Whether it’s celebrating Chinese New Year every year at Portland’s Lan Su Chinese Garden or catching a film festival with the neighborhood meet up in the Alberta Arts District there’s a great Portland neighborhood dripping in tradition and diversity just steps away from all things Portland. And if it’s more than a few steps, Portland’s TriMet connects everyone. You know what else connects everyone? If you guessed HomeSnacks list of the best neighborhoods in Portland for 2024, you guessed right.
But before we let you in on ten of Portland’s best kept secrets, here’s a little bit about how we uncovered Stumptown’s best of the best. Real estate trends say that higher median incomes usually translate to more expensive homes; and, generally speaking, better schools and less crime, so we looked at the latest census data for the median income and median home prices in each one of 63 Portland’s neighborhoods. And because jobs, safety, affordability, and amenities are important factors, too, we added those to the mix as well.
We are happy to report that Portland’s crime rate is way above the national average and this is because of neighborhood crime watch programs in places like Homestead. This is also because many of the people in these neighborhoods have good jobs. Places like Irvington and Richmond are filled with professionals who work for major Portland companies like Nike and Columbia.
And, if you want to know what place is Portland’s poster neighborhood for the rest of the state as well as the country, you’re going to have to keep reading.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The experts say that Portland’s residents are some of the some of the healthiest in the country. The life expectancy rate is close to 90 in some of PDX’s neighborhoods. All the more reason to take a look at our list below to ensure that you make the most informed decision; because if you buy a home in one of Portland’s best neighborhoods, you’re going to be there a while.
So, what is Portland’s best neighborhood? According to the latest data, that would be Pearl District.
This is actually or tenth time ranking the best neighborhoods in Portland and each year the competition does not disappoint. So, to see the other neighborhoods that made the list, hit that down arrow.
For more Oregon reading, check out:
The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In Portland
Population: 9,159
Median Home Value: $630,200 (Ninth best)
Median Income: $102,361 (11th best)
More on Pearl District: Data | Real Estate
Population: 5,173
Median Home Value: $711,033 (Third best)
Median Income: $165,672 (Second best)
More on Alameda: Data | Real Estate
Population: 5,516
Median Home Value: $831,817 (best)
Median Income: $172,903 (best)
More on Southwest Hills: Data | Real Estate
Population: 4,543
Median Home Value: $631,700 (Eighth best)
Median Income: $117,312 (Seventh best)
More on Bridlemile: Data | Real Estate
Population: 4,897
Median Home Value: $729,150 (Second best)
Median Income: $157,265 (Third best)
More on Eastmoreland: Data | Real Estate
Population: 2,497
Median Home Value: $661,400 (Fifth best)
Median Income: $103,449 (Tenth best)
More on Homestead: Data | Real Estate
Population: 10,184
Median Home Value: $664,927 (Fourth best)
Median Income: $138,185 (Fourth best)
More on Forest Park: Data | Real Estate
Population: 6,888
Median Home Value: $655,710 (Sixth best)
Median Income: $117,538 (Sixth best)
More on Irvington: Data | Real Estate
Population: 8,217
Median Home Value: $639,744 (Seventh best)
Median Income: $126,414 (Fifth best)
More on Hillsdale: Data | Real Estate
Population: 11,071
Median Home Value: $531,473 (18th best)
Median Income: $86,375 (24th best)
More on Mount Tabor: Data | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Portland, OR Neighborhoods In 2024
To rank the best neighborhoods in Portland, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI crime, Census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 63 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index, the “Best City Neighborhood In Portland.” We’re lookin’ at you, Pearl District.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best places Portland, Oregon has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city, from best to worst.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Portland.
Summary: Putting A Bow On Our Analysis Of The Best Neighborhoods In Portland
If you’re measuring the neighborhoods in Portland where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best neighborhoods in Portland are Pearl District, Alameda, Southwest Hills, Bridlemile, Eastmoreland, Homestead, Forest Park, Irvington, Hillsdale, and Mount Tabor.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Portland aren’t all good. Saintjohns takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Portland.
The worst neighborhoods in Portland are Saintjohns, Powellhurst, Centennial, Parkrose, and Portsmith.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below.
For more Oregon reading, check out:
Best Neighborhoods To Live In Portland For 2024 Detailed Data
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pearl District | 9,159 | $630,200 | $102,361 |
| 2 | Alameda | 5,173 | $711,033 | $165,672 |
| 3 | Southwest Hills | 5,516 | $831,817 | $172,903 |
| 4 | Bridlemile | 4,543 | $631,700 | $117,312 |
| 5 | Eastmoreland | 4,897 | $729,150 | $157,265 |
| 6 | Homestead | 2,497 | $661,400 | $103,449 |
| 7 | Forest Park | 10,184 | $664,927 | $138,185 |
| 8 | Irvington | 6,888 | $655,710 | $117,538 |
| 9 | Hillsdale | 8,217 | $639,744 | $126,414 |
| 10 | Mount Tabor | 11,071 | $531,473 | $86,375 |
| 11 | Corbett-Terwilliger-Lair Hill | 9,745 | $595,773 | $93,468 |
| 12 | Hayhurst | 5,685 | $548,625 | $100,939 |
| 13 | Richmond | 13,863 | $570,560 | $97,974 |
| 14 | Linnton | 736 | $554,700 | $115,628 |
| 15 | Reed | 4,972 | $587,867 | $82,106 |
| 16 | Arbor Lodge | 7,552 | $451,278 | $101,657 |
| 17 | Concordia | 12,215 | $528,145 | $98,964 |
| 18 | Ross Island | 154 | $450,000 | $100,139 |
| 19 | Woodstock | 10,148 | $469,742 | $91,722 |
| 20 | King | 7,657 | $528,200 | $80,066 |
| 21 | Far Southwest | 1,911 | $449,300 | $67,612 |
| 22 | Roseway | 7,276 | $414,960 | $92,378 |
| 23 | Sellwood-Moreland | 11,437 | $509,817 | $82,661 |
| 24 | Eliot | 4,990 | $552,300 | $66,836 |
| 25 | Center | 9,781 | $436,970 | $78,398 |
| 26 | Overlook | 7,116 | $500,544 | $94,750 |
| 27 | Northwest | 15,790 | $608,590 | $76,223 |
| 28 | University Park | 5,848 | $479,075 | $88,197 |
| 29 | South Tabor | 7,365 | $416,957 | $77,546 |
| 30 | Boise | 4,881 | $449,040 | $78,122 |
| 31 | Mount Scott | 8,205 | $383,973 | $77,163 |
| 32 | Buckman | 10,359 | $492,950 | $65,544 |
| 33 | Woodlawn | 5,292 | $453,567 | $86,659 |
| 34 | Downtown | 13,640 | $462,350 | $49,632 |
| 35 | Hosford | 8,107 | $417,230 | $71,902 |
| 36 | Maplewood-Ashcreek | 17,712 | $361,243 | $79,174 |
| 37 | Sunderland | 492 | $391,450 | $111,891 |
| 38 | Creston-Kenilworth | 9,530 | $432,967 | $68,844 |
| 39 | Brooklyn | 5,248 | $489,033 | $78,382 |
| 40 | Kerns | 6,087 | $561,086 | $50,693 |
| 41 | Lloyd | 3,181 | $433,520 | $62,631 |
| 42 | Mill Park | 9,784 | $265,186 | $58,057 |
| 43 | Pleasant Valley | 12,150 | $367,575 | $89,568 |
| 44 | Kenton | 7,526 | $407,683 | $76,704 |
| 45 | Brentwood-Darlington | 13,753 | $319,340 | $67,974 |
| 46 | Lents | 20,735 | $349,793 | $70,070 |
| 47 | Government Island | 418 | $281,500 | $67,280 |
| 48 | Hazelwood | 25,397 | $308,732 | $53,042 |
| 49 | Bridgeton | 682 | $289,400 | $73,450 |
| 50 | Wilkes | 8,465 | $339,243 | $73,738 |
| 51 | Montavilla | 16,478 | $372,617 | $65,253 |
| 52 | Foster Powell | 7,801 | $250,786 | $54,018 |
| 53 | Old Town-Chinatown | 2,845 | $418,750 | $20,650 |
| 54 | Cathedral Park | 3,556 | $352,350 | $76,628 |
| 55 | Argay | 5,466 | $364,000 | $75,251 |
| 56 | Madison South | 7,738 | $352,820 | $66,078 |
| 57 | Cully | 13,078 | $371,260 | $68,454 |
| 58 | Haden Island | 565 | $149,050 | $60,522 |
| 59 | Portsmith | 10,654 | $250,000 | $46,666 |
| 60 | Parkrose | 5,614 | $329,625 | $58,037 |
| 61 | Centennial | 22,726 | $279,580 | $51,060 |
| 62 | Powellhurst | 25,760 | $186,475 | $40,114 |
| 63 | Saintjohns | 7,933 | $227,860 | $60,428 |