Considering Cleveland vs Portland — help me decide
Born and raised here. It's a a mid-size city city with about 368K people. Average temperature is around 53°F, so expect cold winters. Property taxes are high but you get good services. It's not perfect, but the community is solid. Should I be concerned? Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Property taxes are high but you get good services.
43 upvotes
3 Replies
Cameron Ramirez
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem decent.
I've been here 5 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is school system. It's stable and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the pet-friendliness is legit. And if you're into kayaking, this place is decent.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Downtown side vs the Eastside side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
37 upvotes
Serenity
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a sales manager, 33, moved here 13 years ago from Charlotte. I've lived in Eastside and West, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Decent public transit for the size
2. Diverse dining options
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally pretty good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Can feel isolated
2. Limited entertainment options
3. The community vibe situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Eastside: Great for couples. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- West: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Charlotte, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is developing. You can live comfortably on $90K-$80K here.
**Final verdict:**
Definitely worth checking out.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
24 upvotes
Nora Collins
Hot take but it exceeded my expectations. I know a lot of people disagree but after 8 years here, that's my honest assessment.
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