Sumner

Northeast Portland, about 6.23 miles from downtown, in Multnomah County.

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

In my notes on getting around Sumner, the sidewalks come first: I estimate coverage at 22.2%, lower than 80% of Portland neighborhoods, and blocks average 359 ft. The homes are the other standout, averaging 1,120 sq ft, smaller than in all 86 other neighborhoods I compared, on lots averaging 6,110 sq ft. Within its 491 acres I found Helensview Community Garden and Johnson Lake Property, plus 4 restaurants.

Illustration of a residential street of detached single-family houses, built mostly in the 1940s.
Illustration
Downtown Sumner 2 mi N ↑
I marked Sumner on a map of Portland drawn from the neighborhood boundaries the city publishes. Downtown is marked for reference.

At a glance

Area
491 acres
Homes
836
Median year built
1944
Average home size
1,120 sq ft Smaller than every other Portland neighborhood
Average lot size
6,110 sq ft
Tree canopy
18.5% Less canopy than 85% of Portland neighborhoods

96.3% single-family, 3.7% 2–4 unit

I compared each figure with the 86 other Portland neighborhoods I have researched that have at least 100 residential parcels.

Getting around on foot

Intersections per sq mile
119 Fewer than 65% of Portland neighborhoods
Average block length
359 ft Longer than 70% of Portland neighborhoods
Sidewalk coverage
22.2% (my estimate) Lower than 80% of Portland neighborhoods
Transit stops within ¼ mile
61 Fewer than 75% of Portland neighborhoods
Everyday categories within ½ mile
7 Fewer than 75% of Portland neighborhoods

I compared each figure with the 86 other Portland neighborhoods I have researched that have at least 100 residential parcels.

Parks and recreation

Helensview Community Garden, Johnson Lake Property

Schools in and near this neighborhood

  • Helensview High School 6–12 Multnomah ESD

Food, drink and daily errands

Restaurants
4
Cafes
0
Bars and pubs
3
Grocery
0
Pharmacies
0

Restaurants and coffee I found nearby

  • Latitude 45 Breakfast · Inside the neighborhood
  • Namaste Indian Indian · Inside the neighborhood
  • Pizza Hut Pizza · Inside the neighborhood
  • Cameo Cafe Restaurant · 0.1 mi away Patio
  • Jim Dandy Drive-In Restaurant · 0.1 mi away
  • Airport Cafe Restaurant · 0.2 mi away
  • Elmer's Breakfast · 0.2 mi away
  • Barista Brews Coffee · 0.3 mi away
  • Bill's Steak House Restaurant · 0.3 mi away
  • Rocky Butte Espresso Bar Coffee · 0.3 mi away

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
$357,100
Median gross rent
$1,565
Owner-occupied
77.7%
Renter-occupied
22.3%

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