Sumner
Ranked 14th best neighborhood in Portland
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Great for
- Neighborly Spirit
- Public Transport
- Cost of Living
- Parks & Recreation
- Internet Access
Not great for
- Pest Free
- Childcare
- Gym & Fitness
- Nightlife
- Clean & Green
Who lives here?
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
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Reviews
Sumner
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Parks & Recreation
- Internet Access
- Parking
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
"Ninja Neighborhood, just over 2000 residents, which has put its tough times behind it."
Sumner neighborhood is extremely kid friendly. On many streets, there are no sidewalks, so all aged kids play in groups in the streets until called inside. Neighborhood Watch is fairly effective in deterring crime; I've observed primarily calls on suspicious cars in relationship to vice from 82nd Ave and Sandy Blvd., and Portland Monthly Magazine statistics 2015 list larceny to be twice as common as burglary, in Sumner neighborhood, with burglary 25% more likely than assault. Also, I do not drive a car, I take Tri-Met, even late into the evening, and have never been confronted by a hostile or dangerous situation here in Sumner, where I moved with my husband in early 2014.
It is easy to raise the walk score for Sumner to a high 90. Just walk across Sandy Blvd., south to Rocky Butte Lower Natural Area. This is a woodsy collection of trails Parkrose High School track & field uses for training runs. It is typically clean of trash and campsites. It follows I-205 southwardly. Dropping down from the freeway into the basalt cliffs bottom of Rocky Butte, you can walk with dogs or alone, away from stressful city life. Technically not part of Sumner neighborhood geographically, Rocky Butte Lower Natural Area is accessible to residents so quickly, intuitively, historically with the comments such as "Rocky Butte babies..." remembered by older church ladies I know, and through its welcome shade on a hot, sunny summer afternoon, that it is a pull for prospective home buyers, as it was for us.
Freeway accessibility is fantastic. There are are multiple bus lines serving the neighborhood, including MAX and a Transit Center. There is, of course, the nearby airport. Plus, you really are still close to downtown Portland. This neighborhood consists primary of single family dwellings. There is a large, underdeveloped, industrial area in its northern side, near Johnson Lake. The Comp Plan may quickly change the scenery of Sumner along Sandy Blvd. as rezoning takes effect. For now, it remains a ninja neighborhood with many best buys to advocate for it.
It is easy to raise the walk score for Sumner to a high 90. Just walk across Sandy Blvd., south to Rocky Butte Lower Natural Area. This is a woodsy collection of trails Parkrose High School track & field uses for training runs. It is typically clean of trash and campsites. It follows I-205 southwardly. Dropping down from the freeway into the basalt cliffs bottom of Rocky Butte, you can walk with dogs or alone, away from stressful city life. Technically not part of Sumner neighborhood geographically, Rocky Butte Lower Natural Area is accessible to residents so quickly, intuitively, historically with the comments such as "Rocky Butte babies..." remembered by older church ladies I know, and through its welcome shade on a hot, sunny summer afternoon, that it is a pull for prospective home buyers, as it was for us.
Freeway accessibility is fantastic. There are are multiple bus lines serving the neighborhood, including MAX and a Transit Center. There is, of course, the nearby airport. Plus, you really are still close to downtown Portland. This neighborhood consists primary of single family dwellings. There is a large, underdeveloped, industrial area in its northern side, near Johnson Lake. The Comp Plan may quickly change the scenery of Sumner along Sandy Blvd. as rezoning takes effect. For now, it remains a ninja neighborhood with many best buys to advocate for it.
Pros
- Green spaces: Rocky Butte Lower Natural Area
- The Grotto
- Affordable homes
- Committed community
Cons
- Traffic
- Industrial areas and airport
Recommended for
- Professionals
- Families with kids
Sumner
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Lack of Traffic
- Cost of Living
- Public Transport
- Schools
"A Community In Disrepair"
Sumner is located near the Portland International Airport and has the unwelcome reputation of being an undesirable place to live within the city of Portland. You really can’t even consider Sumner an up-and-coming neighborhood because no one is really coming here. While homes are affordable, crime is a major problem. This blue color community has some active community members trying to take control back, but as of yet, there is much work still to be done.
You won’t find parks or many businesses here. It really just seems to be a community struggling. With the airport being so close, noise is a factor as well. If you are so inclined, the Grotto National Sanctuary of our Sorrowful Mother is located here. This Catholic shrine is a destination for many who participate in their holiday celebrations.
You won’t find parks or many businesses here. It really just seems to be a community struggling. With the airport being so close, noise is a factor as well. If you are so inclined, the Grotto National Sanctuary of our Sorrowful Mother is located here. This Catholic shrine is a destination for many who participate in their holiday celebrations.
Pros
- The Grotto
Cons
- Crime
- Traffic
- No green areas
CindyB
Dear Ca Girl, obviously you don't know what you are writing about. I have lived in this neighborhood 30+ years. The crime is not any worse than it is in other neighborhoods in Portland. We have several parks near by, we are 2 minutes from the freeways, the Cascade mall is nearby, we are not in the flight pattern and barely hear the planes. We are just a little neighborhood tucked into many nearby attractions, and our taxes are affordable too. It is nice to be able to drive to the airport in 5 minutes by the way. WE keep our neighborhood clear of litter, we actually talk to one another, and help one another. If you are going to write about something, move there first and then get your facts straight! You make me sick!
2yrs+
Add a comment...
Sumner
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Parking
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
- Childcare
"High Crime Neighborhood Near the Airport"
Sumner is a Northeast Portland neighborhood near the airport. It has historically been a low-income, high-crime part of the city, and for the most part, it is still like that.
Portland International Airport lies directly to the North and Northwest. As you get closer to the airport, commercial developments become sparser, and the area takes on a decidedly industrial tone. Most retail stores, restaurants, and other businesses are on, and south of, Sandy Boulevard, which cuts through this neighborhood east-west. I205 is either in the center of the neighborhood or its eastern boundary, depending on how you define the neighborhood.
This blue-collar neighborhood has affordable housing, mostly older houses with a few apartments sprinkled in. It seems like most residents are struggling families that can't afford to move to nicer areas of Portland. Areas of Sumner can be fairly high crime, though it's a little better on the west side of I205 than areas immediately across I205 to the west. It doesn't feel safe to walk around Sumner, especially at night and along streets close to the freeway.
Overall, it doesn't seem like this neighborhood has a lot going for it. There aren't many businesses, and few green areas. The bottom line? If you can afford it, there are better areas of Portland to call home.
Portland International Airport lies directly to the North and Northwest. As you get closer to the airport, commercial developments become sparser, and the area takes on a decidedly industrial tone. Most retail stores, restaurants, and other businesses are on, and south of, Sandy Boulevard, which cuts through this neighborhood east-west. I205 is either in the center of the neighborhood or its eastern boundary, depending on how you define the neighborhood.
This blue-collar neighborhood has affordable housing, mostly older houses with a few apartments sprinkled in. It seems like most residents are struggling families that can't afford to move to nicer areas of Portland. Areas of Sumner can be fairly high crime, though it's a little better on the west side of I205 than areas immediately across I205 to the west. It doesn't feel safe to walk around Sumner, especially at night and along streets close to the freeway.
Overall, it doesn't seem like this neighborhood has a lot going for it. There aren't many businesses, and few green areas. The bottom line? If you can afford it, there are better areas of Portland to call home.
Pros
- Affordable homes
Cons
- No green areas
- Not a lot of commercial development
- Industrial areas and airport
- Crime
- Traffic
Sumner
rating details
2yrs+
- Neighborly Spirit
- Safe & Sound
- Clean & Green
- Pest Free
- Peace & Quiet
- Eating Out
- Nightlife
- Parks & Recreation
- Shopping Options
- Gym & Fitness
- Internet Access
- Lack of Traffic
- Parking
- Cost of Living
- Resale or Rental Value
- Public Transport
- Medical Facilities
- Schools
- Childcare
"NE Portland Neighborhood Committed to Fighting Crime"
Sumner is a NE Portland neighborhood that is located near the Portland International Airport. It is nearby the Roseway, Madison South and Cully neighborhoods. This area doesn't have a lot going for it in the way of greenery. However, it is pretty close to Rocky Butte Natural Area, which has some beautiful vistas and a lot of open space. Sumner is also very close to the Portland Bible College so some students live in this neighborhood.
Sumner isn't the safest Portland area. There are sometimes shootings and there is some petty crime and burglaries. Also due to the traffic in the area there can be car wrecks as well. The Sumner Association of Neighbors helps to prevent all kinds of crimes including stolen cars. They ask for people to report suspicious activity. So the good news is that there is a committed community that cares about improving the quality of life for those in Sumner.
One interesting landmark in Sumner is the Grotto National Sanctuary of our Sorrowful Mother. This is a 62 acre Catholic Shrine that is open year round to visitors. They have special celebrations during Christmas time. People from all over the city come to see this attraction.
Sumner isn't the safest Portland area. There are sometimes shootings and there is some petty crime and burglaries. Also due to the traffic in the area there can be car wrecks as well. The Sumner Association of Neighbors helps to prevent all kinds of crimes including stolen cars. They ask for people to report suspicious activity. So the good news is that there is a committed community that cares about improving the quality of life for those in Sumner.
One interesting landmark in Sumner is the Grotto National Sanctuary of our Sorrowful Mother. This is a 62 acre Catholic Shrine that is open year round to visitors. They have special celebrations during Christmas time. People from all over the city come to see this attraction.
Pros
- Committed community
- The Grotto
Cons
- Crime
- Traffic
Recommended for
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
