Moving to Portland, Oregon: Complete Relocation Guide

Have you ever wondered why everyone is moving to Oregon?

Well, it’s not literally everyone but the state of Oregon has been one of the states with the highest proportion of inbound moves (an in-migration state) in recent years.

It’s obvious that the outstanding job opportunities, mild temperatures, breathtaking natural beauty, and the unique food and beverage scene have attracted scores of newcomers looking to find a better place to live and work.

And for many of the people who choose to move to Oregon each year, Portland is the Oregon city of choice.

For reasons stated below, moving to Portland, Oregon may easily be the best decision you’ll make in a long, long time – a decision you should never come to regret.

Use this guide to moving to Portland, Oregon to learn the major steps on how to best prepare for your upcoming cross-country move.

Top reasons to move to Portland, Oregon

You may be wondering why you should move to Portland, Oregon. Will it be the right decision for you and your family?

While it’s impossible to predict with perfect accuracy what will happen in the future – in your particular case, how things will pan out after your move to Portland is complete, you can safely bet on the City of Roses to be everything you hoped it would be, and even more.

If you’re still undecided, here’s why moving to Portland, Oregon is a great idea.

Excellent job opportunities

The great number of diversified job opportunities in Portland makes the city an ideal place to find your dream job.

The well-developed tech industry in the Portland metropolitan area has earned its nickname Silicon Forest (analogous to Silicon Valley). The tech giant Intel is the top-ranking private employer in the city among other notable high-tech companies such as Tektronix, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, and Xerox.

The world-famous athletic and outdoor apparel companies Nike and Adidas are also headquartered in the largest and most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon.

Job Opportunities for the City of Portland, Oregon

Green city

One of the first things you’ll notice right after moving to Portland, Oregon is how green the city is. With more than 279 city parks, Portland’s city park system is considered to be one of the best in the United States.

It’s worth noting that the largest wilderness park within city limits in the country (Forest Park) is located in Portland (5,000 acres). Also, living up to the city’s unofficial slogan Keep Portland Weird, the world’s smallest park (Mill Ends Park) can also be found there – a two-foot-diameter circle of greenery.

Portland weather

There are four distinct seasons in Portland so the weather conditions there change every few months. What this means is that everyone should be able to enjoy their favorite type of weather when moving to live in Portland, Oregon.

And while you can hear many people complaining about the frequent rain in the city, showers are most often gentle and pretty short-lived. As locals like to say, The rain keeps us lush and green here.

As mentioned above, one of the things you’ll notice right away after moving to Portland, OR is just how green everything is there.

Of course, Portland summers are surely worth mentioning since summertime temperatures there rarely exceed 90°F and there’s sunshine from around mid-May all the way until mid-September.

Unique neighborhood vibes

One of the best things about moving to Portland, OR is that you can live in a neighborhood that will perfectly match your lifestyle. In fact, Portland has an extremely diverse array of neighborhoods to choose from – Downtown Portland, Southeast Portland, Southwest Portland, Northwest Portland, Northeast Portland, and North Portland.

Not surprisingly, each Portland neighborhood has its unique charms and vibes that long to be discovered and enjoyed. And you, as a newcomer, may find it a bit daunting at first to find the right living area for you and your family.

Luckily, once you establish your priorities (an urban area or a quiet suburb?), choosing the right Portland neighborhood should become much easier.

Finding the Right Portland Neighborhood

Bike-friendly city

According to Walk Score, Portland, OR is the second most bike-friendly city in the U.S. after Minneapolis. In fact, biking is pretty big in the city with about 7% of local residents commuting by bike which constitutes the highest percentage of bike commuters in the country.

If you enjoy mountain biking, you surely won’t be disappointed after moving to Portland, Oregon. With a plethora of scenic biking routes in and around the city, you’ll never be short of beautiful places to explore. As a newcomer to the state’s capital, you can always join one of the many specialized clubs for bicycle enthusiasts.

Biking in Portland, Oregon

No sales tax

Another indisputable advantage of moving to Portland, OR is the fact that the state of Oregon has no sales tax. Interestingly enough, only 4 other U.S. states don’t have a sales tax – New Hampshire, Delaware, Montana, and Alaska.

So, if you enjoy shopping, you’ll be glad to know that the price you see on price tags will be exactly what you’ll have to pay at the cash register. This is definitely convenient but the greatest thing about living in a sales-tax-free state is that you’ll pay less money out of your own pocket for each single purchase.

Bonus reasons to move to Portland, Oregon

Still not convinced why you should move to Portland, OR?

Here are a few extra reasons why you should seriously consider packing up your things with the intention of relocating to the capital city of the Beaver State:

• Portland is home to the largest used and new bookstore in the world. Powell’s City of Books contains more than 2 million volumes spread out along an entire city block. So, if you happen to be an avid book reader, then you will never be bored again after moving to Portland, Oregon.

• Portland is a beer lover’s paradise. Home to more than 70 breweries, Portland, OR is known as the craft beer capital. If you love beer, then Oregon’s capital is the place for you. In addition to making stops at busy beer pubs, you’ll be able to experience a good deal of beer festivals throughout the year. Craft Beer in Portland
• Oregon is a wine country so if you’re into wine, then you’ll be glad to learn that there are more than 500 wineries in the Willamette Valley. The city of Portland is full of wine bars and urban wineries that offer special wine varieties from around the world. Of course, as a wine connoisseur, you should already know that Oregon’s wine country is best known for its pinot noir. Wine in Portland

3 things to know before moving to Portland, Oregon

By now, you should already know the answer to the burning question why you should move to Portland, Oregon. But before you start packing up those boxes, there are a number of important things you should know before moving to Portland, OR.

1. The cost of living in Portland is higher than the national average

The Oregon’s capital city is a very attractive place for newcomers from all over the country. But due to its desirability, the cost of living in Portland is about 30% higher than the national average. Also, housing is roughly 80% higher than the national average values.

The good news? Utilities in Portland, Oregon are 22% lower than the average values for the rest of the country.

According to Payscale, the median rent in Portland is $1,945 while the median home price is $620,783. The average energy bill there is $130.77.

According to the Census Bureau, the median income in Portland, Oregon is $71,005.

Rent or Own Property in Portland, Oregon

2. Portland is a pioneer in remote workforce

Due to the numerous restrictions being imposed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, people all over the world had to take part, willingly or unwillingly, in the remote work revolution. As a result, remote work positions have been on the rise for that last few years.

And yet, the city of Portland, Oregon has been a leader in the remote workforce for quite some time now. After relocating to Portland, OR, one of the things you’ll notice right away is the great number of people working remotely from cafes and co-working spaces.

Currently, the Oregon’s state capital has the fourth-largest share of remote employees in the country – a fact that you may find hugely beneficial when moving to Portland, Oregon without a job.

3. Portland, OR is a great city for raising kids

Moving to Portland, Oregon provides an excellent opportunity to raise kids since there’s an abundance of family-friendly activities throughout the year.

Families tend to choose Portland neighborhoods that are famous for their outstanding education opportunities. On weekends, a family trip to the beautiful and peaceful Washington Park is a must, especially since the Oregon Zoo is situated there. The Japanese Garden and Rose Garden are also popular destinations in that park.

Oaks Amusement Park is one of the oldest operating amusement parks in the country. But worry not, even when you’re moving to Portland, Oregon alone, there will always be a plethora of exciting things to do in the state capital, both indoors and outdoors.

Parks, Recreation, and Activities in Portland, Oregon

How to move to Portland, Oregon

Now that you know why moving to Portland, Oregon is a great idea, it’s time to start thinking about the proper organization of the house moving process.

Basically, you can break down the entire relocation task into 3 major parts: 1) finding the best cross-country movers, 2) packing up your things safely, and 3) taking care of important move-related tasks.

1. How to find top-rated interstate movers

Driving hundreds or thousands of miles across the country in a rental truck is definitely not the recommended way to move to Portland, Oregon. There are many dangers on the road when covering such great distances and the DIY costs are likely to get out of control before you can reach your destination.

The best way to move to Oregon from another state in the county is to hire the services of reputable state-to-state movers. Thus said, you can’t just entrust your valuable possessions to a random moving company that may or may not offer the high-end moving services that you need. Instead, you need to get in touch with top-rated interstate movers that will live up to their promises for a stress-free and problem-free relocation to Oregon’s capital city.

The good news is that finding top-rated interstate movers is easy enough. All you have to do is follow these simple 5 steps:

• Use our free Moving Cost Calculator to get contacted by the best cross-country moving companies in your area;
• Request in-home surveys from those out-of-state moving companies to get accurate cost estimates in writing;
• Compare the moving quotes carefully, paying attention not only to the final cost but to the add-on serviced offered as well;
• Read moving reviews about the interstate movers. Those customer reviews and performance ratings will help you pick the most reputable mover of them all;
• Pick the interstate mover that best suits your needs (and fits your budget too!) and book your move from where you currently are to the largest city in the state of Oregon.

Find the Best Interstate Movers with These 20 Questions & Answers

2. How to pack up your things for moving

After securing a reputable mover that will transport your household belongings all the way to your new place in Portland, Oregon, your next big project is to pack up your things safely.

One of the major issues when packing for moving is not knowing where to begin – not only which room to pack first but also which items you should box up with priority. When to start packing for moving can also be a puzzle, especially when there are at least several weeks prior to Moving day.

Do not underestimate the packing task in any way. Instead, focus your entire attention on making sure all your things are perfectly safe and protected until they reach the new city.

Here are 5 packing principles that will help you tackle the packing process like a pro packer:

• Start packing without delay. In most cases, packing proves to be the most time-consuming task of them all. One of the most costly mistakes you can make when moving across the country is to underestimate the time it takes to pack up your house for moving.
• Organize the entire process by using a practical room-by-room packing checklist. This way, you’ll be able to use your packing time efficiently instead of losing precious hours or even days wondering what to do next.
• Go through your items carefully and discard anything that is not worth moving to Portland, Oregon. Decluttering your home is a must-do task – keep in mind that the more things you choose to take with you, the higher the moving price will be because of the higher overall weight of the shipment.
• Ensure that you’re only using quality packing materials in order to protect your possessions in the best possible way. In order to reduce packing costs, feel free to use free moving boxes (second-hand cardboard boxes) but not until you’ve made sure they are strong, clean, dry, and have no signs of infestation.
• Consider asking your friends for assistance or even hiring professional movers if you fall behind your packing schedule. You surely don’t want to find out you have many boxes yet to pack on the day of the move.

3. How to organize a perfect move to Portland, Oregon

Without a doubt, the best way to organize a trouble-free move to Portland, Oregon is to use your time efficiently.

Regardless of how many days you have at your disposal until it’s time to leave your current place, it’s critical to understand that each hour counts so you can’t really afford to waste it doing nothing.

Use our detailed Moving Checklist to prepare extremely well for the upcoming move: from transferring your home utilities and changing your postal address with the USPS to gathering your medical records and taking your pet to the vet for a complete medical checkup.

More information about Portland, Oregon:

Official Website of the City of Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon: The Official City Guide