South Portland

South Portland, about 1.81 miles from downtown, in Multnomah County.

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

Of the 86 other Portland neighborhoods I compared, South Portland has more transit stops within a quarter mile than more than 95% of them, with 227, and its average block length of 264 ft is shorter than 85%. My records also show Duniway Park and Elizabeth Caruthers Park inside its borders. In the city's historic resource survey, which recorded only some homes, Queen Anne Vernacular made up 62%. The trade-off is lots averaging 4,231 sq ft, smaller than 95% of the city.

Illustration of a residential street of detached single-family houses in the Queen Anne Vernacular style.
Illustration
Downtown South Portland 2 mi N ↑
I marked South Portland on a map of Portland drawn from the neighborhood boundaries the city publishes. Downtown is marked for reference.

At a glance

Area
869 acres
Homes
6,685 Counted in the 2020 Census, apartments and condos included
Median year built
1950
Average lot size
4,231 sq ft Smaller than 95% of Portland neighborhoods
Tree canopy
26.5%
Streets steeper than 8%
15.2% of street length Hillier than 70% of Portland neighborhoods Elevation 16–375 ft
In FEMA's 100-year flood zone
1.5% of residential lots
Within 500 ft of a freeway
33.9% of residential lots
New homes permitted
99 More than 65% of Portland neighborhoods Since January 2023

Share of homes: 17.7% single-family houses, 7.1% in 2–4 unit buildings, 75.2% 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

Queen Anne Vernacular
62% of surveyed homes

I took these styles from the 65 homes recorded in the City of Portland Historic Resource Inventory (1984). It surveyed significant buildings, not every home.

  • By my mapping, part of the South Portland Historic District lies within this neighborhood.

Getting around on foot

Intersections per sq mile
181
Average block length
264 ft Shorter than 85% of Portland neighborhoods
Sidewalk coverage
64% (my estimate)
Transit stops within ¼ mile
227 More than 95% 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

Cottonwood Bay, Duniway Park, Elizabeth Caruthers Park, Front and Curry Community Garden, Heritage Tree Park, Lair Hill Park, South Waterfront Greenway Central District, Water and Gibbs Community Garden, Willamette Moorage, Willamette Park

Schools in and near this neighborhood

  • BRIDGES MIDDLE SCHOOL
  • CEDARWOOD WALDORF SCHOOL
  • L'ETOILE FRENCH IMMERSION SCHOOL
  • MONTESSORI CHILDRENS HOUSE
  • Portland Village School K–8 Portland SD 1J
  • The Cottonwood School of Civics and Science K–8 Oregon Department of Education
  • INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF PORTLAND
  • PORTLAND CHINESE SCHOOL
  • Emerson School K–5 Portland SD 1J
  • ST MARYS ACADEMY
  • Ida B. Wells-Barnett High School 9–12 Portland SD 1J

Food, drink and daily errands

Restaurants
28
Cafes
8
Bars and pubs
5
Grocery
1
Pharmacies
0

Restaurants and coffee I found nearby

  • Rosswood Restaurant · Inside the neighborhood
  • Elephants on Corbett Restaurant · Inside the neighborhood Patio
  • Harder Day Coffee Company Coffee · Inside the neighborhood Patio
  • Szechuan Chef Chinese · Inside the neighborhood
  • Siam Umami Thai · Inside the neighborhood Patio
  • Jolly Roger Restaurant · Inside the neighborhood Patio
  • The Old Spaghetti Factory Italian · Inside the neighborhood
  • JoLa Cafe Coffee · Inside the neighborhood Patio
  • All Your Heart Coffee Coffee · Inside the neighborhood
  • Ovation Coffee & Tea Coffee · Inside the neighborhood Patio

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
$469,000
Median gross rent
$1,866
Owner-occupied
55%
Renter-occupied
45%

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.

Bordering neighborhoods