Best Portland Neighborhoods For Black Singles, Families, & Young Professionals – Oregon
Portland is one of the best cities for singles and families to live in. It’s unique and has people from all walks of life living together.
If you’re planning a move to Portland, Oregon, moving to a neighborhood that suits your lifestyle can make adjusting much more manageable. Let’s look at five of the best neighborhoods in Portland.
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3 Best Portland Suburbs for Black Families
If you’re starting anew in Portland with your family or are planning to start a family soon, the suburbs are a great place to be. Before you move just anywhere, check out three of the best Portland neighborhoods for black families.
Nob Hill
Nob Hill is the oldest neighborhood in Portland. If you’re looking to live an authentic Portland life without having to be in an urban setting, Nob Hill is about as authentic Portland as you can get.
Located just five minutes by car away from downtown Portland, you’ll have access to city life whenever you want while enjoying the quiet and relaxed nature of the suburbs.
You’ll find various new condominium buildings as well as older Victorian-style homes. The schools in Nob Hill are fantastic, and there’s plenty of family-friendly things to do. Forest Park is a popular spot for families to relax or take a walk when the weather’s nice.
There’s a bunch of local boutiques you can visit and delicious local restaurants to dine at. If you want to stay in Nob Hill instead of exploring other parts of Portland on a Friday night, one of Portland’s best indie movie theaters is in this neighborhood.
Alameda
Alameda is another sought-after neighborhood in Portland for families. When living in Alameda, you’ll have some of the best views of downtown Portland from the highest part, as well as the Cascade Mountains and Willamette River.
Everyone wants to live somewhere that they feel safe, especially when raising children. Alameda has a considerably low crime rate. Many of the community members are involved in neighborhood watch programs and continuously look out for one another.
If you’re looking for a neighborhood with a strong sense of community, Alameda may be the best option for you. Almost everyone who lives there is very involved in community activities put on via the neighborhood association.
Several small parks in the area are perfect for people of all ages, especially kids that love to be outside. For those who love golfing, there are a few golf courses close to Alameda too.
While Alameda provides the perfect escape from the bustling city, you’re only about fifteen minutes from downtown without traffic so that you can live the best of both worlds.
Sellwood-Moreland
In South Portland is the Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood. It’s slightly further away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Portland than some other suburbs if you want to be further away. It’s the perfect combination of urban and suburban.
Sellwood-Moreland is home to beautiful family homes, vintage and modern shops, public transportation, and plenty of tasty restaurants. The Oaks Amusement Park is close by, which is fun for both children and adults.
For those who love spending time outdoors, the riverfront offers beautiful views of downtown and the river. Still, there are other parks throughout the neighborhood for exercise, picnics, community events, and more.
While several neighborhoods in the Portland area have great schools, Sellwood-Moreland is by far the neighborhood with the best schools in the city.
2 Best Portland Neighborhoods for Black Singles & Young Professionals
You can live anywhere in Portland regardless of if you’re single, a young professional, or raising a family. That being said, there are a few neighborhoods that black singles and young professionals flock to.
Kerns
Just East of downtown Portland, across the Willamette River, is Kerns. Kerns is well known for being a hot spot for singles and young professionals in Portland.
Kerns is very urban, and that’s what draws most young people to the neighborhood. Most neighborhood residents rent their homes because the rent is relatively affordable even though it’s a metropolitan area.
This is generally a very liberal area, so people feel welcome and accepted, especially young professionals trying to find their way in a new place.
Kerns has some of the best places to eat in the city, and it’s pretty affordable. There are plenty of places for cocktails and a delicious meal, whether you’re solo or meeting up with friends.
Pearl District
You’ll find the Pearl District right next to Nob Hill. Even though it’s next to the primarily suburban Nob Hill, the Pearl District tends to be more urban. You’ll find more people renting property than owning, and the crowd leans liberal.
There’s an abundance of coffee shops, restaurants, and local bars that young professionals and singles tend to gather at. The Pearl District is a great place to meet friends or potential partners because everyone’s very friendly and loves the neighborhood.
It’s no secret that some young and single people enjoy going out. If that’s something you’re into, the Pearl District is known for its nightlife.
If you’re not about hitting the bars and clubs, there’s still plenty of other reasons to call the Pearl District home. It’s close to the river, downtown, and has plenty of parks for you to enjoy. Plus, it’s right near the Moda Center, which offers concerts and other events.
Is Portland Safe?
Knowing that you’ll be safe where you’re living is essential when you’re moving with your family or on your own.
Oregon as a whole has roughly 284.4 violent crimes reported per 100,000 people. Portland’s crime rate is below the national average, making it a safe city.
At the end of the day, crime happens everywhere. Whether it’s petty or violent, even the safest cities will experience a crime of some sort. At least in Portland, there’s a lower chance of violent crimes.
You can’t escape crime anywhere you live. Knowing how safe the city you’re in or moving to can help you prepare for the fact that crime does happen. Hopefully, you personally won’t experience it, but it’s a reality unless you live somewhere with no other people.
Many of the neighborhoods surrounding downtown Portland are the safest in the city when it comes to crime.
Living on the West coast of the United States poses its own safety concerns due to natural disasters. Portland is the most seismically active city in Oregon. Luckily, while earthquakes are common, they’re rarely significant enough to cause any damage or severe damage.
What’s Portland’s Demographic?
While it’s not essential to everyone, knowing how many people a city has and the breakdown of the different races can tell the city’s culture.
Over 654,000 people are living in Portland, Oregon, as of the 2020 census. Of the over 654,000 people living in the city, how much of the population is black?
The majority of people living in Portland are white. 77.4% of the city’s population are white alone, with no other ethnicity.
Following behind caucasian, 9.7% of the population are Hispanic while 8.2% of the population are Asian and no other ethnicity. 5.8% of the population in Portland are black with no other ethnicities. 5.3% of the population are two or more races.
While Portland may seem ethnically diverse at first glance, it’s clear based on the census that it’s predominantly a white city. Despite the population being more than 50% white, it’s a very welcoming community for black people and people of all races.
Top Oregon Portland Neighborhoods For Black Families, Conclusion
Portland is one of the most popular cities to live in and visit in the Pacific Northwest. This unique city has a little bit of something for everyone.
It’s welcoming to people from all walks of life. Whether you’re single, expanding your professional career, or settling down with a family, there’s a neighborhood in Portland for you.
