Eliot

North Portland, about 1.91 miles from downtown, in Multnomah County.

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

My records put Eliot's median build year at 1907, older than 95% of Portland neighborhoods, and its lots average 4,371 sq ft, smaller than 90% of them. I also noted that sidewalk coverage is estimated at 74.6%, higher than 65% of the city, with blocks averaging 291 ft. The city's historic survey, which recorded only some homes, lists Queen Anne Vernacular at 28%. Tree canopy is 16.8%, a real trade-off.

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

At a glance

Area
496 acres
Homes
2,945 Counted in the 2020 Census, apartments and condos included
Median year built
1907 Older than 95% of Portland neighborhoods
Average lot size
4,371 sq ft Smaller than 90% of Portland neighborhoods
Tree canopy
16.8% Less canopy than 90% of Portland neighborhoods
Streets steeper than 8%
1.3% of street length Elevation 32–194 ft
In FEMA's 100-year flood zone
None
Within 500 ft of a freeway
1.6% of residential lots
New homes permitted
116 More than 70% of Portland neighborhoods Since January 2023

Share of homes: 22.5% single-family houses, 13.4% in 2–4 unit buildings, 64.0% 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
28% of surveyed homes
Streetcar Era Commercial
22% of surveyed homes

I took these styles from the 18 homes recorded in the City of Portland Historic Resource Inventory (1984). It surveyed significant buildings, not every home.

  • By my mapping, part of the Eliot Conservation District lies within this neighborhood.
  • By my mapping, part of the Russell Conservation District lies within this neighborhood.

Getting around on foot

Intersections per sq mile
209 More than 65% of Portland neighborhoods
Average block length
291 ft Shorter than 70% of Portland neighborhoods
Sidewalk coverage
74.6% (my estimate) Higher than 65% of Portland neighborhoods
Transit stops within ¼ mile
106 More than 60% 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

Dawson Park, Lillis-Albina Park, Matt Dishman Community Center and Pool

Schools in and near this neighborhood

  • Harriet Tubman Middle School 6–8 Portland SD 1J
  • Kairos PDX K–5 Portland SD 1J
  • Boise-Eliot Elementary School PK–5 Portland SD 1J
  • CHESTERTON ACADEMY BLESSED PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI
  • Irvington Elementary School K–5 Portland SD 1J
  • CHILDPEACE MONTESSORI SCHOOL

Food, drink and daily errands

Restaurants
13
Cafes
9
Bars and pubs
6
Grocery
2
Pharmacies
1

Restaurants and coffee I found nearby

  • Izakaya Kichinto Japanese · Inside the neighborhood
  • Courtyard Cafe Coffee · Inside the neighborhood
  • Lottie & Zula's Restaurant · Inside the neighborhood
  • Heartbeat Cafe Coffee · Inside the neighborhood
  • Tamale Boy Restaurant · Inside the neighborhood
  • Smokin Fire Fish Restaurant · Inside the neighborhood
  • Kite Cafe Coffee · Inside the neighborhood
  • Killer Burger Burger · Inside the neighborhood
  • Portland Cà Phê Coffee · Inside the neighborhood
  • Queen of Sheba Ethiopian · 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
$542,100
Median gross rent
$1,700
Owner-occupied
7.6%
Renter-occupied
92.4%

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