Milwaukie

Located just 6.5 miles from the bustling city of Portland, Milwaukie is a charming city mostly located in Clackamas County, Oregon with a small portion of the city extending into Multnomah County. Incorporated in 1903, Milwaukie is today a suburb of Portland and is home to around 21,000 residents and eight constituent neighborhoods, making it the 26th largest community in Oregon.

 

Ranked by Niche as the 6th best place to live in Clackamas County, Milwaukie is a thriving community located on the east side of the Willamette River, south of Portland. The city offers nice, laid-back vibes in a milieu that features an abundance of natural beauty, elegant wine bars, and family-friendly attractions.

 

Known as the ‘Dogwood City of the West for its amazing display of dogwood blossoms during the spring, Milwaukie is home to a cute downtown area that plays home to charming sidewalk cafés, boutique shops, and casual restaurants. The downtown area also hosts the bustling Milwaukie Farmer’s Market every Sunday. The market features over 80 vendors selling an extensive array of fresh farm products such as fruit, vegetables, herbs, plants, and flowers, dairy products, fresh meat and eggs, and a variety of home-cooked and freshly prepared foods.

 

The region’s rich history is well-preserved in Milwaukie Museum, which is located in the historic George Wise House and features several exhibits and historical items, including several Native American Indian artifacts, a Lewelling Cherry Tree, and the Clair Kuppenbender Research Library.

 

Thanks to Milwaukie’s proximity to the largest and most populous city in the state of Oregon - Portland - the residents of Milwaukie enjoy easy access to Portland’s exceptional recreational and professional opportunities. Portland's park system has been ranked as the 7th best park system in the United States, and its Washington Park is certainly its jewel crown. The Park is home to many of Portland’s premier attractions including a zoo, a famous International Rose Test Garden, a children’s museum, Japanese Gardens, and an arboretum. Every year, the park welcomes residents and visitors to enjoy an annual Rose Festival in May and June.

 

In addition, one of the top day trip destinations near Milwaukie is the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, which covers an immense 292,500 acres along the Pacific Northwest's largest river and offers an amazing sightseeing region perfect for relaxing drives and imbibing pristine nature.

 

Real estate in Milwaukie has shown an average growth of 4.4% per year since the year 2000 and prices of homes in Milwaukie have overall appreciated by a strong 146.86%. Milwaukie’s housing market is considered somewhat competitive as the sale prices of homes in Milwaukie have experienced strong growth of more than 20.6% since May 2020.

 

The median home price in Milwaukie is $475,000. Currently, there are 204 active homes for sale in Milwaukie, and normally it takes just 35 days for a listed home to sell.

 

Over the last year, Milwaukie’s job market has grown by 0.9%, while its unemployment rate stands at a decent 6.1%. The US average is 6%. Also, the city’s job market is expected to grow by a staggering 43.1% over the next ten years.

 

On average, a Milwaukie resident earns around $27,200 per annum, almost in line with the US average of $28500. The city’s median household income of almost $55,900 per resident is also modestly greater than the US average of approximately $53000. Most of the residents of Milwaukie work in construction, manufacturing, retail, finance, education, accommodation, professional and technical services, and healthcare.

 

Milwaukie is covered by North Clackamas School District, which plays home to 31 schools and 17,053 enrolled students. Since 1996, Milwaukie High School has annually hosted the nationally recognized Living History Day, when thousands of veterans are welcomed into the school to help educate students about the past.

 

Milwaukie also lies in proximity to many colleges including, among others, Warner Pacific College, Lewis & Clark College, and Portland Community College.

 

When it comes to higher education, Milwaukie lies in the vicinity of several universities including Reed College, Marylhurst University, and Multnomah University. Founded in 1908, Reed College is known for its mandatory first-year humanities program, senior thesis, progressive politics, de-emphasis on grades, and an unusually high proportion of graduates who go on to earn doctorates and other postgraduate degrees.  The college has many prominent alumni, including over a hundred Fulbright Scholars, 67 Watson Fellows, and three Churchill Scholars.

 

To sum up, Milwaukie is a gorgeous city that offers the charms of small-town living, as well as the top-notch conveniences of the nearby megacity of Portland. Thanks to its proximity to Portland, Milwaukie’s residents get to enjoy the best recreational, professional, and business opportunities available in Oregon. If you are mulling over moving to Oregon and prefer small-town living, Milwaukie would make a great place to call home.