Sellwood-Moreland

Southeast Portland, about 3.35 miles from downtown, in Multnomah County.

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

Sellwood-Moreland's blocks average 306 ft, shorter than 65% of Portland neighborhoods, and I found sidewalk coverage estimated at 77.2%, higher than 70% of them. My count also turned up 81 transit stops within a quarter mile. The median home was built in 1925, and lots average 4,789 sq ft, smaller than 80% of the city. Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge and Johnson Creek Park sit inside the boundaries.

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

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

At a glance

Area: 1,198 acres
Homes: 7,096 Counted in the 2020 Census, apartments and condos included
Median year built: 1925 Older than 70% of Portland neighborhoods
Average home size: 1,586 sq ft Houses and buildings of up to 4 homes
Average lot size: 4,789 sq ft Smaller than 80% of Portland neighborhoods
Tree canopy: 31.4% More canopy than 60% of Portland neighborhoods
Streets steeper than 8%: 0.9% of street length Flatter than 60% of Portland neighborhoods Elevation 11–127 ft
In FEMA's 100-year flood zone: 1.0% of residential lots
Within 500 ft of a freeway: None The nearest is 0.6 miles away
New homes permitted: 107 More than 65% of Portland neighborhoods Since January 2023

Share of homes: 45.2% single-family houses, 15.8% in 2–4 unit buildings, 39.1% 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: 36% of surveyed homes
American Basic: 14% of surveyed homes
Rural Vernacular: 14% of surveyed homes

I took these styles from the 44 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: 175
Average block length: 306 ft Shorter than 65% of Portland neighborhoods
Sidewalk coverage: 77.2% (my estimate) Higher than 70% of Portland neighborhoods
Transit stops within ¼ mile: 81
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

Brannen Property, Johnson Creek Park, Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge, Oaks Crossing, Oaks Pioneer Church and Park, Sellwood Community Center, Sellwood Community Garden, Sellwood Park, Sellwood Riverfront Park, Westmoreland Park

Schools in and near this neighborhood

ACTIVATE SCHOOL
CHESTNUT GROVE MONTESSORI CHILDRENS HOUSE
Llewellyn Elementary School K–5 Portland SD 1J
ST AGATHA CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Sellwood Middle School 6–8 Portland SD 1J
Winterhaven School K–8 Portland SD 1J
Duniway Elementary School K–5 Portland SD 1J

Food, drink and daily errands

Restaurants: 29
Cafes: 12
Bars and pubs: 14
Grocery: 3
Pharmacies: 1

Restaurants and coffee I found nearby

Rose City Sandwich Co. Coffee Shop · Inside the neighborhood
Reverend's BBQ Barbecue · Inside the neighborhood Patio
Slow Pour Coffee + Bar Coffee · Inside the neighborhood
a Cena Ristorante Italian · Inside the neighborhood Patio
Dairy Hill Ice Cream Ice Cream · Inside the neighborhood
Yours Truly Cafe · Inside the neighborhood Patio
Xin Ding Dumpling House Chinese · Inside the neighborhood
Classic Thai Cuisine Thai · Inside the neighborhood
Pure Green Juice Bar Coffee · Inside the neighborhood
Wei Wei, A Taste of Taiwan Taiwanese · 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: $750,300
Median gross rent: $1,795
Owner-occupied: 51.8%
Renter-occupied: 48.2%

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.