Northwest District

Northwest Portland, about 1.62 miles from downtown, in Multnomah County.

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

Within a quarter mile, I counted 184 transit stops, more than 90% of Portland neighborhoods. My sidewalk estimate comes to 80% coverage, higher than 80% of the city, and the average block runs 281 ft. The median home dates to 1912, and Couch Park and Wallace Park are inside the boundaries. Lots average 4,938 sq ft, smaller than 75% of Portland neighborhoods.

Illustration of a mix of detached houses, duplexes and small apartment buildings in the American Basic, Queen Anne Vernacular and Streetcar Era Apartments styles. — Illustration

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

At a glance

Area: 814 acres
Homes: 12,240 Counted in the 2020 Census, apartments and condos included
Median year built: 1912 Older than 90% of Portland neighborhoods
Average lot size: 4,938 sq ft Smaller than 75% of Portland neighborhoods
Tree canopy: 23%
Streets steeper than 8%: 6.3% of street length Hillier than 65% of Portland neighborhoods Elevation 33–378 ft
In FEMA's 100-year flood zone: None
Within 500 ft of a freeway: 2.0% of residential lots
New homes permitted: 33 Since January 2023

Share of homes: 8.4% single-family houses, 5.6% in 2–4 unit buildings, 86.0% 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

American Basic: 20% of surveyed homes
Queen Anne Vernacular: 20% of surveyed homes
Streetcar Era Apartments: 13% of surveyed homes

I took these styles from the 298 homes recorded in the City of Portland Historic Resource Inventory (1984). It surveyed significant buildings, not every home.

By my mapping, part of the Alphabet Historic District lies within this neighborhood.

Getting around on foot

Intersections per sq mile: 222 More than 75% of Portland neighborhoods
Average block length: 281 ft Shorter than 80% of Portland neighborhoods
Sidewalk coverage: 80% (my estimate) Higher than 80% of Portland neighborhoods
Transit stops within ¼ mile: 184 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

Couch Park, Wallace Park

Schools in and near this neighborhood

CHILDPEACE MONTESSORI SCHOOL
CLASS ACADEMY
Chapman Elementary School K–5 Portland SD 1J
Metropolitan Learning Center K–12 Portland SD 1J
Lincoln High School 9–12 Portland SD 1J

Food, drink and daily errands

Restaurants: 71
Cafes: 33
Bars and pubs: 38
Grocery: 3
Pharmacies: 3

Restaurants and coffee I found nearby

Stepping Stone Cafe Coffee · Inside the neighborhood Patio
Grassa Italian · Inside the neighborhood
Matador Mexican · Inside the neighborhood
Hem 23 Vietanmese Bar & Grill Vietnamese · Inside the neighborhood
Palomar Restaurant · Inside the neighborhood
Lela's Bistro Vietnamese · Inside the neighborhood
Case Study Coffee Roasters Coffee · Inside the neighborhood Patio
Memento Mori Cafe Coffee · Inside the neighborhood Patio
Siri Indian Cuisine Restaurant · Inside the neighborhood
St. Jack French · 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: $464,300
Median gross rent: $1,672
Owner-occupied: 10.5%
Renter-occupied: 89.5%

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.