Is Portland, Oregon Getting Better or Worse?

In this video I’ll take you on a walk through the Laurelhurst neighborhood in Portland, OR. We will discuss whether or not the quality of life is actually improving in the city, or not. On the menu will be topics such as traffic, vagrancy, cost of living, crime, and changes in certain laws. I’ll also show you what $1,000,000usd gets you in this neighborhood currently and what the immediate surrounding look like. Please contribute to the discussion in the comments.
For more on Portland and why exactly I left, check out the video below!
• 5 Reasons I Left Portl...
To see what $1,000,000 can buy you in Mexico City, check out this video!
• Where Mexico City’s Mi...
#portland #oregon #503 #realestate #housingmarket #costofliving #homeless #park #walkingtour

[@tylerkranz7403]

When I first moved to Portland in 2020, I was horrified and shocked, nothing what I had expected. Fast forward to 2024 and I’ve noticed big improvements. There’s still work to do but things seem to be heading up instead of down. I feel we hit rock bottom in 2021-2022 but have been experiencing a slow but steady upward trajectory ever since. If that trend continues, I have high hopes for 2025 and beyond. Overall I love living here despite the negatives and all the positives have kept me here!

[@theropemonster]

Glad you see things improving as well! We can all agree there’s work to be done. Let’s hope the progress sticks!

[@sorogravando]

Where the Grimm series was recorded, each place more beautiful than the other, the houses, I'm in love with.

[@theropemonster]

Yes!! Loved that show! The scenery and neighborhood is definitely a vibe. Thanks for checking out the video!

[@princeofpeace2915]

That’s my favorite park! I live close in that area in Portland. I’m in SE on hawthorn street. I moved here in August. I love Portland, mainly for the food. The food is incredible and healthier choices. I’m within reach to everything I need and even more. I’m very happy with where I live in Portland. It’s beautiful especially in the fall.

[@princeofpeace2915]

Portland also has a lot of creativity and the arts, and entertainment which is another reason why I moved. Added to that I was able to find a space to rent in a big house that has 3 to 4 floors for only 600 a month. That with being on the street of hawthorn with all the food and entertainment on that street. I can’t complain.

[@theropemonster]

Wow! Cheap rent for that area! Thanks for watching

[@missnbiss2]

I moved to Portland in the late 90s and stayed until 2013. I moved to NYC for 6 years and came back in 2018, and it's been a struggle ever since. It's so expensive. My partner had to move away for work and went back to Peoria, IL, and I've been living with my parents for a while. I can't afford anything by myself, and for higher-paying jobs, you're having to compete against hundreds of applicants. I've decided to move away to Illinois as well where there cost of living is less expensive.

[@theropemonster]

Thanks for sharing your story!! So many can definitely relate! All the best to you!

[@restlessroadtrips4099]

I moved from NE Portland in April. Moved over to Beaverton in Washington County. It's such a difference over here! There are very small pockets of vagrants and crime but it's nothing like Portland/Multnomah County.. I was here 2 mths before I even saw a homeless person! My car insurance actually went down $40 a month when I moved. Portland is a sh*thole.

[@theropemonster]

Glad you found a better spot my friend!! Long ago I also lived in NE Portland and it was rough back then… now it’s borderline unlivable. I get super depressed even visiting the area. Thanks for checking out the video and all the best to you!

[@Dee-s4q]

I agree it’s turned into crime ridden crap hole.

[@BreadLobby]

Thats because they push all the homeless to portland. Washington county can suck it the cops there are douchebags

[@LedByGrace]

Yea-but how much do you pay in property taxes a year? Wait for it…..wait for it…..

[@ladybug5093]

I left Portland in late 2020... lived there for the most of 15 years.... it became a living nightmare. I miss it like crazy, what it once was, not how it transformed. I do hope it continues to get better. The beauty in the Northwest is unmatched... I hope to get back, maybe somewhere in Oregon or Washington.

[@97Devils]

The boards are up because of the election. They are all down now The city is doing SOOOOO much better. Great video, man!

[@theropemonster]

Thanks for the update my friend, much appreciated!

[@turbokid8719]

😂 if being empty is an improvement?

[@cat_luver16]

I loved living in Portland, so much do do and my rent was pretty cheap, but now I bought a house in Gresham and it’s nice having my own place and a yard

[@theropemonster]

Congrats on the yard! Sounds nice. Thanks for checking out the video ❤️🌲

[@cat_luver16]

@ thanks man, it isn’t bug but I’ve got a garden so it’s plenty for me

[@doreenplischke2169]

Come over to the Westside of PDX. I moved to Portland in 2004 from Berlin. I lived in the Buckman neighborhood for over a decade, than other areas on the Eastside, including NE and N Portland/ St. John’s. It is such a significant difference on the Westside. I now live in Hillsdale where I feel much safer. My car was stolen, my home invaded since the pandemic on the Eastside, hence my reason for relocation. I am European, born and raised in a metropole like Berlin. I never thought I would prefer to live not totally in the inner city. I am still in Multnomah county but walking 500 feet I am in WA country, which has much better tax rates and better school ratings. By moving here something else very bewildering happened. My credit score went up significantly plainly by change of address. I also have a lower car insurance rate because over here on the Westside there are by far way less theft activities. Yay for me!!!

[@theropemonster]

First of all, welcome!! Secondly, I’m so glad you found a safer area where you feel at home! The car theft and home invasion sounds like such a nightmare!! Thanks for watching 😃❤️🌲

[@JudyCarter-kl7be]

Portland definitely had its downturn 4-5 years back and it was hard to watch its decline which happened so quickly. She went through bad growing pains with the big migration here and poor government leadership. The last couple of years she has been on a slow but steady reversal and is climbing out of that disaster. I was downtown a couple of times in the past month and it actually looked like the old Portland and I felt perfectly safe. I did note a lot less people and feel they need to work hard to get employees back into the office which is so important for the economic recovery of a city.

[@mexsouriman05]

Man, you are mobile😅, just keeping up with you is a head spinner. I'm glad things are looking up in your home town. There is always growing pains in life and new laws are no different. As always,,good content and vibes from you. I'm in Mexico City right now, enjoyed Dia de los Muertos in Amecameca with views of El Popo.

[@theropemonster]

Haha thanks for following along!! I’m glad you were in such a great spot for Día de Los Muertos!

[@NarrowShouldersOpenMind]

I'm in Sellwood and was shocked to see there were still a few tents around the perimeter of Laurelhurst Park. Those would get reported immediately and wouldn't last here.

[@garycushing8521]

I left Portland in 2015 went to Argentina. Also if you go to Lake Oswego. If you got to Village on the Lake development. The second entrance I built the Glass brick tower house

[@theropemonster]

That’s really cool Gary! I’m very familiar with Lake Oswego… that’s impressive 👏. Thanks for checking out the video! Argentina is definitely on my list of countries to spend part of the year. Since leaving the US I’ve spent most of my time in Ecuador and Mexico 🇲🇽. ATB my friend… 2015 was a good time to get out 😎 🇦🇷

[@breadbaker-wj3pl]

i live in the alphabet,i love it here. if people don’t live here,they should come visit before they make up their minds about what they think the city is like. right wing media and i’m reading a lot of those talking points in the comments here despises city dwellers.

[@garycushing8521]

I am now living in Brazil in Fortaleza. I discovered Playa Del Carmen in 2011. It one of my favorite places. I also was there for 5 months in 2018. It maybe my next place to live.

[@theropemonster]

I love it in Playa as well. Great spot ☀️🏝️😎

[@nohemirivera7142]

8;24 Buena pronunciación teacher! 👏👏👏 Me quedé esperando la playa! 😂 Me gustaron los colores de los árboles, pero igual que tu, NO gracias... prefiero mi México 🙈 Saludos!

[@theropemonster]

Gracias corazón jaja sigo mejorando la pronunciación 🤓. Y créeme, casi no aguanto más días sin voleibol, sol, mar… caguamón! Ya sabes que volveré pronto pero muyyyy pronto 🏐 🏝️😎. Abrazo!! Y me imagino que Monterrey es una maravilla compared to Portland 😅

[@nohemirivera7142]

@theropemonster Siiii la playita es lo mejor! Monterrey es un desierto convertido en una maravillosa ciudad industrial, acá se mueve mucho dinero para todo el país y hablamos con un acento muy chistoso, parecemos enojados jajaja pero no, somos muy divertidos! Acá es extremo, en un día puede llover, salirle sol, llegar a 40 grados y en la noche hacer frío! 🤪🤪🤪

[@theropemonster]

@ la verdad suena increíble!! He escuchado el acento jaja y siii es cierto 🤬😅😅

[@nohemirivera7142]

@@theropemonster Cuando gusten venir Ana y tu, aquí los apoyamos en lo que podamos, aunque sea un fin de semana, no hay mucho que hace... O si?🤔 dicen que cuando vives aquí no valoramos nuestra ciudad rodeada de montañas a donde llegan muchos extranjeros solo por eso jeje Pero bueno, mínimo está La Huasteca que creo es más tu estilo extremo!

[@erikschall9034]

Born and raised in pdx ! Miss my old city , I noticed things started going down hill in 2011-2012, I lived off of Halsey worked at pge park then moved to Oregon city , we left at the end of 2012 , made it back to pdx in 2016 and was shocked how bad things were getting, visited again on 2020 and wow it was safer to be in Baghdad , 😢 I was like what happened to the rose city it was very depressing. Boy though I do miss powells books and flying pie pizza , thank you for the videos

[@theropemonster]

Thanks my friend for sharing your thoughts. Flying Pie and Atlas Pizza… some serious nostalgia there. I remember when me and my brother were just 15 and 17 back in the early 2000’s, we would go skate Burnside and go to Punk shows and were always safe… just a couple of kids wandering the city. I don’t think I could ever move back… got super depressed even just visiting for a couple weeks. All the best to you my friend.

[@erikschall9034]

@ ohhh man the skate park was Bomb! I went to Franklin and after class take the bus and then take the max and get ur skating on, man them days ! Man I forgot about Alta’s!! Yeah couldn’t live there again for sure I’m pretty happy in Eugene

[@Dee-s4q]

Portland has gone downhill with high crime and drug addiction. Move out to the suburbs where it’s significantly safer. It’s sad what’s happened throughout the city.

[@gthisiseasy]

What you can't hold your own towards some hunch backs? Pathetic. May you follow Jesus so God will be your shield.

[@avengemybreath3084]

As a right-leaning person, would living in Portland be tolerable?

[@theropemonster]

@@avengemybreath3084 great question! Tbh, Portland proper would be a struggle and challenge your mental health potentially. Certain suburbs, like Sherwood, would likely be your better option. Thanks for watching!

[@avengemybreath3084]

@ Excellent advice, thanks! I wish I could find a lively city in America that wouldn’t strain my mental health!

[@nickie88ful]

Portland is at an all time low!!!!

[@theropemonster]

Seems like it has been for the last 5 years or so. Thanks for watching

[@chemainfermas]

The question more than anything would be if you see yourself returning to your hometown, if you imagine yourself settling down and having a life there with your wife, since sometimes priorities change as we mature and learn from other places as we travel and stays in other cities or countries, the needs change according to our mental and physical growth, in addition to the fact that we always look for the best options to live in places where we are happy and feel comfortable. PS Portland always been one of the cities i always thought was the best for people and who everyone wanted to be there as u mention many in Cali are moving there recently but yes the places looks great and that neighborhood looks great. Cheers and excellent content .

[@theropemonster]

Thanks for sharing that my friend! Lots to consider for sure. If I go that route I think I’d prefer to raise my family in Ecuador or Mexico. 🇲🇽❤️

[@Alookatportland]

Hey you actually went to the east side! I see so many of these videos and people always stick to downtown.

[@aliciamarana]

Our family and friends are in the Portland area so we will probably never move, but I wish we could, because the cost of living has increased so dramatically.

[@Danlandia1]

Welcome home! I left a comment a while back that was personal, unprovoked and mean spirited…and I’m sorry. 🌲

[@theropemonster]

Thanks my friend, no offense taken! ❤️ 🌲

[@metrotcb9560]

I still think of the street as 39th not Chavez, it throws off the numbering going from 38 to 40th

[@theropemonster]

No doubt, same here!

[@Brutuscomedy]

I hear the F slur on a pretty much daily basis in Portland. Personally I don't file that under better. I'm witnessing the difference between liberal/permissive and truly progressive. We have to think about prejudice, discrimination and bigotry.

[@theropemonster]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts here! All the best to you

[@thomassaunders1749]

Be cool if you cover St john neighborhood

[@theropemonster]

Great idea! Any particular highlights you had in mind? Thanks ❤️🌲

[@thomassaunders1749]

@theropemonster just see how St johns is doing, cost to live and over vibe from people living there.

[@frankmclaughlin1749]

Welcome back to PDX. Your last video made it seem like you'll be in the area for awhile. When ya heading back to MX?

[@theropemonster]

Thanks Frank, much appreciated. I don’t think I’ll even manage to stay until Thanksgiving… missing sunshine and volleyball too much already 🏐🏝️😭🤣

[@frankmclaughlin1749]

Well if I come across you in wild of Portland, the cerveza is on me!

[@theropemonster]

@@frankmclaughlin1749 you’re the man!! Thanks 😎. If I do go out it may be in the Hawthorn area… love the dive bars 😜 🍻

[@williamgreystone2098]

Looks like a cool place but like the rest of the country you have to be rich to enjoy it and to buy a home. At one time those house were affordable.

[@theropemonster]

Exactly. I think a big issue that I don’t hear people discuss is the asset managers like Black Rock and State Street along with Berkshire buying up all the single family homes and manipulating the market. Not much we can do about that unfortunately. Except live in Ecuador or Mexico 🇲🇽❤️🏝️. Thanks for supporting the channel as always my friend!

[@gthisiseasy]

This life is temporary. A friend of the earth is an enemy to God. Your house will Rot and we are nothing but dust on the scale. A mist.

[@turbokid8719]

Don’t worry the economy is going under nobody can afford anything these days.

[@SrySraDosperros]

this place is horrible beyond your wildest imagination. it’s like the zombie apocalypse. the whole state is. don’t come here. you’ll hate it.

[@Eagles_SB_BOUND]

I don't believe you. You don't want outsiders moving to Portland. Lol

[@turbokid8719]

True

[@williamgreystone2098]

You have to realize being in Roma for us as Americans. We have more money than the average Mexican . Now for a cal teck graduate who works in a 7 or 8 figure career, his view of those 750 to 1 million is the same as when were in Roma .

[@theropemonster]

Absolutely agree 💯

[@gthisiseasy]

No one cares. Your only in the flesh.

[@lylewalker5681]

3 1/2 thousand likes after two weeks. Guess you didn’t get in the right wing Portland hate algorithm, so I’m deducing when I haven’t even watched the video yet that you’re making a pro Portland video.

[@theropemonster]

Lol well it definitely wasn’t “pro Portland”… just an update and stating that certain things were looking better than 2020 and 2021

[@Spliffylocs]

St. John’s area!!!

[@mexsouriman05]

Forgot to mention that I am in 2 neighborhoods Neza and Granjas. Technically Neza is a city within THE City. But definitely not gentrified areas and not as glamorous as where you were. I have family here so that makes it nice.

[@theropemonster]

Family is everything and more than makes up for the lack of glamour. That’s the only reason I ever come back to Portland… spend quality time with family and then get back out 😎🇲🇽🏝️. As always, thanks for supporting the channel my friend, abrazo y saludos a tu familia!!

[@graceg3250]

I’ve never heard of either, and I’m from here

[@mexsouriman05]

@graceg3250 Nezahualcoyotl is arguably the largest part of Mexico City, it is east of the airport and on the north of the city. Granjas is about 5 minutes straight south of the airport and super close to palacio de los deportes.

[@portlandreviewer2143]

That $1 million house is not in Laurelhurst, but in North Tabor.

[@theropemonster]

Thanks for the clarity on that. Basically right on the border of the two neighborhoods though so 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@portlandreviewer2143]

@ You’re right!

[@Seledochka13]

мужик, хватит топтать газон

[@theropemonster]

Did I?!

[@Pdx616]

This neighborhood is a bad example of house prices. The homes in Laurelhurst have always been expensive and really have not gone up in price as much as the mid level homes.

[@theropemonster]

Valid point for sure. Thanks for watching

[@calmon-ground962]

Worse. The advice about the club for the steering wheel says it all.

[@theropemonster]

It buys time at least.

[@pmbbmp]

Steering wheel clubs don't do anything...all they have to do is cut through the steering wheel and it slips off.

[@theropemonster]

@@pmbbmp true. Just buys a little more time for the car alarm or someone to notice. Thanks for watching

[@katherts]

Hello. While I truly appreciate your walking tour of my neighborhood (life long), I have to tell you that when you are south of Stark Street, beyond the arches you showed, you are not in Laurelhurst any longer. Stark is the southern border of Laurelhurst. Thank you

[@theropemonster]

@@katherts yes very true!! Thanks for clarifying that! “The Laurelhurst area” would’ve been a better way to preface the video. Thanks for watching ❤️🌲

[@lelandstronks319]

👍🫡

[@turbokid8719]

Well it’s getting worse cost of living etc. But there was a shooting at holiday park where lyod center it happened after I caught the train but they only cleaned up everything during election year but it’s pretty bad in the downtown area smells bad i avoid it downtown as much as possible.

[@theropemonster]

Thanks for sharing! I took the train back from WA and couldn’t believe the smell when I walked out of the train station. Pretty gross.

[@rickgonzales1219]

Get rid of Susan Vega Peterson and you might get people to move back she is a huge problem to that city.

[@theropemonster]

Excellent point my friend. Thanks for sharing

[@manomorelli3741]

So if you move from the US or Europe you’re an ‘expat’ and if you move from somewhere else to these places you’re an immigrant? 😂

[@theropemonster]

I see your point!

[@James-kj4cy]

I seldom ever go down town Portland. The new mayor is going to have a really hard time bringing people back to the office!

[@theropemonster]

Very true! Thanks for watching

[@InMyBrz]

WOW ... I used to go to Portland back in the late 80's and Bellingham WA Had great restaurants and bookstores, lot of activity Things went downhill for years after that but it looks like it coming back UP now That is a good thing, I can relate to the NW, we think alike ! Unlike the SE, Florida etc- that sucks totally now, headed into the toilet I'D move to California, have family there, lots of blue collar jobs too

[@theropemonster]

Thanks for sharing that my friend! I have also considered an off-grid property in Northern California… at least for part of the year. Definitely a positive to see things improving here but I’m just not ready to live in the US again and might never be! All the best to you and yours and have a beautiful holiday season 🦃❤️

[@turbokid8719]

😂 Portland is gotten worse