Find Your Part of Portland

Portland isn’t one housing market — it’s dozens of distinct neighborhoods, each with its own streets, schools, and personality, spread across six well-known regions. Whether you picture a Craftsman bungalow near a walkable coffee street, a condo steps from the Pearl, a wooded lot in the West Hills, or the most home for your money east of I-205, the first question is simply: which part of the city fits your life? This guide is how a local sorts it out.

How Portland is laid out

Two lines organize the whole city. The Willamette River runs north–south through the middle, splitting Portland into an east side and a west side. Burnside Street runs east–west, splitting it into north and south. Those two lines create the address prefixes you’ll see on every street sign — NW, NE, SW, SE — plus North Portland, the peninsula that sits above the river’s bend. Add East Portland, the fast-growing area east of I-205, and you have the six regions locals use every day.

The six regions at a glance

North Portland

The peninsula between two rivers — historic main streets like St. Johns and Kenton, walkable corridors, and strong relative value.  Explore North Portland homes »

Northeast Portland

Classic tree-lined blocks and Craftsman homes, with the Alberta Arts and Hollywood districts and prestige pockets like Irvington and Alameda.  Explore Northeast Portland homes »

Southeast Portland

The city’s lifestyle heartland: Hawthorne, Belmont, Division, Sellwood, and Mount Tabor — walkable, bikeable, full of character.  Explore Southeast Portland homes »

East Portland

East of I-205 — the most attainable single-family homes and larger lots, on improving MAX light-rail corridors.  Explore East Portland homes »

Southwest Portland

Wooded hillsides and village pockets, from downtown and South Waterfront towers to Multnomah Village and the West Hills.  Explore Southwest Portland homes »

Northwest Portland

The most urban and the most wild together — the Pearl and Nob Hill on one side, Forest Park’s trails on the other.  Explore Northwest Portland homes »

Getting around

Portland is a genuinely multi-modal city. Downtown’s bridges tie the east and west sides together; the MAX light rail reaches north to the airport, east to Gresham, and west to the suburbs; and streetcar and bus lines knit the inner neighborhoods. West-side commutes lean on Highway 26 and I-5; east-side and East Portland commutes lean on I-84, I-205, and the MAX Blue and Green lines. When you tour with us, we’ll talk through the real commute from any home you’re considering — not just the map version.

Common questions about Portland

What are Portland’s six regions?

North, Northeast, East, Southeast, Southwest, and Northwest Portland. Five follow the city’s address grid; East Portland refers to the area east of I-205.

Which region has the best home values?

Generally, East and North Portland offer the most home for the money, while inner Northeast, Southeast, and the Southwest hills sit at the higher end — but every region spans a wide range, and the right value depends on what you need.

Which region is right for me?

Start with lifestyle: walkable-and-urban points you to inner SE, NE, or NW; space-and-value points to East or the outer regions; wooded-and-quiet points to SW or the edges of NW. Pick the region that fits, then we’ll help you choose the neighborhood.

See homes across Portland

Browse all homes for sale in Portland, or choose a region above to focus your search. When you’re ready to talk through neighborhoods, schools, or a specific commute, reach out to the Bradley Home Team — we live and work here.

Access the roll-over map below to search for homes for sale in the six Portland areas.