Want a Water View in Portland? Here Are the 5 Neighborhoods You Need To Know About
Water views are really hard to come by in Portland even though our city is nestled just south of the Columbia River and the Willamette River runs right through the city.
There are lots of views in Portland in general—views of Mt. Hood, the city, the outdoors. But water views are much harder to find.
Where are the best Portland neighborhoods to live in if you want a view of the water? Many of these neighborhoods will give you a view, but it might be a peekaboo view. With that in mind, here are the 5 neighborhoods you need to know about:
1. Overlook
This Portland neighborhood is aptly named as it quite literally overlooks the Willamette River. As of 2019, the median price point in Portland’s Overlook neighborhood was at $472,000.
Overlook Home – Sold for $635,000
Listed by Deb Kemp with The Agency, Inc
2. Sellwood-Moreland
Sellwood-Moreland Home – Sold for $833,470
Portland’s Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood had a median price point of $510,000 at the end of 2019. This neighborhood is situated right along the Willamette River.
Listed by Kathy Quick with Quick & Associates Real Estate
3. Hillside
In 2019, Portland’s Hillside neighborhood had a median price point of $800,000.
Hillside Home – Sold for $910,000
Listed by Steve Nassar with Premiere Property Group, LLC
4. South Waterfront
As of 2019, South Waterfront’s median home price was $457,750. This neighborhood has all newer construction, with all of it being built in the last 5-10 years.
South Waterfront Home – Sold for $719,000
Listed by Listed by Suzanne Page • Meadows Group Inc., Realtors
5. Cathedral Park
The median price point for Cathedral Park was at $390,000. This Portland neighborhood is also located right along the banks of the Willamette River.
Cathedral Park Home – Sold for $639,950
Listed by Thomas I Hall with Farrell Realty & Property Management
5 Most Expensive Neighborhoods in Portland
As of September 2020, the median home sale price in Portland was at $451,000. In this post, I’m sharing Portland’s 5 most expensive neighborhoods so you know where the fanciest houses are in our Pacific Northwest city!
Keep in mind that determining what the “most expensive” neighborhoods are is somewhat subjective—of course, I used neighborhood median price points to inform these decisions, but Portland has A LOT of neighborhoods so this is certainly not a comprehensive list. (However this is an excellent place to get started!)
As you spend more time exploring Portland’s many neighborhoods with homes at a higher price point, you’ll find that they all have a few things in common. Things like beautiful greenspace, larger lots, and historic homes are all common themes. You’ll also find that if you use any of the conventional school rating websites out there, these expensive neighborhoods will show up as having great Portland schools with high rankings. (However, whether or not a school is “good” is a big hot button issue—click here to read what I think about how to find a school in Portland.)
Also, all of the featured homes in this post were sold in 2020.
1. Hillside
In 2019, the median home sale price in Portland’s Hillside neighborhood was at $800,000. The Hillside neighborhood is very exclusive and offers excellent views, yet it’s just up the hill from rad shops and amazing restaurants on 23rd. The Hillside neighborhood aptly named, and this east-facing neighborhood has the best chance of buying a home with views of Mt. Hood and the Willamette River.
Here is an excellent example of a recently sold home in the Hillside neighborhood:
Hillside Home – Sold for $910,000
Listed by Steve Nassar with Premiere Property Group, LLC
2. Eastmoreland
In Portland’s Eastmoreland neighborhood, the 2019 median home sale price was $757,000. Eastmoreland is just an absolutely gorgeous neighborhood filled with greenspace, streets lined with huge trees, big beautiful estates, and historic homes. It’s pretty close to Reed College and there aren’t many straight streets in the neighborhood, so streets just kind of meander along here. Eastmoreland is the epitome of picturesque Portland beauty!
Here is an excellent example of a recently sold home in the Eastmoreland neighborhood:
Eastmoreland Home – Sold for $1,095,000
Listed by Veronica Story with Keller Williams Realty Profes.
3. Arlington Heights
In Portland’s Arlington Heights neighborhood, the 2019 median home sale price was $757,000. Arlington Heights is literally surrounded by greenspace (not exaggerating here… look at the neighborhood on a map!), and this east-facing neighborhood is a truly stunning place to live. Here you’ll find the renowned Portland Japanese Garden, Washington Park, miles of scenic trails and more. You can feel like you’re lost in nature and removed, yet you’re still in the middle of the city and just up the road from all of the great amenities on 23rd.
Here is an excellent example of a recently sold home in the Arlington Heights neighborhood:
Arlington Heights Home – Sold for $1,050,000
Listed by Shea Steel with RE/MAX Equity Group
4. Alameda
In 2019, the median home sale price in Portland’s Alameda neighborhood was at $744,250. This neighborhood is up on Alameda Ridge and this west-facing community is ALL about the views! Searching for a home to buy in Alameda will give you a better chance of getting a great view, including views of Downtown Portland and the Willamette River. Alameda is also super close to the Beaumont-Wilshire business district, giving you great access to shops, restaurants, coffee shops and more. (Pip’s Original Doughnuts & Chai is my fave spot here.)
This recently sold home represents quintessential Alameda; Tudor homes are what Alameda is all about!
Alameda Home – Sold for $1,275,000
Listed by C. Morgan Davis with Keller Williams-PDX Central
5. Laurelhurst
In Portland’s Laurelhurst neighborhood, the 2019 median home sale price was $725,500. Laurelhurst is in the middle of everything giving you an easy commute to things, yet you’re surrounded by picturesque greenery. Huge leafy trees, lots of historic homes, quick access to Laurelhurst Park, and tons of amazing restaurants are all part of Laurelhurst. Also, if you’re searching for a Colonial or Craftsman home, Laurelhurst is the neighborhood for you.
Here is an excellent example of a recently sold home in the Laurelhurst neighborhood:
Laurelhurst Home – Sold for $1,544,000
Listed by Listed by Aimee Virnig Windermere Realty Trust
The 5 Most Affordable Neighborhoods in Portland, Oregon
First thing’s first: As of September 2020, Portland’s median home sale price was at $451,000. In this post, I’ll be sharing the most affordable neighborhoods in Portland and where you can get a “deal” as well as examples of homes that sold in 2020.
Keep in mind that a “deal” means something different to everyone, but for the purposes of this post we’re featuring neighborhoods with median home sale prices that are below Portland’s overall median price.
(Also! This is by no means a comprehensive list, but this is a fantastic place to get started!)
1. Hazelwood
In 2019, the median home sale price in Portland’s Hazelwood neighborhood was at $320,000. The Hazelwood neighborhood is home to lots of lovely one-level ranch-style homes, and one of this neighborhood’s big highlights is the easy access to Glendoveer Golf Course. You don’t even have to play golf to enjoy this local amenity—there is a beautiful path around the course that’s perfect for staying active and getting in your steps for the day.
The Hazelwood neighborhood also offers excellent access to Interstate-84 and Interstate-205, and the Light Rail’s MAX Blue Line runs right through the neighborhood.
Here are a couple of great examples of recently sold homes in the Hazelwood neighborhood:
Hazelwood Home – Sold for $325,000
Listed by Anthony Stroud with Windermere Community Realty
Hazelwood Home – Sold for $315,000
Listed by Jeanne Paul with Windermere Realty Trust
2. Powellhurst-Gilbert
In 2019, the median home sale price in Portland’s Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood was at $300,000. In the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood you’ll find one-level ranches with garages, big yards, and there’s just lots of greenspace around in general! You’re also at the foot of Powell Butte, which has some seriously rad hikes and awesome views.
Here are a couple of great examples of recently sold homes in the Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood:
Powellhurst-Gilbert Home – Sold for $330,000
Listed by David B Soulier with Keller Williams-PDX Central
Powellhurst-Gilbert Home – Sold for $309,000
Listed by Premiere Property Group, Llc
3. Sumner
In Portland’s Sumner neighborhood, the 2019 median home sale price was $307,100. This neighborhood offers many great starter houses that are perfect for first-time homeowners. Homes in Sumner are on the smaller side, but most have decent sized yards with nice outdoor spaces. You also have a quick commute to the airport from the Sumner neighborhood, which is a big perk for those who have to fly a lot for work.
Sumner Home – Sold for $375,000
This home was listed for $319,000 and sold for $375,000 (17% above list price) in only 3 days. This home represents a good example of the realities of our current real estate market here in Portland.
Listed by Erin Middleton with Keller Williams-PDX Central
Sumner Home – Sold for $345,000
Listed by Heather Lamkins with Think Real Estate
4. Centennial
In Portland’s Centennial neighborhood, the 2019 median home sale price was $307,000. Centennial is also home to many awesome ranch houses, and it’s right at the base of Powell Butte giving you easy access to beautiful greenspace, hikes, and big views.
Centennial is also on Light Rail’s MAX Blue Line which runs from Gresham all the way to Hillsboro, taking you through Downtown Portland and Beaverton. This makes the Centennial neighborhood an especially great option for those who need to commute for work.
Here are a couple of great examples of recently sold homes in the Centennial neighborhood:
Centennial Home – Sold for $309,250
Listed by Michael Jacobson Windermere Realty Trust
Centennial Home – Sold for $315,000
Listed by Sharlene Giard with RE/MAX Neighbors
5. Mill Park
In Portland’s Mill Park neighborhood, the 2019 median home sale price was $308,500. In Mill Park you’ll find lots of one-level homes and just a bunch of solid ranch homes. Mill Park is filled with cute residential streets and because the streets curve their way through the neighborhood, it’s a fairly “slow” neighborhood as well. However, there is still easy access to local freeways, and you’re close to both Interstate-205 and I-84.
Here are a couple of great examples of recently sold homes in the Mill Park neighborhood:
Mill Park Home – Sold for $331,000
Listed by Amy Anderson with Oregon Realty Co.
Mill Park Home – Sold for $345,500
Listed by Amanda Brown with Inhabit Real Estate Llc