Best Places to Buy a Home in Portland

Are you thinking about living in Portland? Known for its natural beauty, abundance of outdoor activities, and quirky “Keep Portland Weird” vibe, PDX is a top big city for people of all lifestyles! Whether you’re a young professional starting your career, a parent searching for a safe place to raise your family, or a retiree ready to settle down, Portland has the home for you! Here are the five best areas for buying a home in PDX.

• King
• Mount Tabor
• Northwest
• Richmond
• Sellwood-Moreland

King

Photo via @windermererealtytrust

• Home Price: $423,211 median purchase price
• Crime Rate: Safer than 70% of Portland neighborhoods
• Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families, retirees

This Portland neighborhood has become a popular place for young professionals and families looking for a safe, affordable home near excellent schools like Jefferson High School and Sabin Elementary School. King lies across the Willamette River from Downtown Portland, but you can drive there in less than 15 minutes or use Portland’s excellent public transportation and catch a ride on the MAX Light Rail. This highly-walkable locale is filled with single-family residences ranging from vintage bungalows and Craftsman homes to modern houses. King is also one of Portland’s most diverse neighborhoods, so everyone is welcome here!

Things to Do in King

Split your side laughing during the improv and sketch-comedy acts at Curious Comedy Theater. Pick up farm fresh eggs, baked confections, fresh produce, and more from Portland’s finest local food growers each Sunday at King Farmers Market. Experience Portland’s off-the-beaten-path attractions during a bike tour with Everybody’s Bike Rentals & Tours. See everything from reenactments of classics like The Christmas Carol to local musical acts, spoken word poetry, and more at Portland Playhouse. Watch your dog enjoy Doggie Ice Cream while you fill up on a Big Hit Burrito or Bacon-Avocado Benedict on the patio at Tin Shed Garden Cafe. Share orders of Cecil B. Deviled Eggs and Fried Pickle Chips with your pals during Happy Hour at Radio Room. Build your perfect pie from nearly 20 fresh, creative ingredients at Life of Pie Pizza, one of Portland’s best pizza joints. Or sample craft cocktails like Lefty’s Prayer and My Uncle’s Nephew at Bye and Bye.

Mount Tabor

Photo via @yomariloveshouses

• Home Price: $412,250 median purchase price
• Crime Rate: Safer than 78% of Portland neighborhoods
• Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families, retirees

Looking for a quiet place to live where you can get outdoors and enjoy the Portland weather? Mount Tabor just might be the perfect place for you to buy a home in Portland! Situated on the southeast side of the city, Mount Tabor provides stunning views of Portland’s skyline and the vast Mt. Tabor Park. In addition, you’ll find all kinds of detached single-family homes here, including bungalows, Colonials, cottages, and Tudors, many of which have been around for close to a century. And if you want a Portland neighborhood with access to standout schools, Mount Tabor is home to Mt. Tabor Middle School, Franklin High School, and Glencoe Elementary School!

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. Construct your car and race for neighborhood bragging rights at the annual Portland Adult Soapbox Derby. Catch breathtaking views of Mount Hood and Downtown Portland after a trek to the top of Mount Tabor Summit. Beautify your yard’s landscape with trees, perennials, houseplants, and more from Portland Nursery. Make your coworkers’ mornings with a box of Famous Apple Fritters and Buttermilk Bars from Donut Queen. Savor French cuisine like Potato Gnocchi and Chanterelles or Lamb Osso Bucco crafted with local ingredients at Coquine. Chow down on Apizza Amore and Surf & Turf pizzas 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, Verduras, and Shrimp Tacos from Por Qué No? Taqueria. Or catch all the Portland Trail Blazers (NBA) games on the screen while you enjoy local microbrews at Thatchers.

Northwest District

Photo via @ruthpricerealtor

• Home Price: $460,796 median purchase price
• Crime Rate: Safer than 81% of Portland neighborhoods
• Perfect For: Singles, young professionals

One of Portland’s oldest neighborhoods, Northwest District is a fascinating blend of older buildings with classic Rose City charm and stunning new development. Located just ten minutes northwest of Downtown, this area is bursting with personality and things to do! On one street, you can find classic bakeries, coffee shops, and boutiques; on another, you’ll stumble upon modern restaurants and swanky cocktail and wine bars. The wide range of things to discover, along with its proximity to Downtown PDX, makes it a fantastic neighborhood in Portland for people looking to make connections and begin careers. Whether you desire a new bungalow or a vintage Colonial-style house, Northwest District is a neighborhood you need to look into!

Things to Do in Northwest District

Expand your mind by watching independent films, foreign movies, and documentaries at Cinema 21, one of Portland’s oldest theaters. Explore the route through Lower MacLeay Park as you make your way to Pittock Mansion. Experience Portland’s weird side while viewing the macabre exhibits and odd artwork at Freakybuttrue Peculiarium. Get your day off to a great start with some of Portland’s best breakfast, like the Morning Star Breakfast Bowl or a Homemade Cinnamon Roll, at Stepping Stone Cafe. Expand your palate at Top Burmese with Coconut Noodle Soup w/Chicken, Sweet Pumpkin Curry, Green Tea Leaf Salad, and other delicious dishes. Cool down from the warm PDX summer weather with scoops of Chocolate Gooey Brownie ice cream or Buttermilk Pancakes, Bacon, & Eggs ice cream from Salt & Straw. Run the pool table, munch on Scooby Snacks, and order a Winery Flight at McMenamins Tavern & Pool. Or work your way through the vast menu of martinis from the Rose City Bellinitini to the Sassy Peach at Bartini.

Richmond

Photo via @dcgpdx

• Home Price: $408,912 median purchase price
• Crime Rate: Safer than 68% of Portland neighborhoods
• Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families, retirees

Portland, as a whole, is known for its alternative, counterculture attitude, and no neighborhood better exemplifies that than Richmond. This diverse area 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 home style—you can choose from modern bungalows, classic Craftsman-style homes, cozy cottages, and more. Richmond’s great public schools, including Richmond Elementary School and nearby Cleveland High School, make it one of the best neighborhoods in Portland for families! And its eclectic mix of businesses, energetic vibe, and close proximity to Downtown Portland make it a popular neighborhood for singles and young professionals!

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. Start a pickup basketball game on the courts 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 at Backstory Books & Yarn. Find your new favorite hobby by taking weaving classes at Ruthie’s Weaving Studio. Upgrade your breakfast with a Farm Fusion Waffle or a Strawberry at Midnight Waffle at Waffle Window. Appease your appetite with Cuban cuisine like a Mojo Pork Plate or Havana Bowl at CUBO. Get your sushi fix with the Frenchy Roll and Fatty-Maki Roll from Yataimura Maru. Or split a Hibiscus Rum Punch Family Bowl with your friends at Gold Dust Meridian.

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 lies Sellwood-Moreland, one of the best neighborhoods in Portland for families! This PDX neighborhood is known for it spacious parks, gorgeous views of the river, and quiet comfort—not to mention, its collection of locally-owned restaurants, bakeries, and coffee houses along SE 13th Ave and SE Milwaukie Ave. Homebuyers can select from classic cottages and Victorians or new development, and families can send their children to excellent schools like Sellwood Middle School and Llewellyn Elementary School. And if you need to get to Downtown Portland or anywhere else in PDX metro, Sellwood-Moreland offers fantastic public transportation via the MAX Light Rail!

Things to Do in Sellwood-Moreland

Spend a day experiencing some of the most fun things to do in Portland, like riding Adrenaline Peak, playing mini golf, and skating around Oaks Park Roller Rink, at Oaks Amusement Park. Chase the kids around the nature-based play area at Westmoreland Park Nature Play. Enjoy a glass of wine while painting your latest masterpiece at The Loaded Brush. Push off from Waverly Marina to enjoy a peaceful cruise on the Willamette River. Finish off your meal of Sizzling Seafood Stir Fry or Crab & Shrimp Fried Rice with some French Macarons at Jade Bistro & Patisserie. Gorge yourself 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 and the Karate Roll at Saburo’s. Take the family out for a treat with some NY Cheesecake and Apple Pie frozen yogurt at Nectar Frozen Yogurt Lounge. Or stop by The Muddy Rudder Public House, one of Portland’s favorite pubs, for a Free Mason cocktail or a cold pint of Anchor Steam Beer.

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Neighborhood statistics from AreaVibes