Portland among U.S. News' Top 10 'Best places to live'
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Portland was voted the 7th best metropolitan area to live in the country by U.S. News & World Report.
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Although home prices remain high and affordable housing is in short supply, Portland has made the grade on the U.S. News & World Report's list of Best Places to Live.
The list ranks metropolitan areas based on desirability, job market, quality of life and other parameters. Portland ranked No. 7 for “best place to live” and ranked No. 37 for “best place to retire.”
The food city received an overall score of 6.7; a 7.4 for quality of life; 6.4 for the job market; and a score of 6.4 for desirability.
The survey analyzed the 150 most popular metro areas to find the best place to live. Scores were weighted in part on a public survey of "thousands of individuals" throughout the U.S. to find out what qualities they consider important in a place to live.
Green Bay, Wisc., took the No. 1 spot, in part due to its quality of life scores. The second best place to live was Huntsville, Ala.
Other "best places" included Raleigh and Durham, N.C.; Boulder, Colo.; and Naples and Sarasota, Fla.
By contrast, San Juan, Puerto Rico, emerged as the "least desirable place to live," coming in at 150.
Portland's attributes
Portland received its ranking from its reputation as a popular tourist spot, which drives up the cost of housing, food and other amenities. The Forest City is home to arguably some of the best restaurants and gourmet food shops on the East Coast and is typically quite expensive. The city's location provides local restaurants with fresh seafood and fresh local produce.
Portland may be a great destination due to its recreational opportunities, working waterfront, high-end restaurants, low crime rate, and signature destination; the reality of the housing crunch is an ongoing issue people are facing.
According to the report, aging rental and housing stock, combined with a tight market on mid-tier units, have left middle-income earners struggling to settle in Portland.
In June 2022, U.S. News and World Report ranked Portland No. 1 on its “Best Places to Live on the East Coast” listing.
“This year’s rankings are a reflection of the current economic, social and natural factors that impact a place’s livability for its residents,” said Devon Thorsby, real estate editor at U.S. News. “People are considering more than housing when they look at an area’s affordability — they want to know how much goods cost in that area. The ever-present risk for severe weather and a community’s ability to recover — coupled with the area’s opportunities for social activities — are also taken into account when evaluating a best place to live.”
Portland recently made a list of "least desirable" places to live in the country for those making $100,000 a year," in which it ranked 55th. The survey was conducted by CouponBirds, which asked 3,000 people: "Which of America's 150 most expensive cities would you least likely to live in if earning a salary of $100,000?"
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