Kenton

North Portland, about 6.09 miles from downtown, in Multnomah County.

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

Kenton's homes are mostly bungalows in the city's historic resource survey, which recorded some homes rather than every one, at 81% of those surveyed. The median year built is 1954, and the average home is 1,346 sq ft, smaller than 85% of Portland neighborhoods. In my notes, the Kenton Conservation District and the Kenton Commercial Historic District stand out, along with Kenton Park and the community garden. I also counted 108 transit stops within a quarter mile, though tree canopy is 16.8%.

Illustration of a residential street of detached single-family houses in the Bungalow style. — Illustration

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

At a glance

Area: 2,072 acres
Homes: 3,649 Counted in the 2020 Census, apartments and condos included
Median year built: 1954 Newer than 60% of Portland neighborhoods
Average home size: 1,346 sq ft Smaller than 85% of Portland neighborhoods Houses and buildings of up to 4 homes
Average lot size: 4,964 sq ft Smaller than 75% of Portland neighborhoods
Tree canopy: 16.8% Less canopy than 90% of Portland neighborhoods
Streets steeper than 8%: 1.2% of street length Flatter than 60% of Portland neighborhoods Elevation 13–156 ft
In FEMA's 100-year flood zone: 0.1% of residential lots
Within 500 ft of a freeway: 3.4% of residential lots
New homes permitted: 170 More than 80% of Portland neighborhoods Since January 2023

Share of homes: 74.3% single-family houses, 8.9% in 2–4 unit buildings, 16.8% 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

Bungalow: 81% of surveyed homes

I took these styles from the 26 homes recorded in the City of Portland Historic Resource Inventory (1984). It surveyed significant buildings, not every home.

By my mapping, part of the Kenton Conservation District lies within this neighborhood.
By my mapping, part of the Kenton Commercial Historic District lies within this neighborhood.

Getting around on foot

Intersections per sq mile: 75 Fewer than 85% of Portland neighborhoods
Average block length: 312 ft
Sidewalk coverage: 70.4% (my estimate)
Transit stops within ¼ mile: 108 More 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

Heron Lakes Golf Course, Kenton Community Garden, Kenton Park, Moore Island, Portland International Raceway, Trenton Park, Wright Island

Schools in and near this neighborhood

Peninsula Elementary School K–5 Portland SD 1J
SHINING STAR WALDORF SCHOOL
TRINITY ACADEMY
Chief Joseph Elementary School K–5 Portland SD 1J
Rosa Parks Elementary School PK–5 Portland SD 1J
ROSEMARY ANDERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL

Food, drink and daily errands

Restaurants: 11
Cafes: 6
Bars and pubs: 6
Grocery: 0
Pharmacies: 1

Restaurants and coffee I found nearby

Presso Coffee Bar Coffee · Inside the neighborhood
Casa Maya Mexican · Inside the neighborhood
Fino Pizza · Inside the neighborhood Patio
An An Vietnamese · Inside the neighborhood Patio
Posies Bakery & Cafe Coffee · Inside the neighborhood Patio
Po'Shines Café de la Soul Soul Food · Inside the neighborhood
Northport American · Inside the neighborhood Patio
A-Plus Coffee Cafe · Inside the neighborhood
Mikes Drive-In Burger · Inside the neighborhood
Starbucks Coffee · Inside the neighborhood

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: $468,500
Median gross rent: $1,929
Owner-occupied: 53.3%
Renter-occupied: 46.7%

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.