Neighborhood Guide

Courtesy of Alacrity Photography
Courtesy of Alacrity Photography

Here’s our annual ode to the fact that Portland is a great place to raise kids! In our Neighborhood Guide we highlight all the family-friendly offerings packed into six spots in the metro area. From dedicated bike routes to neighbors banding together in the face of adversity to country vibes just 20 minutes from downtown, you’ll find out why residents love their communities. We also include information on housing costs, kid-friendly dining, and places for your family to play.

Find a True Community in This Southeast Portland Neighborhood

Mt. Scott-Arleta (from Duke Street to Foster Road, between Southeast 60th and 82nd Avenues) has a lot of character. An […]

Family Amenities Abound in This Portland Area City

This small, 4-square-mile Clackamas County city knows how to show up big for kids and families. In 2006, city leaders […]

Here’s Where to Have Fun With Your Kid in the Vancouver Area

Southwest Washington is a simple hop over the Columbia from Portland, and includes Vancouver, Camas, Washougal, Battle Ground and Ridgefield […]

This is the No. 1 Community for Families in Clark County

The suburb of Camas is named after the Camas lily, a delicate, purple spring bloom whose root bulbs were harvested […]

This is One of Portland’s Safest Neighborhoods

Hillsdale, a charming Southwest neighborhood, has the quiet feel of a mountain town. Its gorgeous foliage along hillside roads and […]

Sip Milkshakes Inside a 111-Year-Old Soda Fountain

While this roughly square-shaped, Northeast neighborhood may be overshadowed by its more well-known districts close by — Cully to the […]

Play Farmer for a Day (or more!) Just 20 Minutes From Portland

If a rural, slow-paced life sounds ideal, but you can’t bear to be far from the buzz of Portland culture, […]

Why Vancouver is Great for Families

Here’s what makes this fast-growing city great for families.

Search for schools, camps, enrichment classes, pediatricians and more in our guide!

Neighborhood We Love: Troutdale

The City of Troutdale, 16 miles east of downtown Portland along I-84, bills itself as the Gateway to the Columbia River Gorge.

Neighborhood We Love: Foster-Powell

Foster-Powell, the triangle-shaped neighborhood tucked between Southeast Powell Boulevard and Southeast Foster Road, combines the best of new and old Portland.

Neighborhood We Love: Bridlemile

If you love the suburbs but hate a long commute, centrally located Bridlemile in Southwest Portland may be the perfect fit.

The History of Portland’s Quadrants

Did you know that Portland has more than 90 formally recognized neighborhoods? These diverse communities fit snugly into geographic boundaries, known throughout the city as quadrants. Interestingly enough, there aren’t four quadrants, but rather six.

Affordable Neighborhoods in Portland

Despite high interest rates, there are still affordable neighborhoods in Portland.

Neighborhood We Love: Eastmoreland

Driving or walking through Eastmoreland’s tree-lined streets full of large, elegant homes, you’re struck by the neighborhood’s beauty. And that’s not an accident. According to the Eastmoreland Neighborhood Association, the neighborhood was laid out by devotees of the national City Beautiful movement of the early 1900s.

Neighborhood We Love: Multnomah Village

Minutes from downtown, this charming and quintessentially Portland neighborhood centers around a main street that boasts breakfast joints, gift shops, bakeries, a beloved toy store and much more. And a yearly summer parade and street fair is a much-cherished community event.

Neighborhood We Love: Rose City Park

The neighborhood of Rose City Park was incorporated the same year as the inaugural Rose Festival. Today, this Northeast neighborhood comprises a diverse mix of established Portland, with gentrified updates and hip eateries. It’s also family- and dog-friendly with outdoor spaces, parks and shopping.

Neighborhood We Love: University Park

Like this North Portland area’s name suggests, this compact neighborhood is named after a university — the University of Portland. In fact, the Catholic campus takes up a large swath of realty in the neighborhood’s southern corner.

Neighborhood We Love: Wilsonville

Originally called Boone’s Landing after a descendant of Daniel Boone, Wilsonville got a name change in 1880. The name hasn’t been the only change in its history; Wilsonville has transformed from ferry site to port to train depot, and finally to the southernmost suburb in the Portland-metro area with a major freeway artery running right through its center.

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