Portland Neighborhoods and Suburbs

Out of Love for Portland

Portland, Oregon is an amazing place with distinct neighborhoods and suburbs, each with its own attractions and culture. We love our town! We enjoy writing about these unique spots, offering relocation tips and providing stats on Portland neighborhoods and suburb growth, development, schools, and more.

Portland’s Hottest Real Estate Suburb, Surprise! – Mt. Hood

October 8, 2021

Without a doubt, the Mt. Hood area is known as a prime vacation and recreation spot for visitors. But with more and more city dwellers looking for solitude and space, Mt. Hood is becoming a popular real estate market for Portlanders. In fact, we’re adding it to our list of Portland’s hottest suburbs because the demand for this area far exceeded all other Portland real estate market suburbs in 2021. Nestled at the base of Oregon’s highest peak are several small towns, each with its own personality, all of which comprise the villages of Mt. Hood. Why not take a day trip to explore and see which one is right for you? Start with Brightwood and work your way south...

Milwaukie Real Estate Market Report and 2022 Forecast

September 17, 2021

Of all the Portland suburbs, Milwaukie is one of the most charming with its rich history and focus on quality of life. This little burg offers Oregon homeowners and home buyers the best of both worlds—the serenity of small-town living and easy access to the city.   After a surge in the real estate market, Milwaukie is holding steady despite a lack of inventory, a common issue in the Portland area. It seems that many potential home buyers are becoming hip to all that Milwaukie has to offer. Thanks to the MAX, Portland’s acclaimed light rail system, Portlanders who work in the city are looking to Milwaukie for their next home. If you’re dreaming of a change of pace yet...

Top 5 Safest Portland Suburbs According to the FBI

August 30, 2021

Portland, Oregon’s crime is rising and that is causing some home buyers to look outside the city for a new place to call home. Portland had 15,288 violent crimes reported in the last 5 years according to the FBI. Before making any decisions about purchasing a new home, it is smart to look at some of the crime statistics for that area. While no one wants to think about crime happening in their neighborhood, it is always a good idea to check which Portland suburbs may be safer than others. If you’re looking to buy a house in Oregon, nationally available FBI collected violent crime data will help you evaluate the neighborhood you’re looking into. This article provides a review...

The Best County in Portland, Oregon is?

August 23, 2021

Portland, Oregon is a sprawling metro sometimes referred to as the tri-county area. Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties are Oregon’s three most populous, and together they hold nearly 2 million people (1.9). Portland proper in contrast has a population of over half a million, and so most of the population in Portland’s metro area is contained within the expansive tri-county area. Let’s meet our contenders to find out which Oregon county is the best in Portland. Multnomah County This county holds the entirety of Portland proper within its borders, but also extends far to the east, nearly all the way to Mt. Hood. Multnomah has the distinction of hosting Portland downtown, the international PDX airport, and has within its borders...

Hillsboro Real Estate Market 2021

August 20, 2021

Hillsboro has a significant real estate market as it is the second largest suburb of Portland, Oregon following Gresham. The sprawling suburb pops north of Highway 26 and drops south past Highway 8. Hillsboro hosts its own airport, the second busiest in Oregon. Intel has a significant presence here, the Ronler Acres Campus, and there are two massive shopping districts to choose from, Tanasborne and Orenco Station. Want to know more about Hillsboro, Oregon? Check out our recent top 5 things you didn’t know about Hillsboro post. Hillsboro is the Most Diverse City in the State of Oregon No doubt due in part to the growing international Intel corporation and the accessibility of its own significant airport, Hillsboro has the...

5 Most Affordable Portland Suburbs in 2021

July 30, 2021

Unless you’ve been living off the grid, you’ve likely heard that soaring home prices have plagued the Portland metropolitan area – and the country – all year. So of course, the question of affordability looms. How much longer will home prices keep shooting up? Will this mean that Portland no longer ranks as an affordable area to live in? And the truth is that Portland’s affordability does appear to have taken a hit. So while we write this article once a year, this year the topic is more pressing than ever. Suburbs provide an excellent alternative to living in city limits for many home buyers. For one thing, you’re bound to be able to afford more space. And while we...

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Cedar Mill, Oregon

June 18, 2021

Ever checked out the lists of top Portland suburbs and felt like you didn’t quite understand the vibe them? That’s what we’re here for. We’ll not only give you an idea of a Portland suburb’s school system or job prospects. Beyond the numbers, we also like to inform folks about the details and quirks that make a community a community. The small things, you might say, aren’t always so small. If you check Niche.com right now, for example, you’ll find Cedar Mill listed as the #2 best suburb to live in Oregon. And it’s not hard to connect the dots as to why. For one, its schools manage to be some of the most highly rated in the area. For...

10 New Oregon Homes and Places added to the National Historic Registry

June 14, 2021

For both the history and architecture buffs out there, the National Register of Historic Places constitutes a gold mine of fascinating stories and imagery. Begun in 1966, the Register seeks to preserve and memorialize significant buildings and places across the nation. If your mind goes straight to colonial settlements as you’re reading, you wouldn’t be totally wrong. But the Register includes much more than that. Yes, most sites must meet a minimum age requirement for consideration. But that requirement is only 50 years – meaning, as of right now the 1970’s have entered the building! Therefore, sites from a wide range of eras can attain “historic” status. And beyond age, context matters. The general guiding principle of the Register is...

5 Best Cities to Live in Close to Portland: 2021 Update

April 23, 2021

While the market for homes in Portland is seeing high demand, the suburbs are even hotter. After a year of pandemic living, the space offered by suburbs and small cities close to Portland only gets more appealing. Flight to the suburbs has been particularly strong in dense (and expensive) areas like New York City and San Francisco. Here in Portland, we may not have experienced as drastic a shift. But the suburbs surrounding the metro area are still booming – and they have a lot to offer when it comes to quality of life. Intrigued? If you’re interested in a more suburban lifestyle, you’re in luck. The Portland area boasts some of the most charming suburban areas you can find....

Portland Zip Code Map: 2021 Update

April 16, 2021

Zip codes are just another part of our everyday life, right? We use them, but most of the time don’t think much about them. But understanding how the zip codes work in your area helps when you’re buying or selling a home. Knowing your zip code, or the zip code you’d like to live in, may prove to be a useful tool in your real estate arsenal. Keep reading to find out how to understand Portland zip codes, and how they can help you. How Do Zip Codes Work? Let’s start off with some basics. The US Postal Service instituted zip codes back in 1963 as a way of streamlining delivery. We’re talking about a time when suddenly air shipping...