Portland city, Oregon Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Portland city is a major urban center located in Oregon. The total population is 642,715. It ranks as the 1st most populous out of 419 cities and towns in Oregon.

Age Demographics

The median age in Portland city is 38.6 years. This is 4% lower than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Portland city is $88,792. This is 10% higher than the state median of $80,426. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 13% higher. The poverty rate stands at 12.8%. This is 7% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.9%. The unemployment rate is 5.5%. This is 3% higher than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $557,600. Housing costs are 23% higher than the state median of $454,200. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.3x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 52.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% lower than the state average of 63.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Portland city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 67.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 11.3%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (5.7% vs 1.8%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (8.0% vs 4.4%).

Education

53.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Portland city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 48% higher than the state rate of 36.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.3%. Notably, 21.4% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Portland city, Oregon is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Oregon state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 419 Census-designated places in Oregon. For official data, visit data.census.gov.