Homes for sale in North Portland
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Explore the area
Where is North Portland?
North Portland is the peninsula between the Willamette and Columbia rivers, north of the central city. The neighborhoods I know best are:
- St. Johns (and neighboring Cathedral Park)
- Kenton
- Arbor Lodge
- Overlook
- Boise
- Humboldt
What is St. Johns like?
St. Johns is like a small city within Portland. It has a walkable downtown with independent coffee shops and bookstores, cute and affordable homes, and a tight-knit community.
It's about a 20 to 25 minute drive from Northeast Portland, so there's some distance from the main city, and St. Johns locals are fiercely proud of that separation. I think of it as a lovely little town.
Cathedral Park is one of the most beautiful parks in Portland. It sits under the gothic arches of the St. Johns Bridge, with water access to the Willamette River. Every July it hosts the free Cathedral Park Jazz Festival, one of the longest-running free jazz festivals in the West. Forest Park is just across the bridge.
What are the close-in neighborhoods like?
Kenton, Arbor Lodge, Overlook, Boise and Humboldt are more connected to Portland proper. They're closer to the central city, busier and faster-paced, with more public transportation. They're affordable like St. Johns, with a more urban feel.
Kenton also has its own walkable downtown, like St. Johns.
What do homes cost in North Portland?
| Area | Typical home value |
|---|---|
| St. Johns | about $422,000 |
| Kenton | about $459,000 |
| Cathedral Park | about $461,000 |
| Arbor Lodge | about $539,000 |
| Overlook | about $564,000 |
Source: Zillow, observed October 28, 2026. Typical home value.
St. Johns
St. Johns began as a river town on the tip of the peninsula and was its own incorporated city from 1903 to 1915, when voters in both St. Johns and Portland approved annexation. That history as a separate town is a big part of why it still has its own downtown and its own identity. The St. Johns Bridge opened in 1931 and remains the neighborhood's landmark.
Kenton
Kenton was built as a company town for the Swift meatpacking company in the early 1900s, near the stockyards along the Columbia Slough. It was annexed by Portland in 1915, and its compact downtown on N Denver Avenue dates from those early years.
Most of North Portland sits below Portland's citywide median and well below close-in eastside neighborhoods like Grant Park and Irvington (around $900,000).
Real purchases in St. Johns
Over list, with credits that protected the payment. My clients were relocating from out of state. They'd sold their home and arrived living in a van with their two cats. They were drawn to St. Johns for its small downtown, coffee shops, independent feel, and closeness to Forest Park and Cathedral Park, and the price point fit. We toured all over, from out toward Sauvie Island to the outer eastside, before finding the right home in St. Johns.
They had a firm limit on their monthly payment. So from the start, we offered over the list price and asked for a larger seller credit toward closing costs, which kept their payment where they needed it. Then the inspection showed the home needed a new roof, and we negotiated $8,000 in credits, covering most of the cost. They were happy with the result.
A view of the river. I also helped a buyer relocating to Portland find a top-floor condo in St. Johns with a balcony looking over Cathedral Park. In winter, when the trees are bare, you can watch the Christmas Ships go up and down the river.
What are the tradeoffs?
Distance (St. Johns). St. Johns is about 20 to 25 minutes by car from Northeast Portland. Locals love that separation, but it's a real factor if you'll commute or want to be close to the central city.
Pace (close-in neighborhoods). Kenton, Arbor Lodge, Overlook, Boise and Humboldt are busier and more urban.
Walkability is spottier. St. Johns and Kenton have walkable downtowns, but overall North Portland is less consistently walkable than classic corridors like Hawthorne, Northeast Fremont or North Williams.
Younger street trees. You won't find the deep, mature tree canopy of Irvington or Grant Park.
A changing area. North Portland is changing quickly, so what a block is like today may differ in a few years.
Safety and schools
For safety, look at the city's own data rather than reputations. Portland Police Bureau publishes neighborhood crime statistics, and you can look up any address on PortlandMaps. Most of what Portland deals with is property crime rather than violent crime.
North Portland is served by Portland Public Schools. Check each home's assignment in PPS's School Finder: https://www.pps.net/about/portland-public-schools-information/district-map
PPS is redrawing boundaries districtwide, with a board vote expected in December 2026 and changes starting fall 2027. Read my summary (PPS boundary changes and rightsizing). I don't rank schools or choose one for you.
Kerrie's local favorites
kerrie's picks
- Parks: Peninsula Park
- Bakery: Starter Bread, in St. Johns
- Coffee: Villain Crepes and Coffee, in St. Johns
Frequently asked questions
Is St. Johns part of Portland?
How far is St. Johns from the rest of Portland?
Is North Portland affordable?
Is it walkable?
Can I buy before I move?
How do I get downtown from St. Johns?
Is there light rail in North Portland?
Is there flood risk near the river?
Is St. Johns changing?
Is North Portland safe?
Firsthand observations: Kerrie Doerr interview, October 28, 2026.
Read more from me
- St. Johns and Cathedral Park: Portland's Most Underrated Family Neighborhood in 2026St. Johns home prices under $450,000, honest school and safety data, Cathedral Park's swim dock, and why this North Portland village keeps coming up.
- Best Portland Neighborhoods for First-Time Buyers Under $550KYou can still buy a house in Portland for under $550,000, mostly in Southeast, outer Northeast, and North Portland. What it costs each month and where to look.
- Alameda vs. Irvington vs. Beaumont-Wilshire: Three NE Portland Neighborhoods ComparedAlameda, Irvington, and Beaumont-Wilshire come up in almost every NE Portland search I run. Here is a factual side-by-side on price, architecture, and day-to-day life.