Moving to Portland? Known for its natural beauty, abundant outdoor activities, and quirky “Keep Portland Weird” vibe, PDX is a top big city in the U.S.—especially for young professionals moving for work! Here are the five best places to buy a home in Portland.
King
Photo via @windermererealtytrust
- Home Price: $423,211 median purchase price
- Crime Rate: Safer than 68% of Portland neighborhoods
- Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families, retirees
Home to the vibrant Alberta Arts District, King is a highly walkable and bikeable neighborhood with a variety of bars, restaurants, and coffee shops! Color and personality extend from the arts district and into this Portland neighborhood—with new construction amid vintage Bungalow, Craftsman, and Victorian homes. This Northeast Portland neighborhood and its main thoroughfare are named after Martin Luther King Jr., and its namesake school, Dr. Martin Luther King Elementary. Home to one of the Portland Farmers Markets, the King Farmers Market takes place during the summer and fall and is a hub for fresh, locally-sourced food as well as a social hot spot for local residents. Downtown Portland is easily accessible by taking a 10-15 minute drive on I-405, over the Willamette River, or by hopping on the Trimet Bus Line.
Things to Do in King
Split your side laughing during the improv and sketch-comedy acts or at the Curious Comedy Showdown at Curious Comedy Theater. Check out a variety of exhibits in the Permanent Collection, featuring artist collaborations with local students at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School Museum of Contemporary Art (KSMoCA). Experience Portland’s off-the-beaten-path attractions during a bike tour with Everybody’s Bike Rentals & Tours—or by picking up a bike with the Biketown bike share program. See everything from reenactments of classics like The Christmas Carol to local musical acts, spoken word poetry, and more at Portland Playhouse. Let your dog enjoy Doggie Dessert while you fill up on a You Gotta Have It, Farro Sanders, or Bacon & Avocado Eggs Benedict on the patio at Tin Shed Garden Cafe. Share orders of Cecil B. Deviled Egg, Fried Brussels, or Pork Belly Tacos with your pals at Radio Room. Eat the best pizza in Portland when you build your perfect pie from nearly 20 fresh ingredients, or choose from options like the Toasted Four Cheese Ravioli with Marinara at Life of Pie Pizza. Or try entrees like the BBQ Brussel Bowl, The Bye Bye Burger, or Chili Pie at The Bye and Bye.
Mount Tabor
Photo via @yomariloveshouses
- Home Price: $412,250 median purchase price
- Crime Rate: Safer than 76% of Portland neighborhoods
- Perfect For: Families, retirees
Looking for a quiet place to live and enjoy the mild Portland weather? Mount Tabor might be the perfect place for you to buy a home in Portland! Situated in Southeast Portland, Mount Tabor is named after the extinct volcano that now provides stunning views of the city skyline. You’ll find all kinds of Portland homes with views, including Victorian, Colonial, and Tudor cottages and bungalows. During the summer, residents gather at Mount Tabor Park to cheer on friends and family competing in the PDX Adult Soapbox Derby—as well as participate in community beautification and farming efforts at the Mount Tabor Community Garden. To top it off, this safe Portland neighborhood offers access to excellent local schools, including Mt. Tabor Middle School, Atkinson Elementary School, Glencoe Elementary School, and more!
Things to Do in Mount Tabor
Let your pup off the leash to romp around and make new friends at Mt. Tabor Off-Leash Dog Park. Marvel at the wacky creations, take photos, and find out what “zymoglyphic” means at the Zymoglyphic Museum. Catch breathtaking views of Mount Hood and Downtown Portland after a trek to the top of Mount Tabor Summit. Beautify your landscaping with trees, perennials, houseplants, and more from Portland Nursery. Make your coworkers’ mornings with a box of Famous Apple Fritters, Maple Bars, and Cream Donuts from Donut Queen. Savor French cuisine like Roasted Carrots, Crawfish Rice, and Fried Oysters crafted with local ingredients at Coquine. Chow down on an Apizza Amore, Diablo Blanco, or Surf & Turf pizza while you play classic arcade games like Donkey Kong and Ms. Pac-Man at Apizza Scholls. Get some of the best Mexican food in Portland with Carnitas Tacos, Verduras Tacos, and Tamales from Por Que No? Taqueria. Or catch all the Portland Trail Blazers (NBA) games on the flat screens while enjoying local microbrews with meals like a Philly Cheese Steak, Beef Sliders, or Bleu Cheese & Bacon Burger at Portland sports bar Thatchers.
Northwest District
Photo via @goodspacestudioco
- Home Price: $460,796 median purchase price
- Crime Rate: Safer than 89% of Portland neighborhoods
- Perfect For: Singles, young professionals
Located on the Willamette River, just off I-405, Northwest District has a blend of Victorian and Colonial homes, Craftsman bungalows, and stunning new development available for people buying a home in Portland. This area has gone by many names—including Nob Hill and the Alphabet District—and is home to roughly 130 Portland landmarks recognized by the National Register of Historic Places! Otherwise, you’ll find classic bakeries and coffee shops, quaint boutiques, and modern restaurants and wine bars here—and even more things to do in PDX in the neighboring Pearl District, including restaurants, brewpubs, and the largest new and used bookstore in the world, Powell’s City of Books. Plus, Nob Hill is well-connected by convenient MAX Light Rail stations sprinkled throughout this Portland neighborhood!
Things to Do in Northwest District
Expand your mind with independent films, foreign movies, and documentaries at one of Portland’s longest-running theaters, Cinema 21. Explore the route through Lower MacLeay Park as you make your way to the historic Pittock Mansion. Experience Portland’s weird side while viewing the macabre exhibits and odd artwork at Freakybuttrue Peculiarium. Top rope, boulder, or join a yoga class at Movement Portland. Start your day off right with some of the best breakfast in Portland—like the Morning Star Breakfast Bowl, Tres Leches Mancake, or a Homemade Cinnamon Roll at Stepping Stone Cafe. Expand your palate with a plate of Chicken Paratha, Sweet Pumpkin Curry, or Green Tea Leaf Salad at Top Burmese. Cool down from the warm PDX summer weather with scoops of Chocolate Gooey Brownie, Honey Lavender, or Cinnamon Snickerdoodle ice cream from Salt & Straw. Run the pool table and munch on Scooby Snacks, a Backyard Burger, or El Diablo Sandwich at McMenamins Blue Moon Tavern & Pool. Or work your way through the vast menu of martinis with small plates like House Made Crab & Shrimp Cakes, Crispy Fried Coconut Shrimp, or Goat Cheese Polenta Cake at Bartini.
Richmond
Photo via @dcgpdx
- Home Price: $408,912 median purchase price
- Crime Rate: Safer than 70% of Portland neighborhoods
- Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families, retirees
The City of Roses has historically been known for its alternative, counterculture attitude—and no neighborhood better exemplifies that than Richmond. This diverse Portland neighborhood embraces both old and new, featuring everything from quirky art cars and homey restaurants to trendy shops, art galleries, and cafes. Residents are encouraged to express their individualism here, starting with the homes for sale in this area—homebuyers can choose from Modern bungalows, classic Craftsmans, cozy cottages, and more. Families appreciate the proximity to great Portland schools, including Richmond Elementary School and Woodward Montessori—as well as safe, walkable, and bikeable streets. This PDX neighborhood’s eclectic mix of businesses, energetic vibe, and close proximity to Downtown Portland make Richmond a popular neighborhood for singles and young professionals, in particular!
Things to Do in Richmond
Attend an art show, laugh along with comedians, or see some of Portland’s best concerts at Hawthorne Theatre & Lounge. Walk the paved paths or start a pickup game of basketball, soccer, or softball at Sewallcrest Park. Deck out your home with couches, rocking chairs, and all sorts of knick-knacks from Portland’s best thrift store—Village Merchants. Find your next page-turner among the wide selection of biographies, thrillers, graphic novels, and more, or stock up on supplies for your next crafts project at Backstory Books & Yarn. Upgrade your breakfast with a Farm Fusion, Strawberries at Midnight, or The Alberta Waffle at Waffle Window—or sample brunch favorites like Caramelized Banana French Toast, Poached Pear & Lemon Pancakes, and more at Petite Provence. Appease your appetite with Cuban cuisine like a Mojo Pork Plate, Pan Con Pollo, or Havana Bowl at CUBO. Get your sushi fix with the Frenchy Roll, Ultimate Veggie Roll, and Fatty-Maki Roll from Yataimura Maru.
Sellwood-Moreland
Photo via @windermerepearldistrict
- Home Price: $413,850 median purchase price
- Crime Rate: Safer than 71% of Portland neighborhoods
- Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families, retirees
Just east of the Willamette River is Sellwood-Moreland, one of the best neighborhoods in Portland for families! This PDX neighborhood is known for its spacious parks, gorgeous views of the river, and quiet comfort—not to mention its collection of locally-owned restaurants, bakeries, and coffee houses. The neighborhood also boasts the Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge, where animal lovers can spot migratory birds, frogs, and salamanders. Homebuyers can select classic Victorians or new housing in Portland that’s near the quiet riverside. To top it off, Downtown Portland is accessible via the MAX Light Rail stations on Sellwood-Moreland’s eastern border!
Things to Do in Sellwood-Moreland
Ride Adrenaline Peak, play mini golf, and skate around the Oaks Park Roller Rink at Oaks Amusement Park. Chase the kids around the nature-based play area, check out public art, or get some exercise on sports fields at Westmoreland Park. Book a tee time to play 18 holes or practice on the driving range at the Eastmoreland Golf Course. Rent a slip and push off from Waverly Marina to enjoy a peaceful cruise on the Willamette River. Try the Sizzling Seafood Stir Fry, Crab & Shrimp Fried Rice, and Black Rice Pudding at Jade Bistro & Patisserie. Fill up on delicious Beef Brisket, Chopped Pork Shoulder, and Smoked St. Louis-Cut Pork Ribs from Reverend’s BBQ. Find your favorite sushi roll among options like the Big ‘O’ Roll, Sabu Roll, and Karate Roll at Saburo’s. Take the family out for a treat with some NY Cheesecake, Island Banana, and Apple Pie frozen yogurt at Nectar Frozen Yogurt Lounge. Or stop by one of Portland’s best pubs for a Free Mason cocktail with Elk Rock Pizza, a Sellwood Sandwich, or Sitka Sandwich at The Muddy Rudder Public House.
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Neighborhood statistics from AreaVibes
