Advantages & Disadvantages of Moving to Portland

You think about moving to Portland but want to get additional information on the city and overall quality of life before making your final decision in this regard?

Great! This article is exactly for you since I will show you all the pros and cons of living in Portland in the following chapters.

Living in Portland – Overview

Advantages of Living in Portland

1. Portland has decent public transport
2. Portland is a bike-friendly city
3. You often don’t need a car to get around
4. Good doctors and hospitals in Portland
5. Many shopping opportunities in Portland
6. Portland has many decent sports teams
7. Portland has a vibrant art scene
8. Many museums and exhibitions to visit in Portland
9. Interesting architecture in Portland
10. You will find most things you need within walking distance in Portland
11. Portland is not the most crowded city
12. You will not get stuck in traffic jams that much
13. Relatively easy to find a lot in Portland
14. Commuting times are reasonably low in Portland
15. Many recreational spaces in Portland
16. You can spend lots of time in nature
17. Portland is close to the coast
18. Many leisure activities in Portland
19. Many big corporations to work for in Portland
20. You can make decent money in Portland
21. Unemployment rate in Portland is relatively low
22. You don’t have to worry about losing your job that much
23. Property prices are still reasonably low
24. Rents are affordable for the average person
25. Housing shortage is not a big problem in Portland yet
26. You will find a decent place to stay rather quickly
27. Average person can still afford a decent home
28. Portland is a culturally diverse city
29. People are welcome from all over the world
30. People in Portland are friendly and outgoing
31. Easy to socialize in Portland
32. Portland has decent schools and colleges
33. Many bars to hang out after work
34. Population in Portland is growing
35. Decent future outlook for Portland
36. Portland becomes increasingly popular all over the US
37. Living costs in Portland are fairly low
38. Financial pressure in Portland is lower than in other major cities
39. You can build a strong business network in Portland
40. Most people never get bored living in Portland
41. Portland is a great place for the young and the old
42. You may never have to move again
43. Portland has an international airport
44. Portland has pretty decent air quality
45. Portland has decent tap water
46. You can try delicious foods in Portland
47. You can experience real seasons in Portland
48. People in Portland are genuine and not that shallow
49. Portland is a tenant-friendly place

Portland has decent public transport

One advantage of living in Portland is that you will find pretty good public transport and you can therefore get from A to B by bus or other means of transport in a pretty efficient manner so that you can avoid getting stuck in traffic jams and can save lots of time in this regard.

Portland is a bike-friendly city

Not only will you have decent public transport, but Portland is also a bike-friendly city where you can use bike lanes and other amenities to get around by bike in an efficient manner and you may even be faster going by bike for short distances compared to just using your car.

You often don’t need a car to get around

Since you can get around by bike or public transport, you may not even need a car in Portland, especially if you live close to the city center where you can get everything you need within a rather short period of time and don’t have to drive long distances.

This is not only great for your pocket but also for our environment since the less often you use your car, the more greenhouse gas emissions you can avoid.

Good doctors and hospitals in Portland

Another upside to living in Portland is that you will have many good doctors and hospitals and in case you get sick, you will find an expert who will be able to cure you as quickly as possible and will not run out of options in this regard.

Many shopping opportunities in Portland

Since Portland is a big city and public infrastructure is decent, you will also find more than enough shopping opportunities and malls where you can hang out and socialize while you can go shopping for fancy bags, accessories and other things at the same time.

Portland has many decent sports teams

Moving to Portland can also make quite a lot of sense if you love sports and want to watch sports events on a regular basis since there are many famous sports teams in this region and you can watch sports on the highest level in the Portland region.

Portland has a vibrant art scene

Portland is also a great city for artists.

Similar to people living in San Francisco, you will also find many great artists in Portland and if you are an artist or just interested in art, you will find many like-minded people to hang out with and you can have a great time together.

Many museums and exhibitions to visit in Portland

Not only will you have a great art scene in Portland, but you will also be able to visit many nice museums and exhibitions in Portland and you will therefore never run out of ideas in this regard.

Interesting architecture in Portland

Portland also has many interesting buildings and if you are interested in architecture or an architect searching for inspiration, moving to Portland can also make quite a lot of sense for you since you will find many interesting buildings and places and can really enjoy your leisure with those things.

You will find most things you need within walking distance in Portland

Another benefit of living in Portland is that you will just find most things you need for daily life within walking distance and can get what you need within a rather short period of time while the supply of material goods would be much worse in case you moved to smaller towns or villages and would not have the luxury of efficient city life.

Portland is not the most crowded city

While Portland is a pretty big city, it is still not the most crowded city compared to other metropolitan regions and this gives you many opportunities to spend time in public on your own without having to share your space with many other people and this can be great during times where you want to be alone so you can figure out how to solve complex problems or just want to think about your life in general.

You will not get stuck in traffic jams that much

Since Portland is not the most crowded city, you will also not get stuck in traffic jams as much as people living in L.A. who have to deal with those problems on a daily basis and often become increasingly desperate and annoyed with the traffic situation in the long run.

Relatively easy to find a lot in Portland

Since traffic is not a big deal in Portland yet, you will also have a pretty easy time finding a parking lot and this can save you lots of time and money in the long run compared to other cities where traffic is a bigger problem and people also have to rely on their cars more than in Portland.

Commuting times are reasonably low in Portland

Another reason to move to Portland is that commuting times are reasonably low.

In fact, it takes the average person 25 minutes to commute to work in the Portland region and this is far lower than in other major metropolitan areas where people often get stuck in traffic jams during rush hour and are late for meetings on a regular basis.

Many recreational spaces in Portland

Portland is also a great place to live since there are many parks and other recreational spaces where you can relax and unplug from your stressful life to reload your batteries for the demanding things that may be yet to come.

You can spend lots of time in nature

Another advantage of moving to Portland is that you can also spend lots of time in nature.

Since Portland is surrounded by nice lakes and forests, you can go fishing, hiking, hunting and do many other things in nature and this can be really great since you can also teach your kids a lot about nature and why it is so important to protect our planet in general.

Portland is close to the coast

While Portland is not directly located at the coast, it is still close enough to the coast so that you can make nice day trips to the beach and take a swim or go surfing during weekends and this can really increase your overall quality of life in the long run compared to people living in Dallas or other cities where the beach is often too far away.

Many leisure activities in Portland

Since you can spend lots of time in nature and can also go to the movies, watch sports events and do many other things you are used to from living in a big city, Portland has a lot to offer when it comes to leisure activities and you will never run out of ideas in this regard.

Many big corporations to work for in Portland

Since Portland is an important economic region, there are also many big corporations to work for in the Portland region and it doesn’t really matter what your specialization is as long as you provide value to the corporate world and are also willing to work hard since you will often find decent jobs in such a case.

You can make decent money in Portland

Since you can work for many big corporations, you can also make really good money in Portland.

In fact, income levels are above national average and this means that you can make a decent living from what you are doing as long as you have solid education also provide value to potential employers.

Unemployment rate in Portland is relatively low

You should also know that unemployment rate in Portland is pretty low and many people find decent jobs in this region, especially if they are highly-qualified and also have decent soft skills so that they can succeed in the corporate world in the long run.

You don’t have to worry about losing your job that much

Since the economy in Portland is pretty strong and unemployment rate is rather low, you also don’t have to worry about getting laid off that much since even in case you lose your job, chances are that you will find a new one pretty quickly.

Property prices are still reasonably low

Another upside to moving to Portland is that property prices are still reasonably low compared to NYC or other major cities and this means that you can buy a home without having to deal with the same high financial burden as other people who live in more expensive regions.

Rents are affordable for the average person

Not only property prices are still decent, but also rents are far lower compared to San José or other more expensive cities and this means that you don’t have to spend that much money on housing but can rather save and invest enough money for retirement so that you don’t have to deal with old-age poverty later in life.

Housing shortage is not a big problem in Portland yet

While Portland doesn’t have the most relaxed housing market and there are less competitive regions, housing shortage is still not that of a big deal compared to New York City or other metropolitan areas where people often have a hard time finding an affordable place to live.

You will find a decent place to stay rather quickly

Since housing shortage is not a serious problem in Portland yet, chances are that you will also find a decent place to stay rather quickly and don’t have to spend lots of time and money searching for a home to rent or buy as would be the case in more competitive regions.

Average person can still afford a decent home

Since rents and property prices are still reasonably low, the average person is still able to afford a decent place to stay and doesn’t have to spend a high fraction of this or her disposable income on housing yet, even though this may change in the near future in case housing prices increase even further.

Portland is a culturally diverse city

Another benefit of moving to Portland is that the city is a culturally diverse place and you can meet many people from different countries and by talking to those people, you can really expand your horizon, become more tolerant and grow in character in the long run since you will see the world from a different perspective.

People are welcome from all over the world

You should also know that people are welcome from all over the world in Portland and it doesn’t matter where you come from.

As long as you are friendly, kind and open to new things, chances are that you will find many new friends soon and don’t have to worry about getting socially isolated.

People in Portland are friendly and outgoing

Most people in Portland are friendly and outgoing and you can therefore just have a great time in this city since it will not take you too long to find many great guys and gals to hang out with.

Easy to socialize in Portland

In general, it is pretty easy to socialize in Portland since you can do so many different things and through all these experiences, you can get to know many new people and some of them will become really good friends in the long run.

Portland has decent schools and colleges

While Portland doesn’t have many world-class universities, you will still find decent schools and colleges so that you can make sure that your kids get solid education and are not left behind in this regard.

Many bars to hang out after work

Portland also offers many interesting bars to hang out after work and you can therefore meet up with your friends in a pretty relaxed manner on a regular basis so that you have an easy time maintaining and expanding your social circle in the long run.

Population in Portland is growing

Another indication that Portland is a great place to live is that population has been growing significantly over the past decade and this trend will likely continue for many years to come and the city may become even more popular in the future.

Decent future outlook for Portland

Since Portland is an important economic region and is one of the most important cities in Oregon, the state will do everything to make the city a nice place to work and live in the long run and Portland therefore also has a pretty solid future outlook.

Portland becomes increasingly popular all over the US

Over the past decade, Portland has also become increasingly popular by people from all over the US and this is great since more and more people from other states move to Portland and make it a culturally diverse and interesting place to live in.

Living costs in Portland are fairly low

While living costs in Portland are higher than in Charlotte or other less popular cities, they are still far lower compared to NYC or L.A. and this means that you will have to spend less money on things of daily life and can save more for retirement or other important stuff.

Financial pressure in Portland is lower than in other major cities

Since living and housing costs in Portland are lower compared to many other major cities in the US, also overall financial pressure in Portland is lower since people don’t have to make really good money to afford a decent lifestyle and often also have to work fewer hours.

You can build a strong business network in Portland

Since Portland has a strong economy and many big corporations to work for, you can also meet many talented and ambitious people in Portland and can therefore also grow a strong business network in the long run which often helps you climb the corporate ladder rather quickly.

Most people never get bored living in Portland

Since there are so many interesting things to do, most people also never get bored living in Portland and find everything they need to live a happy life.

Portland is a great place for the young and the old

Portland is also a nice place to live for the young and the old since there are many things to do for different age groups and generations usually get along with each other reasonably well and often even help each other out.

You may never have to move again

Since Portland offers everything you need to live a happy life, you may also never have to move again and this can be great since moving always involves significant costs and you can also protect your nerves by avoiding moving that much.

Portland has an international airport

Living in Portland can also be great if you are a globetrotter since you can get around from Portland International Airport to various parts of our planet in an efficient manner without having to deal with layovers that much.

Portland has pretty decent air quality

Portland also has better air quality than most other big cities and while this may not sound important to you at first, it can still make a huge difference since you will be less likely to suffer from serious health issues compared to other people living in more polluted regions.

Portland has decent tap water

Tap water quality in Portland is also pretty decent and this gives you the opportunity to rely on tap water instead of bottled water and you may be able to save lots of time and money in this regard in the long run.

You can try delicious foods in Portland

Since Portland is a multicultural place, you can also try many foods from all over the world and not only can this be quite interesting, but it can also give you some inspiration regarding what you want to cook at home and you can also expand your culinary knowledge in general.

You can experience real seasons in Portland

Since you will have relatively cool winters and warm summers, you can also experience real seasons in Portland while people living in Austin or other places often have to deal with warm weather all year long.

People in Portland are genuine and not that shallow

Compared to other major cities, people in Portland are also more real and genuine and it will be easier to make really good friends in this region who really help you in case you need support instead of just making shallow social contacts as in other major cities where people mainly care about your money and your social standing.

Portland is a tenant-friendly place

Portland is also a great place to move to in case you don’t want to buy a home since it is a tenant-friendly place and you can benefit from rent control and other nice features that make your life as a tenant more fun than in other regions.

As you can see, there are many upsides to moving to Portland.

Yet, you should also learn more about the drawbacks of living in Portland so that you can better decide whether you still want to move to Portland or rather want to move to a different city instead.

Disadvantages of Living in Portland

1. Property prices in Portland have skyrocketed over the past decade
2. Rents increase as well
3. Housing shortage may become a serious problem in Portland in the near future
4. Many people may have to work a second job
5. Increasing level of inequality in Portland
6. Many locals may leave the Portland region
7. Social tensions are about to get worse
8. Homelessness is a big problem in Portland
9. Crime rate is above national average
10. Winters are not that nice in Portland
11. You may not spend that much time outdoors
12. Portland is not the most glamorous city
13. You will not meet many famous people in Portland
14. Portland is not directly located at the coast
15. Portland becomes increasingly crowded
16. Public infrastructure may no longer be able to accommodate many new people
17. Nightlife in Portland is not as great as in other major cities
18. Hard to find world-class education in Portland
19. Natural disasters may destroy your home in Portland
20. Your friends from other states may not visit you in Portland that often
21. Your friends may not understand your decision of moving to Portland

Property prices in Portland have skyrocketed over the past decade

One downside of living in Portland is that property prices have skyrocketed over the past years and while Portland may still be cheaper compared to NYC or other expensive regions, it is still much harder to make a real bargain in this regard compared to a decade ago when property prices had been much lower.

Rents increase as well

Not only property prices have increased substantially, but also rents have increased over the past years and if this trend continues, the average person may really struggle to afford a decent place to live and may have to spend a high fraction of his or her disposable income on housing in the near future.

Housing shortage may become a serious problem in Portland in the near future

While demand for housing is not as big as in other major cities, housing shortage may still become a serious problem in Portland due to population growth and this may make it hard to find a suitable place to stay for you and you may also have to search for much longer in this regard in the future.

Many people may have to work a second job

Since housing costs increase significantly, many people may need to work a second job in the future to be able to pay their bills, especially low-qualified people who often make pretty poor money and don’t make enough from their day job to cover their expenses.

Increasing level of inequality in Portland

Another problem with living in Portland is that the city has experienced an increasing level of inequality over the recent past and the gap between the rich and the poor has increased significantly which may lead to all sorts of social problems in the long run.

Many locals may leave the Portland region

Due to increasing property prices and rents, many locals are also no longer able to afford to live in Portland anymore and may leave the region sooner or later and in case this happens, the city may also lose part of its charm and overall quality of life may drop significantly.

Social tensions are about to get worse

Due to the increasing level of inequality, also social tensions in Portland may get worse over time and social cohesions may deteriorate sooner or later and this may lead to a state where people will just no longer be that friendly and people from different social classes may no longer hang out with each other.

Homelessness is a big problem in Portland

Another disadvantage of living in Portland is that homelessness has become a serious problem over the past decade and if this trend continues, you may just no longer feel safe walking down the streets and this would also not be a pretty picture in general.

Crime rate is above national average

You should also know that crime rate in Portland is above national average and if you are a careful person, you may rather want to move to a safer city instead.

Winters are not that nice in Portland

While you can enjoy nice summers, you will also have to deal with relatively cool and rainy winters in Portland and if you rather want to enjoy the sun, you may be better off moving to Long Beach or other sunnier places on the West Coast.

You may not spend that much time outdoors

Since winters are not really great, many people in Portland spend lots of time during this season indoors and this may take away some of your fitness and you may also get depressed with those winters in the long run.

Portland is not the most glamorous city

Another downside to moving to Portland is that it is also not the most glamorous city and you may also miss the feeling of big city life as you might be used to from NYC or other bigger metropolitan regions.

You will not meet many famous people in Portland

You should also know that you will not meet many famous people in Portland and if you want to hang out with influential people on a regular basis, you may rather want to move to Washington D.C. instead.

Portland is not directly located at the coast

Another disadvantage of moving to Portland is that the city is not directed located at the coast and while people living in other cities on the coast can often go surfing during lunch break, this will usually not be possible for you in Portland.

Portland becomes increasingly crowded

While Portland is not as crowded as other major cities yet, population is still growing significantly and if this trend continues, you may just no longer have enough public spaces to relax.

Public infrastructure may no longer be able to accommodate many new people

You should also know that due to many new people moving to Portland, public infrastructure may suffer in the short run until the city adapts to those new developments and this may temporarily lower your overall quality of life.

Nightlife in Portland is not as great as in other major cities

Another problem with moving to Portland is that nightlife is not as great as in other major cities and if you are a party person and want to go out every night, you may get bored with nightlife in Portland relatively soon.

Hard to find world-class education in Portland

While Portland has decent schools and colleges, it is still hard to find world-class education in Portland and if you want to send your kids to world-class universities, you may be better off moving to Boston instead.

Natural disasters may destroy your home in Portland

If you want to move to the outskirts of Portland and don’t want to live in the inner city, you will also be at greater risk that wildfires or storms may destroy your property sooner or later and if you are pretty unlucky, you may even lose your life during those events.

Your friends from other states may not visit you in Portland that often

Since Portland is not the most popular city, your friends from other states may also not visit you in Portland that often and you may therefore feel lonely from time to time.

Your friends may not understand your decision of moving to Portland

Since Portland is not as popular as other major cities in the US, you may also have to justify quite a lot moving to Portland since your friends may just not understand your decision.

Top 10 Moving To Portland Pros & Cons – Summary List

Is Portland A Good Place To Live?

While Portland has relatively low property prices and unemployment rate is reasonably low as well, Portland is still not the most exciting city and crime rates are significantly above national average.

In the end, it is on you to evaluate all the advantages and disadvantages of moving to Portland carefully so that you can better decide whether you still want to move to Portland or rather want to live in a different city instead.

Alternative Cities To Live In

If you don’t want to move to Portland anymore, you should also have a look at the following articles:

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Oklahoma

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Philadelphia

Advantages and disadvantages of living in El Paso

Sources

https://www.portland.gov/

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/portlandcityoregon

About the author

This site is about living, moving and traveling to various parts of our fascinating planet.

My name is Andreas and when I was younger, I traveled the world and learned a lot about different cultures and countries.

Thus, I want to share my experiences with you so that you can benefit from them and avoid common mistakes in this regard.

In my articles, you will find everything you need to find the best location for a happy and successful life.