They call it Rose City, because Portland’s wet climate is perfect for growing the red flower, and rose gardens sprout up all around the area. Portland could easily be called “Green City”, too, though. It’s a city lush with trees, plant life, and environmental activism.
Portland offers far more than vivacious vegetation, though. It’s a very modern city with a blossoming music, arts and beer scene. Inhabitants enjoy an exciting lifestyle, a dense, walkable downtown, and a low cost of living.
Scroll down to learn about the pros and cons of Portland…
Portland Geography & Layout
Portland is located on the Wilamette River, which flows into the Pacific Ocean about 75 miles away. The city is located on a flat plain in a largely mountainous region. Mount Hood, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Ranier are all viewable from the city.
Portland is the city center of a larger metropolitan area that includes Beaverton, Hillboro and Vancouver, Washington. In total, about 2.2 million people live in the Portland metro area.
Positives of Living in Portland
- Food & Spirits – Portland is well known for its thriving beer and spirits scene, with world-famous breweries Deschutes, Rogue, Bridgeport, and Full Sail all sporting downtown locations. It also has a popular food truck culture and plenty of good restaurants.
- Environment – Not only is Portland surrounded by natural beauty, its government and city planners are attune to it. Portland boasts buildings covered in greenery, and it has environmental-friendly policies.
- Cost of Living – Compared to other popular cities, Portland’s cost of living is actually quite low. However, there is no sales tax, making income-based taxes a bit higher.
- Public Transit – Portland has a good light rail system, and its downtown is very walkable, making it a good place to ditch your car.
Negatives of Living in Portland
- Rain & Clouds – Portland sees a lot of rain and overcast in the winter. Though temperatures rarely drop below freezing, residents must get used to chilly, wet 40-degree days for months at a time. That being said, the city is dry, sunny and warm for nearly the entire summer.
- Isolation – Portland is a big city, but it is fairly isolated. Seattle, Washington is not too far away, but beyond that, the closest major city is San Francisco, California, a 12-hour drive away.
- Portlandia – The HBO show pokes fun at a well-known Portland persona: the hipster. Portland has a reputation for being home to many hippies, yuppies and liberal-minded young folk. While generalizations are best avoided, if you prefer a homegrown conservative scene, Portland might not be the place for you.
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