Best city for young professionals? Portland, OR

Score

67/100

Rank #19 (top 200 cities)

Data: ACS 2023 (5-year)

One of the top options for young professionals, Portland stands out when you care about bachelor’s+ rate alongside median household income. Overall, it’s one of the stronger performers in this set (#19 of 200). A common tradeoff is below poverty line.

Methodology · Sources · OR rankings

Scope note (city proper)

This page scores the incorporated city limits (Census “Place”), not the metro area. That’s why some cities can look very different vs their surrounding region.

Why Portland ranks here

Median household income: $88,792 (17% higher than the national median; better for this metric).
Bachelor’s+ rate: 53% (54% higher than the national median; better for this metric).
Age 25–34 share: 19% (21% higher than the national median; better for this metric).

Watch-outs

Below poverty line: 13% (12% lower than the national median; better for this metric).
Commute 45+ min share: 11% (1% lower than the national median; better for this metric).

City snapshot

Basic demographics from ACS 2023 (city proper).

Population

642,715

Estimated total population (ACS).

Male vs female

Male 50%Female 50%

Key metrics

Values shown are from ACS 2023. National medians are computed across the ranked city set.

Typical rent (2BR)

$1,741/mo

National median: $1,441/mo

Median household income

$88,792

National median: $75,598

Age 25–34 share

19%

National median: 16%

Bachelor’s+ rate

53%

National median: 35%

Work-from-home share

25%

National median: 12%

Commute 45+ min share

11%

National median: 11%

Score breakdown (by category)

Category scores are 0–100 and summarize groups of metrics used in the final score.

City

National median (dataset)

Career

Income and workforce proxies that often correlate with opportunity.

53/100

Affordability

Housing costs that affect early-career budgets.

45/100

Young-adult mix

Age 25–34 presence and broad stability signals.

36/100

Comfort

Commute friction as a time/quality proxy.

89/100

Education (age 25+)

Share of adults by attainment (ACS).

Less than HS

40%

HS / Some college

32%

Bachelor’s

21%

Advanced

Age mix

Share of residents age 25–34 (ACS).

19%

Age 25–34

81%

Other ages

Commute mix

Share of commuters with 45+ min travel time (ACS).

11%

45+ min

89%

Under 45

Map

Open in OpenStreetMap →

Scorecard breakdown

Bars are rescaled to 0–100 for readability (percentage metrics use their actual percent).

City

National median (dataset)

Median household income

National median $75,598

$88,792

Bachelor’s+ rate

National median 35%

53%

Work-from-home share

National median 12%

25%

Broadband subscription

National median 91%

93%

Typical rent (2BR)

National median $1,441/mo

$1,741/mo

Age 25–34 share

National median 16%

19%

Below poverty line

National median 15%

13%

Commute 45+ min share

National median 11%

11%

Similar cities (by score)

FAQ

›What is Portland’s young professionals score and rank?

Portland, OR scores A (67/100) and ranks #19 out of the top 200 US cities in this dataset.

›Is this based on Portland city proper or the metro area?

City proper (incorporated place). This uses Census ‘Place’ boundaries, not the metro area. Metro-level rankings can differ a lot from the city itself.

›What is the population of Portland, OR?

Population is about 642,715 (ACS 2023, city proper).

›What is the male vs female split in Portland, OR?

About 50% male and 50% female (ACS 2023).

›What is a typical 2BR rent in Portland, OR?

Typical rent (2BR) is $1,741/mo (national median: $1,441/mo).

›What is median household income in Portland, OR?

Median household income is $88,792 (national median: $75,598).

›How large is the 25–34 population in Portland, OR?

Age 25–34 share is 19% (national median: 16%).

›Where does this data come from for Portland, OR?

Metrics are from Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates (city proper / incorporated place), with optional NOAA climate normals when available.

Note: Scores are informational and depend on data coverage and methodology. Always validate against your personal constraints (neighborhoods, taxes, commute, schools, safety, and your support network).