Portsmouth

Portsmouth, a neighborhood in North Portland, is named after one of the major streets running through the area. Young couples and families call this neighborhood home. While it's still at the beginning of its transition and there are still some rough areas, as with most urban areas of Portland, it's been called an up-and-coming North Portland neighborhood.

The population as a whole is young and diverse, with many immigrants from a wide range of places. There are lots of kids in Portsmouth, who attend the two elementary schools and a middle school in the neighborhood. Families living here also enjoy the many parks in and near their neighborhood. There aren't many major stores in Portsmouth itself, though nearby neighborhoods offer a full range of stores, restaurants, coffee shops, and services.

The railroad runs along the western edge of Portsmouth, and areas near there tend to have a gritty, rough feel. Other parts of Portsmouth feature urban and suburban streets lined with modest homes and apartment buildings. Many residents of Portsmouth move here because rent is lower than elsewhere in Portland.

Although it's historically been a low income, somewhat rundown area, in recent years parts of Portsmouth have become much better, and there are now several residential areas that offer a beautiful, safe area to raise a family.

Portsmouth is an up and coming neighborhood in North Portland near University Park, and St. Johns. Since Portsmouth is so nearby these other neighborhoods, you will find that although there isn't too much to do right inside of Portsmouth, you can find restaurants and shopping in nearby areas. You can find lots of shopping in the Jantzen Beach Shopping Center, and if you are looking for a New Seasons, there is one in nearby Arbor Lodge.

You can find really pretty old homes in Portsmouth, along with different modern styles as well. It is interesting to see that really expensive looking homes are often right across the street from places that look more run-down. Similarly, you will see a lot of different types of people living in Portsmouth. Due to the proximity to The University of Portland, you will see families, of course. However, there are also families and retired people living in this area as well. Since this is a transitional area, there is likely a lot of potential to make money on real estate in the future.

There are some very nice parks in Portsmouth including Portsmouth Park, McKenna Park and University Park. Northgate Park is also quite popular with the locals. Another positive aspect of this area is that it is great for bikers. You can pretty easily get to other areas in Portland just on your bike.