everywhere. Life moves at a fast pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
In short: Bikeable, creative and close to forests and the coast. Grey winters, and the downtown has had its struggles.
Is Portland a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Strong healthcare: 10 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Mild summers: highs around 78°F
- Lots of culture: museums, zoos and attractions nearby
- Easy flying: PDX is 4 mi away
👎 Cons
- Cloudier than most places
- Fewer family amenities than most places
- Higher taxes: about $3,084 state income tax per resident, 0.99% property tax
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Portland ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Portland: common questions
What is the cost of living in Portland?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $523k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,620 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 105, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Portland?
Oregon collects about $3,084 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.99% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Portland safe?
Violent crime is somewhat above the national rate (1.4× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Portland?
Portland has cool winters: winter days average around 48°F and summer days around 78°F, with roughly 4″ of snow a year.
Does Portland get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from earthquakes and flooding: 5 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1.59 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Portland?
The nearest major airport is PDX, about 4 mi away.
How Portland scores
Each bar compares Portland with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Nearby
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Is Portland right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.