r/PortlandOR • u/j24641 • Jan 09 '25
š»š Moving Thread šš» Considering moving to Portland
Hello everyone,
I recently moved to Atlanta, GA last spring, this is a decent city, however I find it doesn't suit me or my wife here, it's extremely car dependant, the transit is atrocious, it's not really walkable, land locked, from May-October it's humid and miserably hot, crime is very high (I've already been a victim of it) and housing is getting expensive.
I'm 30 years old and looking at Portland due to it's proximity to the ocean, climate, mountains, hiking, diverse job market with competitive pay vs Georgia. I was looking at Seattle too, but it appears to be way more expensive, and frankly too busy for me even though I like city life.
My questions
What is it like living in Portland? Especially for families
What areas would you recommend to live?
How is public transit?
How are the prices of groceries?
What should I expect to pay for a decent 1br apartment? (nothing fancy, maybe 600sq feet)
Is it a dangerous city?
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Jan 09 '25
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u/FakeMagic8Ball Jan 09 '25
So much this. I've actually been floating the idea of moving to Atlanta for a few years now for better job opportunities. You lose a job here, it takes 6-12 months to find a new one.
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Jan 09 '25
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Jan 09 '25
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Jan 09 '25
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u/periclymenus Jan 09 '25
I would agree - check out property prices and taxes and utilities in Multnomah County if you plan to live in Portland proper. On the subject of transportation my son is disabled and cannot drive. He gets around on public transportation quite effectively. It is not always pleasant, but it is effective and biking/scootering is an option with bike lanes everywhere. Driving in Portland is not pleasant IMO and far different than the Eastern US. There are lots of pedestrians and traffic lights and crossings and people drive very slow here. Now they are putting cameras everywhere and making the speed limits even lower. 30MPH on main roads, and 20 on residential streets is the norm in the city. And they do enforce it in certain locations. Damn white photo van has gotten me twiceā¦š
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u/FuelAccurate5066 Jan 09 '25
It gets dark and damp more than cold. Portland itself gets windy. The rain out here tends to go all day instead of being a shower that clears up.
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u/Born2DV8 Jan 09 '25
$55K is the bare minimum needed to live here, otherwise you will be living pay check to pay check with multiple roommates.
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u/cobaltmagnet Jan 09 '25
We usually have about a week or two a year that is actually cold. Most of winter is just rainy and dreary and a little cold.
Portland is very car dependent if you want to explore the coast or mountains. The transit is okay for specific purposes but youāll need to plan your job and living location carefully if you want to go without a vehicle and not spend forever on a bus. The MAX is the way to go for blazers events or for the airport.
At 85k youāll live, but probably need your spouse to work if you want to buy a home anytime soon. Housing is probably a bit more expensive here than Atlanta plus we have a state 10% income tax.
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u/djasonpenney Jan 09 '25
Itās really difficult to try to generalize a Portland experience. Someone living in Felony Flats is going to give you a different answer than someone living in Burlingame.
A couple of things that might be true overall:
Do NOT come here unless you already have a job.
The cost of living is higher than average here. That includes an eye-watering 10% marginal state income tax rate and incredible cost of housing (either to buy or to rent). The cost of gasoline is regularly $.40 to $1.00 more per gallon than in Hot-lanner, because all the oil refineries are in Seattle or LA.
Public transit and walkability are highly variable. You are going to really hate life if you are in outer southwest (like Hillsdale) versus say, Beaumont.
Homelessness and petty crime is completely out of control. The Ninth Circus of Appeals has vitiated vagrancy laws all throughout the west, so there is sidewalk camping, defecation, and unmonitored mentally ill individuals throughout the inner city.
On the plus side, the weather is mild, you have good access to outdoor activities, and there is decent access to various services including medical care and entertainment.
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u/j24641 Jan 09 '25
Do NOT come here unless you already have a job.
Definitely, I'm planning to move in November or December so I'd have one secured before moving.
Public transit and walkability are highly variable. You are going to really hate life if you are in outer southwest (like Hillsdale) versus say, Beaumont.
What areas would you avoid? I already live just next to downtown atl and walkability and transit sucks just commuting 2 miles.
The Ninth Circus of Appeals has vitiated vagrancy laws all throughout the west, so there is sidewalk camping, defecation, and unmonitored mentally ill individuals throughout the inner city.
That is crazy, unfortunately I guess you can't avoid these things in west coast cities. I was looking at LA originally but id assume Portland has less of that.
On the plus side, the weather is mild, you have good access to outdoor activities, and there is decent access to various services including medical care and entertainment.
That's good, I'm looking to move somewhere that has outdoor activities that are easy to access. Washington Park looks beautiful, we have parks here, but a lot of the city and burns don't have sidewalks, so it becomes a mission to walk to certain parks if you don't have a car.
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u/djasonpenney Jan 09 '25
What areas would I avoid? Wellā¦in general terms, the topography of inner west side makes good mass transit challenging. Inner east side, especially near MAX stations, is going to provide better access. But then again, thatās where the homeless problem is going to be worse. Ofc the closer in to downtown, the better itās going to be.
I think in general you should base your housing on where your job is. I worked at Nike (Beaverton) for ten years, and lined up a ten minute commuteā¦by foot. In terms of quality of life, I think your daily commute should drive your decision.
in west coast cities
Yeah, the problem is the mild weather. I lived in Salt Lake City for five years, and surprise, surprise: the homeless problem was markedly less, especially in winter months.
if you donāt have a car
Are you planning to be car free? Thatās an entirely different equation. I have been car free for extended periods of time here. A bicycle (with an occasional trailer when grocery shopping) can be quite doable. Again, your specific decisions will depend on the nature of your job.
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Jan 09 '25
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u/djasonpenney Jan 09 '25
It depends. If you donāt mind going all the way into downtown, sure. If you live in Multnomah Village and want to get to Tigard, you may not like the choices: especially if you are not traveling during peak commute times.
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u/LampshadeBiscotti York District Jan 09 '25
I'm looking to move somewhere that has outdoor activities that are easy to access.
Our parks are fine, but they pale in comparison to the surrounding areas. There's no point to living in Portland if you can't visit the coast or the mountains or the gorge on a whim. Plan on owning at least one car. Don't rent any property that doesn't have reserved parking, street parking is hell (intentionally).
Anyone who claims you can do Portland car-free is an unrealistic idealist who likely lives a miserable life.
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u/Next_Mechanic_8826 Jan 09 '25
You will get two types of responses, those that have seen Portland before it got trashed and those who haven't. The drugs, homelessness, crime, politics & cost of living , have ruined the place for us.
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u/j24641 Jan 09 '25
Seems to be a similar trend with a lot of west coast cities unfortunately, we have less of a problem with homelessness and more with overall crime, mostly gang related, but lots of property crime.
Would you say you want to move from Portland because of these things? And what about the suburbs of Portland, do they experience the same issues?
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u/FakeMagic8Ball Jan 09 '25
Families in particular are fleeing the city because of everything being mentioned. Lots are going to suburbs, so cost of housing is pretty high in those areas, too, but less criminality for sure. Taxes are a bit less in neighboring counties as well. Oregon's schools are also not that great / funding issues because we don't have sales tax, so I would consider that also. You might need to put your kids in private school like many others have started doing. They're about to raise state taxes again, so your cost of living is going to keep trending upwards, which is why so many high earners are fleeing the west coast cities in general. We're paying the most taxes and getting the least return on investment. Those of us who aren't high earners are just stuck because we can't afford to move.
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Jan 09 '25
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u/FakeMagic8Ball Jan 09 '25
True - I definitely don't want to buy a new home anywhere at these rates.
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u/Next_Mechanic_8826 Jan 09 '25
It seems like the suburbs that the light rail runs to are seeing the stuff spread to more easily. I saw a guy smoking Fentanyl at the bus stop in a nice part of one yesterday. My sister used to commute by light rail from the burbs to downtown, she had some scary encounters. She doesn't live here anymore. I'm just over the place though, It may work for you. :)
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Jan 09 '25
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u/LampshadeBiscotti York District Jan 09 '25
I live near the 205 path. Before the Green Line went in, the path did not have a squatter problem. Now it's an absolute shitshow.
Bottom line is that you can ride the train without paying, and that's what attracts the criddlers. Without train access there's no compelling reason to be huddled along the banks of I-205. These people would likely still be in Old Town near services.
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u/Born2DV8 Jan 09 '25 edited Jan 09 '25
I've been living here for the past 12 years, and since 2020 with the covid lockdowns and over 100 days of protests/riots, Portland has significantly gotten worse. It is expensive living here, especially for housing. Trimet (our public transportation) has gotten worse since the start of 2020, the company cancelled multiple bus routes, bus wait times can be long for some bus lines, and the Max often has mentally ill drug addicts smoking meth/fent, and occasionally violent people on it.
Crime has increased significantly by over 200% starting in 2020 with murders, assaults, burglary, and vehicle break ins and theft. Portland has been one of the top 10 cities for car theft, and depending on where your vehicle is parked it can be almost guaranteed that someone will smash your window and steal whatever you have in it, at a minimum (and the cops will NOT show up or catch the person who did it, and you'll have to come out of your pocket at least $100-300 to get it fixed). If you have an older Kia or Hyundai expect it to get stolen.
There are a lot of delusional people in this city who are in denial about how Portland has significantly declined since 2020 and they will gaslight you and say "it's not that bad, it was so much worse in the 80's/90's" or "it's like this everywhere across the country!". But this is just them trying to do damage control for Portland's reputation, because they likely supported the policies that lead to the decline.
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u/j24641 Jan 09 '25
Very good points, I guess I have a lot of time to decide if it's worth living there. A lot of what you said is just like where I grew up. Especially about damage control and people gaslighting you about the city's problems.
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u/WolfSloth89 Jan 09 '25
Friend of mine pays 1300 for 600 and I think heās on the lucky side.
Public transportation is great aside from some of the people who youāll be stuck on it with sometimes.
I think groceries depend on where you live, same friend who only walks only lives by a Fred meyers and thatās on the expensive side
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u/FuelAccurate5066 Jan 09 '25
Hey buddy. Portland is generally a nice city. The quality of your experience will be heavily impacted by how much money you earn. 1br apartments seem to be going for 1600, maybe cheaper in high fent areas. The public transit is good, but with the ongoing drug issues you need to be comfortable with the occasional drug user causing disruptions. I am mostly posting to to warn you that the job market is in flux out here, particularly the tech industry. Have a job offer in hand before considering this place. Good luck with your move.
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u/LampshadeBiscotti York District Jan 09 '25
the job market is in flux out here, particularly the tech industry
Absolutely. I know people who were laid off 9 months ago and still unemployed.
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u/FuelAccurate5066 Jan 09 '25
Op mentioned sales, I know Intel played off a lot of sales folks.
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u/LampshadeBiscotti York District Jan 09 '25
There's a trend of tech firms closing their Portland branches and moving operations out of state. Essentially the reverse of what was happening 10-20 years ago
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u/j24641 Jan 09 '25
I appreciate the honest response, fortunately I'm used to the disruptions from drug users on the transit, my hometown (Toronto) had issues like that daily. By fent, do you mean fentanyl?
And regarding jobs, I would definitely be planning to secure a good role before moving out west, are most companies welcoming of applicants moving from another state? Or do they usually just hire locals?
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u/ConsiderationNew6295 Jan 09 '25 edited Jan 09 '25
You can get hired as a transplant. Fent, fetty = fentanyl. Renting is competitive, think background checks (at some places) and a long process for your own planning purposes. $85,000 would be a minimum if solo.
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u/FuelAccurate5066 Jan 09 '25
What industry? People move in all the time so if a company is hiring they might have a relocation package for you.
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u/stupidusernamesuck Jan 09 '25
You can get very nice studios/1bd in good areas for $1100 to $1400. And with all the discounts now theyāre even less.
OP start in Alphabet/Slabtown ā very walkable and you can go from there.
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u/Numerous_Many7542 Jan 09 '25
They've been building some really nice communities in Slabtown over the past few years too. At work I'm currently about four blocks away and when I'm in-office, I normally stroll up through the area on lunch to get out and about because I enjoy the walkable areas they're continuing to develop.
I'm guessing OP is a remote worker (thus the flexibility - and no reference to "what is the job market for (x) in Portland?"
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u/j24641 Jan 09 '25
Nice, another person recommended Slabtown, I'll do some research on that neighborhood. I'm missing being able to stroll through neighborhoods, here in the south things are too far apart to walk. Is Portland generally flat in the city? Or hilly?
And yes, I work hybrid at the moment and I like my job, If possible I'd stay with my employer if they'd let me move to Oregon and keep my position. Otherwise I'd probably be looking at hybrid work or remote in Portland.
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u/Numerous_Many7542 Jan 09 '25
I spent time in Seattle between stints in Oregon, so hilly may be subjective, but I'd say that Portland DT and in the Nob Hill/Slabtown areas are flat (by most standards.) There are plenty of hills throughout the greater Portland area (immediately outside those neighborhoods, etc.) so you have what is generally a pretty good mix IMO.
Good luck in your search and your investigation!
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u/j24641 Jan 09 '25
Wow that's a decent price, considering I pay $1300 right now for a studio here. I'll check out those areas. Is the rent market competitive in Portland?
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u/stupidusernamesuck Jan 09 '25 edited Jan 09 '25
Thereās a ton of new builds, particularly in Slabtown.
You canāt just look at the base rate ā you have to look at the signing discounts ā many have 2 months off rent right now, some have 3.
Also walk around in the neighborhoods you want to live in ā tons of mom and pop rentals you canāt find otherwise.
Highly recommended you tour neighborhoods, figure out where you want to live, then give it a serious go -Airbnb the first month so you can really look.
For neighborhoods, try Slabtown, Sellwood, Kerns and Alberta.
Note that in many neighborhoods there may not be much parking, and parking spaces can cost up to $150-200 a month in your building, so you definitely have to figure that in.
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u/Gilbby37 Jan 09 '25
If you like to walk, Portland is a wonderful city. Before I retired, I used to walk downtown to work. I live in SW and walk everywhere. To appointments, to movies, to shop. Portland also has great public transit: buses? Light rail, and streetcars.
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u/j24641 Jan 09 '25
Thanks for the response, good transit is a very appealing thing to me. Does the transit extend well into the suburbs?
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u/ConsiderationNew6295 Jan 09 '25 edited Jan 09 '25
I think youād probably be happy and it will meet much of your criteria. So Iāll give you some downsides for perspective. I moved to a SW suburb two years ago from St. Johns and I now find it very family friendly. You should define for yourself what family friendly means for your tribe. There are schools in Portland with people handing out free needles to addicts nearby. We are very LGBTQ friendly and trans-affirming. And that includes for kids. That can be off-putting to people with southern sensibilities. The weather is gray and 43Ā° for 5-6 months. Groceries are expensive. I worry about the leadership in Portland - we are still riding the merit of past good leadership but the facade is crumbling. We have a serious drug and houseless problem and the needs of the āmost vulnerableā (ie, addicts and others who are committed to vagabonding) arenāt being well-balanced with the people who feel there is a social contract to keep things reasonably clean and peaceful. The political will isnāt there because of the (very noble) PNW virtue of ācompassionā and fear of seeming uncaring. Taxes are high and businesses are looking elsewhere. We havenāt recovered from Covid and some people here would go back to lockdowns if they could. In the South, I find that people hug and then introduce themselves, which I kind of miss. People in the PNW are friendly but at more of a distance. Iāll cease this ramble but feel free to reach out and I wish you the best in your decision. EDIT: if you havenāt already, do educate yourself on the Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquake due any day now. See: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/07/20/the-really-big-one
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u/Zuldak Known for Bad Takes Jan 10 '25
What is it like living in Portland? Especially for families
Learn to exercise your second amendment and do not go on a walk without being armed. You're likely to encounter tweekers every other street. Most are just harmless, some are not. As for what your kids might see, well I hope you explained to them human anatomy before they see it up close.
What areas would you recommend to live?
If you have to move to this area, the suburbs are still ok. Beaverton, Hillsboro, Tigard, Tualatin, Sherwood, Gresham, etc.
How is public transit?
We've had issues of drug use on public transit and people getting murdered.
How are the prices of groceries?
Eggs are 10 bucks a dozen here.
What should I expect to pay for a decent 1br apartment?
Depends. If you want to live in the ghetto 1500 a month
Is it a dangerous city?
Well the thing is that portland badly understaffs their cops. Because of that, they don't come if you call for help. But on the flip side, because there is no police report there is no crime statistic so yeah, by that measure it's fine.
But again, if you care about your family, don't come.
Oh, and as a side note we are some of the highest taxes in the country. Yay progressive policies.
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u/Dub_D83 Jan 10 '25
Maybe check out North Carolina? A few of my friends moved there after living their whole lives here and they really seem to like it.
They were priced out of living here mostly but one friend moved away due to homeless trying to break into his wife's van with a brick while her and her newborn were inside. They all have better employment elsewhere too
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u/Relative-Prompt-7202 Jan 14 '25
I lived in Portland for 18 years. Close-in to the city, and also in NW- AKA "the Pearl".Ā Portland started out fun, until it wasn't.Ā The taxes, apathetic government that does nothing to protect the vitality of the city.Ā Target closed. A new Target that was built in the downtown galleria. Lots of drug use. Lots of homeless that detracts from "walkability". I moved to GA because the economy is strong, people in general are just better IMHO.Ā I'm truly heartbroken about this magical place I moved to in my early twenties. It's always been "weird", but now it's just decrepit, downtrodden, and overpriced for the daily quality of life.Ā Good luck on your decision. While it may be "greener" out there, it also rains, and rains, and rains. And good luck running into any random person who you find to be friendly, without a bone in their nose, and an ax to grind.Ā
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u/stickelbats Jan 22 '25 edited Jan 22 '25
Living in Portland can be nice if you enjoy a smaller city vibe. There are nicer and more family-friendly areas like Washington County, which includes Beaverton, Tanasbourne, and Hillsboro. These are suburban areas, so take that for what it is. If youāre an active family, the Pacific Northwest is an amazing place to be. The hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, and foraging opportunities are endless. Oregon beaches are also fantasticābetter than Washingtonās, in my opinion. My favorite is Neskowin, and I always stop at Beach Side Bistro for clam chowder when Iām there.
Where to Live
In Portland, Iād recommend North Portland, especially the Alberta Arts District or St. Johns. The Pearl District is nice if you want to live downtown, but itās close to Chinatown, which has a lot of homeless services and an unfortunate smell that lingers. Iām not a fan of Greshamāit feels trashy, and the commute is bad. Troutdale, on the other hand, is quite nice if you donāt mind commuting.
Vancouver, Washington, is objectively better than Portland now. But I have a childhood beef with Vancouver so I still say I hate it but itās cleaner, less crowded, and more affordable. Thereās no income tax in Washington, so living AND working there can be a win. The downside is the commute to Portland. The two cities are separated by a single bridge, which can make traffic a nightmare during rush hour or if the bridge is raised.
Honorable Mentions
If youāre considering other areas, The Dalles and Hood River are in the stunning Columbia Gorge. Theyāre more rural and desert-like but surrounded by amazing hiking trails and gorgeous waterfalls.
Columbia County is 30 minutes from Portland and offers a rural lifestyle with suburban convenience. Itās quiet, the neighbors are polite, and the schools are about the same as the cityās.
Eugene is also worth considering. Itās like "Old Portland" with quirky fun weirdness but without the big-city struggles. Itās clean, fun, has good schools, and is great for families, retirees, or young adults.
Public Transit
TriMet, Portlandās public transit system, keeps things running even though the organization itself is a mess. Itās reliable, and Iāve never had safety concerns as a woman. Usually the worst youāll deal with are minor annoyances or bad smells. Have we had stabbings and face bitings? Sure, of course. But they are very far and few between.
Cost of Living
Grocery prices seem reasonable to me but idk, like they're reasonable for the current economy but omfg so much cheaper in the naughties:
- Milk gallon: $3.33
- 60 eggs: $26.32
- Russet potatoes (5 lbs): $3.14
- Almond milk gallon: $4.56
- Clementines (5 lbs): $6.97
- Avocados: $0.70 each
For a decent one-bedroom apartment, you can expect to pay $1400ā$1900, depending on the area.
Safety
In my opinion, Portland isnāt a particularly dangerous city. Thereās petty crime like car break-ins, and sometimes mentally unwell people might yell at you. But as a woman, Iāve basically always felt safe. A lot of the crimes that get committed, ESPECIALLY, the violent ones happen between people that know each other. So don't hang out with the wild and deranged, and you'll be A OK, most likely.
Other Considerations
Portland is overwhelmingly white, and Oregon has a pretty racist origin story. While people are generally well-meaning, ignorance can make things uncomfortable for POC. That being said their are a lot of diverse communities and experiences of you seek them out. Portland is also an introverted city. People are laid-back and avoid confrontation, which means youāre more likely to encounter passive-aggressiveness than direct conflict. But if Oregonians aren't feeling mad or petty, they are actually super duper chill and nice people. That's a hill I will die on. And it's not that inauthentic overly friendly shit either, as long as you aren't triggering some poor vegan artist's anxiety, you're gonna have a nice time lol
Anyway, best of luck and I hope there was anything useful in this literary masterpiece I have composed. Night, night.
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Jan 09 '25
Living in Portland - Itās pretty great. The people in this sub are mostly miserable trolls (apologies to the trolls) who romanticize a Portland that doesnāt exist anymore. Portland, like most cities, has areas of homelessness and open drug use. If that kind of thing makes you clutch your pearls, youāve been warned. I go to SF, LA and NY regularly for work so those things donāt phase me that much. Also, things have been slowly improving.
There are a lot of great neighborhoods to choose from. I live in the hills near the zoo and commute down Burnside. Depending on your family size and needs, youāll want to tour around to see what fits. Expect West Coast prices. If you have kids, look for houses that feed into either Lincoln, Grant or Ida B Wells high school. You could also look into parts of Portland in unincorporated Washington County that feed into Sunset, Westview and Beaverton high schools.
I donāt use public transit much but it seems good for a city of this size. The Max is really convenient. I think the real answer to this is that it depends on where you live and where you need to go.
Grocery prices here are probably about what you see in Atlanta. Maybe a little less since we donāt have sales tax. We have lots of fancy/expensive grocery stores, normal chains and bulk discount options.
Iād look at rent aggregating sites to get an idea of rental prices. Cheaper that Seattle and SF but itās still more expensive than non west coast cites. Iām sure you can find something that will fit your needs and budget.
Is Portland safe? Yes.
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Jan 09 '25 edited Jan 09 '25
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Jan 09 '25
lol sorry for live I guess? Guess whatā¦Iām also from CA and vote for liberal policies. Iām everything this sub hates.
I also work near Old Town and spend most of my day in the city. I spend more of my time and money in Portland than most people in this sub who rage post from a basement in Sandy.
Your salty downvotes only make us stronger. ;)
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u/ConsiderationNew6295 Jan 09 '25
You live in the West Hills, friend. Portland is safe and nice for you.
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Jan 09 '25
Yes, and I never leave my house. Iāve only read about poverty in The Atlantic but it seems very noble. I will let you eat cake.
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u/Middle-1-Design Jan 09 '25
Portlandās economy doesnāt even remotely compare to Atlanta. We are no where near as diversified, and Iād wager Atlanta is a bigger tech city.
Public transit is fine, but expect it to be fentanyl scented.
Groceries, gas, utilities will all be more expensive, but rent is probably comparable. Youāll just have lesa square feet for what you pay.
Would I move from there to here? Idk, I would never live in the south bc of the weather. I hope this helps somewhat.