Montavilla

Southeast Portland, about 4.97 miles from downtown, in Multnomah County.

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

Transit stops within a quarter mile came to 197 in my count, more than 90% of Portland neighborhoods, and that figure stayed with me as I read through Montavilla's records. I also mapped Berrydale Park, Harrison Park and Montavilla Park inside its borders. The city's historic survey, which recorded only some homes, shows Bungalow at 33% and Queen Anne Vernacular at 28%. Tree canopy is 18.8%, less than 80% of Portland neighborhoods.

Illustration of a residential street of detached single-family houses in the Bungalow, Queen Anne Vernacular and Rural Vernacular styles. — Illustration

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

At a glance

Area: 1,385 acres
Homes: 7,219 Counted in the 2020 Census, apartments and condos included
Median year built: 1947
Average home size: 1,267 sq ft Smaller than 90% of Portland neighborhoods Houses and buildings of up to 4 homes
Average lot size: 5,450 sq ft
Tree canopy: 18.8% Less canopy than 80% of Portland neighborhoods
Streets steeper than 8%: 1.0% of street length Flatter than 60% of Portland neighborhoods Elevation 217–305 ft
In FEMA's 100-year flood zone: None
Within 500 ft of a freeway: 9.8% of residential lots
New homes permitted: 431 More than 95% of Portland neighborhoods Since January 2023

Share of homes: 66.2% single-family houses, 17.5% in 2–4 unit buildings, 16.3% 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: 33% of surveyed homes
Queen Anne Vernacular: 28% of surveyed homes
Rural Vernacular: 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.

Getting around on foot

Intersections per sq mile: 219 More than 70% of Portland neighborhoods
Average block length: 302 ft Shorter than 65% of Portland neighborhoods
Sidewalk coverage: 66% (my estimate)
Transit stops within ¼ mile: 197 More than 90% 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

Berrydale Park, Harrison Park, Montavilla Park, Vestal Community Garden

Schools in and near this neighborhood

Bridger Creative Science School K–8 Portland SD 1J
COLUMBIA CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS
Clark Elementary School K–5 Portland SD 1J
GRACE LUTHERAN SCHOOL
Harrison Park School 6–8 Portland SD 1J
Vestal Elementary School K–5 Portland SD 1J
Portland Arthur Academy Charter School K–5 Portland SD 1J
HAPPY DAY CHRISTIAN CHILD CARE
PORTLAND ADVENTIST ACADEMY
Hassolo School 6–12 Multnomah ESD
Lee Elementary School K–5 Portland SD 1J
SLAVIC CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

Food, drink and daily errands

Restaurants: 41
Cafes: 15
Bars and pubs: 19
Grocery: 4
Pharmacies: 1

Restaurants and coffee I found nearby

Mía And More PDX Cafe · Inside the neighborhood
Little Saigon Noodle & Grill Vietnamese · Inside the neighborhood
Santa Cruz Bakery & Taqueria Restaurant · Inside the neighborhood
The Observatory Restaurant · Inside the neighborhood Patio
Zuckercreme Cafe · Inside the neighborhood
Miyamoto Japanese · Inside the neighborhood
Giant Gyros Restaurant · Inside the neighborhood
Quiche Me If You Can Restaurant · Inside the neighborhood
Montis Cafe Coffee · Inside the neighborhood
Ya Hala Lebanese · 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: $450,300
Median gross rent: $1,457
Owner-occupied: 59.8%
Renter-occupied: 40.2%

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.