10 PORTLAND RELOCATION GUIDE – SUMMER | FALL 2016
population around 110,000, it’s the fourth
largest city in Oregon. The city recently
renovated Nadaka Nature Park, with its
popular nature-based play area and community garden. Several trails provide additional
outdoor opportunities in Gresham, including
the Springwater Corridor, 40-mile loop, and
the Gresham-Fairview Trail.
Hillsboro, a city west of Portland, is the home
to Intel, among other high-tech companies
and many of their employees. It’s the fifth
largest city in Oregon, and the county-seat of
Washington County. Solar World, the largest
solar plant of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, opened its doors in Hillsboro in 2004.
Vancouver is located just North of Portland, in the state of Washington. Not to
be confused with British Columbia, this
Vancouver is home to many Portland
commuters who prefer to live in a smaller
city. Vancouver is part of Clark County and
it’s home to approximately 167,000. High
tech and service industry jobs dominate the
economy within Vancouver.
AFFORDABLE LIVING,
RELATIVELY SPEAKING
Despite its rapid rise in popularity, Portland
is still considered relatively affordable, as far
as big cities go. Young creatives who might
otherwise call New York City, San Francisco,
or Los Angeles home, find Portland to be a
refreshing alternative with equal opportunity
for starting businesses and pursuing dreams.
Those who aren’t comparing Portland to
one of those major cities might disagree with
this idea of affordability, but the diversity of
housing options in and around Greater Port-
land has allowed just about anyone to find a
place that matches their budget and their needs.
Home prices in Portland are on the rise, and
there’s no sign of that slowing down. You
won’t find the deals that existed five years ago,
but purchasing property in Portland is still a
great investment. The average salary of residents in Portland has kept up with its housing
prices — a solid sign that the city is faring well
while more and more people arrive.
The Portland Housing Bureau offers a Down
Payment Assistance Loan program to qualified first time home buyers and minority
populations, helping more Portlanders afford
the financial hurdle of purchasing a house.
ACTIVE CITIZENS
You’ve probably heard that it rains a lot in
Portland. It’s true that clouds often dominate
our sky, but the steady sprinkle often gives
way to bright blue days in the rainy season,
and it rarely rains hard enough to warrant
an umbrella. The unobtrusive precipitation
combined with the region’s mild winters makes
for plentiful outdoor activities, all year round.
Portlanders take advantage of the outdoors,
and with the view of Mt. Hood and other
stunning peaks in the distance, it’s no wonder
people constantly feel the lure of hiking and
exploring the nature that surrounds this city.
The Columbia River Gorge offers endless
options for hiking and can be reached in forty
minutes by car. Angel’s Rest is a popular 4. 5
mile up and back trail to a vista point with a
stunning view of the gorge below.
For those looking for a little more challenge,
take your pick of the surrounding mountains.
Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, and Mount St. Helens
are all visible from the city and offer popular
climbs, with challenging, glacial ascents and
brag-worthy photo-ops at their peaks.
The mountains surrounding Portland also
provide plenty of snow for skiers and snowboarders to enjoy in the winter months.
Those who prefer water that isn’t frozen will
find a stunning shore along Oregon’s coast —
less than two hours away from the city. The
water is pretty cold year round, but that
doesn’t stop surfers from hanging ten.
Photos courtesy of Travel Portland
