Portland Oregon Neighborhoods

The Rose City is home to many unique and diverse neighborhoods with homes ranging from hillside palaces to charming bungalows. Whether you are looking for a modern loft or suburban paradise, there is something for everyone. The following neighborhood guides will introduce you to some of the more popular neighborhoods, and we are always happy to setup a home tour when you are ready to take a closer look.

Downtown Portland

Overview

Located on the West bank of the Willamette river, downtown Portland has undergone a successful urban revitalization since the 1970s, and in the past decade alone there have been dozens of new buildings constructed, including townhomes, offices, and condominiums (1).

Downtown Portland is also the heart of the city, and so if you are seeking dining, shopping, or nightlife, then it is a great place to explore, with hundreds of independent retailers and excellent access to public transportation.

South Portland

Overview

Formerly known as the Corbett Terwilliger Lair Hill neighborhood, this area is comprised of several distinct neighborhoods that occupy a long, narrow strip of land between Portland’s West Hills and a portion of the Willamette River. The Lair Hill portion of the neighborhood is part of historical South Portland, and several of its homes have been designated historic landmarks by the city. Corbett lies to the East of Lair Hill while Terwilliger sits just to the South. Each of these attractive and desirable areas offers its residents a broad choice of lovely homes, wonderful views and easy access to freeways and recreational areas.

Oregon Health and Sciences University’s new Aerial Tram is located in South Portland and provides residents with a unique way to travel between the University’s renowned facilities and the upscale shops and eateries along the South Waterfront District.

Southwest Portland

Overview

Bounded by the Willamette River to the East, and Burnside Street to the North, the Southwest area enjoys some of the best views and the most irregular terrain of any region in Portland. If you are looking for good schools, parks, and a large backyard, then you will certainly want to explore this side of Portland.

Historically, because of the abundance of flat land to build on in other parts of Portland, the Southwest region was developed more recently in Portland’s history, especially as you get further away from downtown. This means that Southwest Portland is home to many of Portland’s newer retail developments and enjoys modern shopping plazas and good access to freeways.

Southeast Portland

Overview

Across the river from downtown you will find a diverse mix of homes from charming bungalows to riverfront estates and new condominiums. The level terrain, plentiful sidewalks, and historic retail stores all serve to imbue the neighborhood with a bit of Old Portland charm and a pedestrian friendly atmosphere.

Numerous parks also dot the landscape, including the 140-acre Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge with views of downtown and seasonal wetlands, the 34-acre Laurelhurst Park with recreation facilities and a dog park, and the 195-acre Mount Tabor Park where you can hike to the top of an extinct volcano and enjoy the views.

Portland.

North Portland

Overview

Across the river from downtown you will find a diverse mix of homes from charming bungalows to riverfront estates and new condominiums. The level terrain, plentiful sidewalks, and historic retail stores all serve to imbue the neighborhood with a bit of Old Portland charm and a pedestrian friendly atmosphere.

Numerous parks also dot the landscape, including the 140-acre Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge with views of downtown and seasonal wetlands, the 34-acre Laurelhurst Park with recreation facilities and a dog park, and the 195-acre Mount Tabor Park where you can hike to the top of an extinct volcano and enjoy the views.

Northwest Portland

Overview

Northwest Portland starts next to downtown and moves Northwest along the beautiful riverfront between Forest Park, the largest urban natural forest reserve, and the Willamette river (map). Many of the Northwest Portland neighborhoods are referred to interchangeably as downtown Portland due to their proximity to the heart of the city.

Some of the most famous Northwest/Downtown neighborhoods include the Pearl District and Goose Hollow, both of which won awards as best places to retire in 2007 from Money Magazine.

Northeast Portland

Overview

The Northeast Portland area is bounded by I-84 to the South and the Columbia river to the North and includes many close-in communities with very short commutes to downtown, and excellent access to transportation, including the Max light rail line to the Portland International Airport and the city of Gresham.

The neighborhoods of Northeast Portland vary widely from the urban Lloyd center area with the only highrise buildings outside of downtown to the historic tree-lined streets of Alameda, Beaumont, Irvington, and Laurelhurst which is technically part of the Southeast District.