Portland, OR Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Portland, OR: What You Need to Know

It’s to the credit of Portland, Oregon’s largest and most populous city, that it embraces its uniqueness with the unofficial motto, “Keep Portland Weird.”

A Rich Local Culture

The hit TV show, “Portlandia,” put the city’s eccentricity in the spotlight. Carrie Brownstein, actress and Portland resident, and Fred Armisen, former “Saturday Night Live” cast member, played different roles in the comedy sketch show. Long before “Portlandia,” the city was known for such things as the world’s smallest park (only two feet in diameter) and the annual World Naked Bike Ride. Also, Portland has 54 strip clubs, the most strip clubs per capita in the United States.

The Cost of Living in Portland

Living in Portland is relatively expensive, although it’s not as bad as other West Coast cities of comparable size. Portland has a population of 654,741. Its cost of living and housing costs are 10.8% and 19.5% higher than the national average. Oregon’s progressive income tax rate of 5% to 9.9% ranks among the highest in the country. On the upside, there’s no sales tax in Oregon, and food cost is 4.9% lower than the national average. Median gross rent in the city is $1,187 while the median rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $2,679.

Know Your Neighborhoods

About 11,000 people live in downtown Portland, a highly walkable area with the Pioneer Square at the heart of it. Downtown’s top schools and new apartments are attracting families. Lloyd District, just across the river from downtown, is a magnet for renters who want to live close to the business center for work. If you like the tranquility of the suburbs, Bethany and Cedar Mill are a short commute to Portland. They are popular for their amenities, excellent schools, and walking trails and parks. 

Schools and Education

The Portland area is a bustling academic center with 34 colleges within 100 miles of the city. Some of the biggest schools in the area are Portland State University with 25,711 students, Portland Community College with 27,406 students, and the University of Portland with 4,280 students. 

The city has 177 primary and secondary schools serving 102,390 students. Portland schools have an average math proficiency score of 46%, higher than the state’s 42% average. Its reading proficiency score of 58% is also better than Oregon’s 55% average.

Getting Around Portland

Portland’s mass transit system is called TriMet. It provides bus, light rail, commuter rail, and paratransit services plus a streetcar system. Buses serve much of the Portland metro area with more than 84 lines, while the MAX (Metropolitan Area Express) Light Rail connects downtown with Portland International Airport and outlying neighborhoods. The WES (Westside Express Service) commuter rail line serves the Portland metro area.