Portland is a beautiful city in the Pacific Northwest. With an abundance of green space, roses galore, and picturesque mountain views, there is so much to love for those who call Portland home. But just like any other place, Portland has its pros and cons. If you are considering Portland as your next home or even just a visit, here is our guide to the good and the bad for the City of Roses. 

Rose City Pros

Abundance of Green Space 

Portland is striking in its greenery, not only due to its tree-lined neighborhood streets but also to the huge swaths of open space dedicated to parks. The city’s park system totals over 11,600 acres – which includes 144 developed parks throughout the city and nearly 8,000 acres of natural areas. And those green spaces host 220 miles worth of trails, where you will find unique hikes and views of all corners of the city. The abundance and variety only adds to Portland’s appeal, whether it’s mountain views on top of Mt. Tabor or Powell Butte, the lush forest paths of Tryon Creek or Forest Park, or the flowery havens of the Japanese Garden and Washington Park’s International Rose Test Garden, there is enough to keep any admirer of nature busy. And all of that is just what is inside the city limits! There’s even more just outside Portland: check out our favorite hikes within 90 minutes of Portland.

Foodie Haven

From fine dining to beer halls and food cart pods that will leave you wishing you had a second stomach, Portland’s food scene is definitely one of its biggest draws for both residents and visitors alike. There are just so many great choices for food all throughout Portland and its suburbs that honestly the hardest part is trying them all. Read our 7 best restaurants to splurge on.

Transit Friendly City

Portland is a very pedestrian-friendly city with accessible public transportation. From greenways throughout the city where people walking and rolling have priority over cars, to a comprehensive bus system complemented by a cross-city light rail, it is very easy to get around with or without a car!

Small Business Powerhouse

One of the things that really stands out about Portland compared to other cities of similar size is how many small businesses there are. When you walk around downtown, or especially the Central Eastside, you can’t help but notice the abundance of small shops taking up a large share of the retail space. Not to say there aren’t large corporate businesses in Portland, but there are far and away more small boutiques, coffee shops, and local restaurants than there are box stores or chain restaurants.

Event-Oriented City

With a bustling calendar of fairs, farmers markets, festivals, and music venues, Portland exudes an infectious energy year-round. Even during the rainy months, the city hosts indoor and outdoor events, showcasing its vibrant cultural scene and community spirit. The Rose Festival and the Waterfront Blues Festival each draw thousands of attendees every summer. And the events don’t stop at the city lines: The Portland metro area is lively with events as well with annual staples like the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Woodburn showcasing acres of tulip blooms every spring, the Oregon International Air Show in Hillsboro, whale watching in Depoe Bay, and loads of art festivals all around the region.

Proximity to … Everything?

Love the ocean? Portland has beaches just over an hour away. Love hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, mountains etc.? Mt. Hood is less than an hour from the city and it’s just the closet of many mountains full of outdoor adventures. Desert vacation more your thing? Head to the high desert in Central Oregon just a few hours to the east. Want to escape to a big city every so often? Seattle is just a few hours north by bus, train, or car. There is so much to do and see in and around Portland it will take quite some time before you feel like you have seen it all. Check out our 5 Favorite Day Trips From Portland.

Portland Living Cons

Rain Rain Rain

Many people visit Portland in the summer, which is absolutely the best idea, summers in Portland are hands down A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. But one of the reasons it is so green and beautiful all summer long is because it rained all winter. And we aren’t just talking about a few showers throughout the day like you might find on the East Coast or in the Midwest. No, we mean it might rain all winter, all day, every day, for weeks. We are not kidding. And while some winters are less rainy than others, it’s still typically a rainy place to live. Additionally, based on how far north the city is when the clocks fall back once daylight savings time ends, the sunset can be as early as 4:00pm or 4:30pm. Which means from December to March it is dark, rainy, wet, and cold for a large part of your day. If you are not prepared for all of that, then winters in Portland will come as a cold wet surprise for you!

Homelessness Crisis

Like many urban centers, Portland faces a homelessness crisis exacerbated by a lack of affordable housing and social services. Tent encampments and visible poverty serve as stark reminders of the challenges facing the community. While legislation and ballot measures have been passed to provide more robust services and relief to houseless Portlanders, many are still waiting to see substantial improvements for those in need.

Infrastructure Struggles

Portland’s infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with the city’s growth. Traffic congestion can lead to increasingly long rush hour woes (especially when crossing a river) and road maintenance and repair projects seem to keep piling up. And while Portland is certainly very pedestrian friendly, there are still many improvements to be made to improve safety and encourage more people to get around without needing to use a car.

Lack of Diversity

Portland’s lack of diversity is a stark reality rooted in its history of exclusionary practices and discriminatory laws. For much of its past, Portland enforced segregationist policies that explicitly barred people of color from living in certain neighborhoods, perpetuating racial inequalities and fostering a predominantly white population. These historical injustices have left a lasting imprint on the city’s demographics, contributing to the persistent lack of diversity seen today. Despite recent efforts to promote inclusivity and equity, the legacy of systemic racism continues to shape Portland’s social landscape.

If you are considering moving to Portland and want to see if our Real Estate Team would be a good fit for you click here to contact us.

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