Portland

Straddling the picturesque Willamette River, Portland is the largest and most populous city in the state of Oregon. Portland is the seat of Multnomah County and also the principal city of the Portland Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is the 25th most populous in the United States with a population of 2.4 million people. Portland is a major port in the Willamette Valley region of the Pacific Northwest.

 

Ranked by Niche as the 16th best city for young professionals in America, Portland is a bustling community that has an estimated population of 654,741 (as of 2019), making it the 26th most populated city in the United States, the sixth-most populous on the West Coast, and the second-most populous in the Pacific Northwest after Seattle. 

Known as the “City of Roses,” Portland offers exceptional outdoor recreational opportunities to residents and visitors alike. The city’s park system has been proclaimed one of the best in America. In the 2013 ParkScore ranking, Portland’s park system was ranked the seventh-best park system among the 50 most populous U.S. cities.  

Spanning over 410 acres and located just west of downtown Portland, the Washington Park is one of the crown jewels of Portland’s park system. 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. The Portland Japanese Garden is one of the largest outside Japan and is situated on the grounds of an old zoo. 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 from Portland is the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, which covers an immense 292,500 acres along the Pacific Northwest's largest river. The Columbia River delineates the Oregon-Washington state border, and its entire length is an amazing sightseeing region perfect for relaxing drives and imbibing pristine nature. The whole stretch is dotted with gorgeous waterfalls, ideal for taking pictures, such as the Multnomah Falls, lovely Oneonta Gorge, and Latourell Falls in Guy W. Talbot State Park.  

Other unique attractions to visit in Portland include Forest Park, which is the largest wilderness park within city limits in the United States, covering more than 5,000 acres. The Park plays home to many of the best hiking trails in the Portland area and contains more than 80 miles of hiking and walking trails.  

If history interests you, a visit to the Portland Art Museum would make your day as it is the oldest in the Pacific Northwest and plays home to a 112,000-square-feet gallery that boasts a collection of more than 50,000 unique and amazing items - with prominent items relating to Native American artifacts, graphic arts, English silver, Asian art, photography, and Northwest art.

 

Real estate in Portland has shown an average growth of 4.79% per year since the year 2000 and the prices of homes in Portland have overall appreciated by a staggering 167.14%. Portland’s housing market is competitive and the sale prices of homes in Portland have experienced strong growth of more than 19.5% since May 2019.   

The median home price in Portland is $530,000. Currently, there are 3838 active homes for sale in Portland, and normally it takes just 39 days for a listed home to sell.

 

Over the last year, Portland’s job market has grown by 0.9%, while its unemployment rate stands at a decent 6.9%. The US average is 6%. Also, the city’s job market is expected to grow by 42.4% over the next ten years.  

On average, a Portland resident earns around $32,400 per annum, decently higher than the US average of $28,500. The city’s median household income of almost $53,200 per resident is also in line with the US average of approximately $53,000. Most of the residents of Portland work in construction, manufacturing, retail, finance, educational services, accommodation, professional and technical services, and healthcare.

 

Portland is covered by 12 school districts, with Portland Public Schools being the city’s major school district encompassing 86 schools and 47,323 enrolled students. In addition, Portland also lies in proximity to many colleges including, among others, Warner Pacific College, Lewis & Clark College, and Oregon College of Art and Craft. 

When it comes to higher education, Portland lies in proximity to a diverse set of universities such as Reed College, the University of Portland, and Portland State University.

To sum up, Portland is a bustling city that offers the highest quality of living and incredible outdoor recreational opportunities. The city’s park system is among the best in the United States, and its scenic hiking trails are second to none. With easy access to great schools, exceptional recreation, and a top-notch professional and business landscape, Portland makes an ideal place to raise a family or just call home.