Arlington Heights

Southwest Portland, about 1.5 miles from downtown, in Multnomah County.

Researched and written by Ryan Rose · Updated October 29, 2026

My records put Arlington Heights above 95% of Portland neighborhoods for both tree canopy, at 70%, and average home size, at 2,860 sq ft. I also found Hoyt Arboretum and Washington Park inside its boundaries, about 1.5 miles from downtown. In the city's historic resource survey, which recorded only some homes, English Cottage makes up 30% and Twentieth Century Colonial 25%. Sidewalk coverage is estimated at 26.3%, which I'd note plainly.

Illustration of a residential street of detached single-family houses in the English Cottage and Twentieth Century Colonial styles. — Illustration

I marked Arlington Heights on a map of Portland drawn from the neighborhood boundaries the city publishes. Downtown is marked for reference.

At a glance

Area: 583 acres
Homes: 493 Counted in the 2020 Census, apartments and condos included
Median year built: 1953 Newer than 60% of Portland neighborhoods
Average home size: 2,860 sq ft Larger than 90% of Portland neighborhoods Houses and buildings of up to 4 homes
Average lot size: 8,495 sq ft Larger than 65% of Portland neighborhoods
Tree canopy: 70% More canopy than 95% of Portland neighborhoods
Streets steeper than 8%: 22.0% of street length Hillier than 75% of Portland neighborhoods Elevation 221–857 ft
In FEMA's 100-year flood zone: None
Within 500 ft of a freeway: None A freeway crosses the neighborhood away from its homes
New homes permitted: 0 Fewer than 90% of Portland neighborhoods Since January 2023

Share of homes: 63.1% single-family houses, 3.9% in 2–4 unit buildings, 33.1% in apartment, condo and other multi-home properties

I compared each figure with the 86 other Portland neighborhoods I have researched that have at least 100 residential parcels.

Architecture

English Cottage: 30% of surveyed homes
Twentieth Century Colonial: 25% of surveyed homes

I took these styles from the 56 homes recorded in the City of Portland Historic Resource Inventory (1984). It surveyed significant buildings, not every home.

By my mapping, part of the Washington Park Reservoirs Historic District lies within this neighborhood.
By my mapping, part of the Portland Zoo Railway Historic District lies within this neighborhood.

Getting around on foot

Intersections per sq mile: 34 Fewer than 95% of Portland neighborhoods
Average block length: 496 ft Longer than 95% of Portland neighborhoods
Sidewalk coverage: 26.3% (my estimate) Lower than 75% of Portland neighborhoods
Transit stops within ¼ mile: 68 Fewer than 65% of Portland neighborhoods
Everyday categories within ½ mile: 8

I compared each figure with the 86 other Portland neighborhoods I have researched that have at least 100 residential parcels.

Parks and recreation

Hoyt Arboretum, Washington Park

Schools in and near this neighborhood

Ainsworth Elementary School K–5 Portland SD 1J
ST THOMAS MORE SCHOOL
Metropolitan Learning Center K–12 Portland SD 1J
Lincoln High School 9–12 Portland SD 1J

Food, drink and daily errands

Restaurants: 6
Cafes: 4
Bars and pubs: 0
Grocery: 0
Pharmacies: 0

Restaurants and coffee I found nearby

Umami Cafe Cafe · Inside the neighborhood Patio
Elephant Ears Restaurant · Inside the neighborhood
Cascade Grill American · Inside the neighborhood Patio
Bear Walk Cafe Coffee · Inside the neighborhood
Elephant Ears 2 Restaurant · Inside the neighborhood
Aviary Cafe American · Inside the neighborhood Patio
Coffee Crossing Coffee · Inside the neighborhood
Los Bros Taco Shop Restaurant · 0.1 mi away
Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya Ramen · 0.1 mi away
Caffe Umbria Coffee · 0.1 mi away

I pulled these from OpenStreetMap: the nearest named restaurants and cafes, starting inside the neighborhood and measured from its edge. Places marked Patio have outdoor seating, from my research for Outdoor Seating Near Me, my other site; the photos come from that research too.

Housing context

Median home value: $996,100
Median gross rent: $1,495
Owner-occupied: 75.1%
Renter-occupied: 24.9%

I pulled these from the census tract that covers this neighborhood, so they describe the tract, not the neighborhood itself. I report housing and housing cost only.