What BestPlaces Users Say about Portland
Portland, Oregon is a dynamic city known for its vibrant arts scene, outdoor recreation opportunities, and progressive culture. It has a population of over 600,000 people and is consistently ranked as one of the best cities to live in the United States. With such high praise, it's no surprise that many people have chosen to make Portland their home. To get a better understanding of what it's like to live in this city, I have included summaries of user reviews from BestPlaces.net.
According to a review from "Mark," Portland is "a city that truly lives up to its reputation." He goes on to mention the city's charm, friendly residents, and abundance of coffee shops and microbreweries. Another user, "Samantha," agrees, stating that Portland is "a dream city for anyone who loves nature and outdoor activities." She also highlights the city's food scene and bustling downtown.
However, not all reviews are glowing. A user named "Jonathan" mentions that while he loves the city's culture and opportunities, the high cost of living can be a challenge. He also points out the growing issue of homelessness in certain areas of the city. Similarly, "Jessica" mentions that the traffic and commute times in Portland can be a downside, although she still enjoys living there overall.
In summary, it's clear that Portland has a lot to offer, from its unique culture to its beautiful outdoor spaces. While some reviewers mention challenges such as high costs and traffic, the majority of users are happy with their decision to live in this dynamic and diverse city. As "Mark" puts it, "Portland truly is a gem in the Pacific Northwest."
based on 386 ReviewsGet to know Portland with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Portland
Cloudy Days in Portland, Oregon - 1/4/2011
Portland has an average of 223 cloudy days per year and this is due, for the most part, on its close proximatey to the coast. The temperatures are fairly moderate, so this makes up for the constant wet weather we have here. I have lived in Portland since June of 1967 (43 years) and I still get very depressed during the 7-10 months of rain we must live with. Most "Oregonians" love the cool and cloudy weather and feel that it is worth the price we pay. We can be either at the coast or skiiing on Mt. Hood in about an hours driving time. On a positive note, when the sun does make an appearance, it is the most beautiful place on earth you will ever
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Zombies - 11/24/2010
I have lived in cities in the USA and Europe, but never met "zombie" people until moving to Portland five years ago. Lack of sunshine and friendly people can really kill you here. My first visit to downtown Portland hit me like a max train because of the homeless "everywhere". I used to say the squirrels were suicidal 8n Dallas because they ran and/or walked in front of cars. But here in Portland the suicidal people are more sneaky than the Dallas squirrels. These people dress in black and run in front of your car as if they are possessed by demon squirrels! Then I learned that it was normal to wander around blindly at night in Portland. Cars? They are not liked here in Portland. If you aren't green enough from the moss growing on you within the year, the green people will haunt you into a greener shade of green. You know how long it takes to get to those "funplaces" to ski and play? Forever. I feel like a prisoner here. This city locks down if someone has a fender
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A Natural Wonder, But Like Living in a Cloud - 11/14/2010
I've lived in Portland for 10 years. It is an amazingly beautiful place to live. The city itself is probably one of the most beautiful in the country; the surrounding environment is beyond compare, with beautiful forests, rivers, lakes, and mountains in nearly every direction. Incredible skiing, hiking, kayaking, paddling, camping, and nature sightseeing everywhere you look. Standing in the middle of downtown Portland, Mt. Saint Helens towers to the north. To the east Mt. Hood - a virtual nature's playground, and the Columbia River Gorge - with it's incredible series of gorgeous waterfalls, is simply stunning. Beyond that, the Hood River Valley is just stunningly beautiful. To the south, the Willamette Valley is an incredibly lush and productive agricultural land - the final destination for pioneers on the famous Oregon Trail. And to the west, the Oregon Coast - certainly one of the most incredibly beautiful coastlines in the country if not the world.
If you
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Unfriendly Portlanders - 10/17/2010
I grew up in the Air Force, so I have lived in a lot of places, and I'm here to tell you: Portland, Oregon makes NYC look like Disneyland. Holy Cow, what is wrong with these people? Is life really that bad? Do they hate everyone the way they appear to do? It is the most bizarre place I've ever been and ever hope to find myself in, as soon as I can I am getting OUT!!!!
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Don't move here unless you are rich or have a d*mn - 9/19/2010
Portland has gone downhill with each years passing. The state as a whole has been hit very hard by the struggling economy, not as bad as others (such as Detroit MI) but there are too many people and not enough jobs. People are fighting over employment opportunities and its enabling employers to pay diddly squat because they know people are desperate. As for the weather, its not that bad, you just have to be mentally strong and not get depressed over it. Accept it for what it is, complaining about it wont change anything. The housing market is RIDICULOUS and you cant get a nice home unless you provide a very large down payment or you have the means to afford a home. Its becoming more and more crowded here and the city wont expand the roads to accommodate the growth. "Cheap" living means moving to Hillsboro or Canby (way out in the middle of nowhere) and even in those cities its too expensive! Theres no jobs there which means you have to commute to Portland which doing every day would
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Portland is the best! - 9/11/2010
I love living in Portland. There are so many fun things to do here. There is a city life without the fast pace of most cities.
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racisim? - 7/15/2010
I can understand that the weather is what it is and that moving to the area means that you will have to "deal" with it (which I am looking forward to) and that from time to time that you will encounter people that are affected by it which in turn means that you will have to "deal" with them as well. People are active and busy living an active outdoors type of life so they don't always have time to be overly polite, no biggy. And, being from a town that is being "invaded" by people from other states trying to get away from cost of living situations, and other things I understand that how it feels to have to "deal" with people from other states and realize that some of this may land on me, nothing new. However bringing racisim into the picture (as some have done on this site) seriously deters my motivation to move to portland. I am from the south and my wife and I are itelligent, educated hispanics. I understand that it (racisim) is everywhere but I would not want to move my
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Great place! No jobs : ( - 6/22/2010
Portland is a truly vibrant city, people are very friendly and easy going. However, finding work in Portland is harder than finding a needle in a hay
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Mossy in Oregon - 6/2/2010
Please Do Not Post My Name.
If my review has to be posted with my name, then I would rather my name not be used.
Thanks!
Portland and Oregon is a fantastic place. So full of beauty and many recreational activities...from the coast to the slopes in a matter of 2 hours. Downtown is full of things to do and Portland is avery clean city and easy toget around. I have lived here most of my life and have enjoyed it, for the most part. As I have become older, I am liking it less and less and am, in fact, planning on moving out of state this year. Some of the things I don't like about Portland are:
-Portlanders are fierce democrats and are very vocal. Not a bad thing...just don't talk politics with them...they don't want to hear what the conservatives have to say. And don't talk about revising the budget and stop raising taxes...because then where would the money come from to fund their pet projects.
-Portlanders are mean..or least they have become
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crime city usa - 6/2/2010
i have lived here for over 10 years and the weather is really finally starting to bother me. it is not just the rain, it is the fact that in june portland may have a beautiful afternoon on a saturday only to see the next 3 days gray, rainy, and absolutely no sun to be found. i have found people in portland that say they like the rain actually will complain quite a bit about the rain. as for the summers, they are nice but there is not enough time due to the showers in the late spring and early fall. crime is definitely on the rise and this can be a very creepy place with homeless people everywhere downtown and even in the inner cities which are se, ne, n, sw, nw portland. there are alot of friendly and cool people but also some very ignorant people just like anywhere else. i feel that many people do not know how to properly drive a vehicle. graffiti is everywhere. the city is congested and streets are hard to
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