The Best County in Portland, Oregon is?
Updated 06/2024.
Portland, Oregon, is a sprawling metro area that covers three counties: Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington, also known as the tri-county area. Like many areas of Oregon, the tri-county has plenty of nature, but surprisingly, it is also home to nearly 2 million people (1.8). Portland proper has a population of over half a million, so most of the population in Portland’s metro area is contained within the tri-county.
Each of the three counties has differences that are worth knowing if you plan to move. Which of the three is best? Let’s meet our contenders to find out more about each county and which one is the winner.
Multnomah County
This county includes Portland proper and extends far to the east nearly all the way to Mt. Hood. The county is home to Portland’s downtown, the international PDX airport, and massive sections of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers.
Highlight: Food Culture
If you are a foodie, you will feel right at home in Multnomah County. Portland consistently ranks as one of the top food scenes in the US. WalletHub ranked it #2 in the country in 2023. You’ll find everything from local to international cuisine. The city has a high restaurant count per capita and is famous for food carts lining its streets. Food pricing is rising but remains significantly lower than fine dining in Seattle or any major California city.
Highlight: The Art Scene
Portland’s art scene is strong and varied. You’ll find international art trends here as well as unique, local arts and crafts that can be quite innovative and creative. The Portland Art Museum occupies an entire city block.
Highlight: Transportation Options
Trimet public transportation covers all three counties (hence the tri in the name), but the majority of its bus and light rail routes remain within Multnomah County. There is little public transportation by river, but most of what is offered is found here.
Highlight: #1 Rankings by Niche.com
Niche ranks this county #1 in Oregon in not one but four categories:
● Best Counties for Outdoor Activities
(remember that the county extends out much further than the Portland city boundary lines)
● Best Healthiest Counties in Oregon
● Best College in Oregon: Reed College
Lowlight: Property Taxes
Though the property tax rate in all three counties is near the state average, Multnomah has the highest at 1.11%. Clackamas is 1.09%, and Washington is 1.08%.
Lowlight: Population Loss
We don’t need to belabor Portland’s well known problems that are leading to population stagnation and decline.
Clackamas County
This county is mainly made up of thousands of acres of gorgeous forest land. Still, it is also home to significant portions of Portland’s SE suburbs. Some examples include Lake Owego, West Linn, Happy Valley, Damascus, Oregon City, Milwaukie, Wilsonville, Canby, Sandy, and Boring.
The blend of expansive nature and suburban living has awarded it a #2 ranking by Niche for outdoor activities.
Highlight: Government Camp, Mt. Hood
While Portland, Oregon, gets a tiny bit of snowfall each year, nearby Mt. Hood is often covered in snow all year, which also means year-round skiing, giving it the distinction of having the longest ski season in North America.
Government Camp sits just outside of Mt. Hood’s borders and works well as a home for winter vacations. It offers cabins to rent, shops and restaurants to visit, and of course quick access to the towering, majestic mountain itself. All of this beauty is just a short drive from city amenities.
Highlight: Highly Rated Public Schools and Downtown Areas
When it comes to your children’s education, this county is one of the best anywhere. Lake Owego and West Linn host some of the highest-rated public school systems in the country. Oregon City and Lake Oswego also have award-winning shopping and restaurants in their quaint downtown districts.
Lowlight: Dangerous Rivers
Even though the county is not on the ocean, it has been ranked the “most dangerous in the US for beachgoers .”How can this be? The answer is raging rivers. And it is the most dangerous county by a wide margin. It is 34% more dangerous than the next-ranking county. Ifyou are a water lover, take precautions.
Washington County
Like Clackamas County, this county is mostly forest land. Still, it is also home to some of Portland’s largest suburbs in its eastern section. Examples include Banks, Cornelius, Forest Grove, Aloha, Hillsboro, Beaverton, Tigard, Sherwood, Tualatin, and more. Hillsboro also hosts Hillsboro Airport, the second busiest airport in Oregon.
Highlight: Population Diversity
Washington County is Oregon’s most diverse. It contains two of Oregon’s top diverse cities, Hillsboro and Beaverton.
Highlight: International Job Opportunities
Washington County is home to the global Nike headquarters and multiple Intel Campuses, Columbia Sportswear, and Lam Research.
Highlight: Strong Health Scores in the State
Though all three counties rank well in terms of health, County Health Rankings and Roadmaps ranks Washington County #1 in the entire state in 2023, while Niche ranks it #2. The results factor in life expectancy and physical and mental health, looking at everything from air pollution to birth rates, medical care, smoking, obesity, and social and economic factors.
Highlight: Low Property Taxes
As stated earlier, Washington has the lowest property tax of the three metro-area counties, at 1.08%.
Highlight: Ranked As One of the Best Oregon Counties
Niche ranks Washington County as the #2 county in Oregon to live, with an overall score of A-. In addition to factors listed above like employment, low property scores, and high health scores, Washington is also home to plenty of nature, restaurants, bars, and coffee shops to keep residents happy.
Lowlight: It Lacks a Quaint Oregon Vibe
Washington County doesn’t have an area matching the appeal of, say, Oregon City’s downtown. Still, it hosts the modern Orenco Station in Hillsboro and Beaverton downtown has been gaining significant cultural improvement over the last few years.
Winner of the Best County in Portland, Oregon: Washington County
Though Multnomah certainly has a lot going for it, the issue of crime is a real problem in Portland. This means that Washington County wins out. It has the strongest job market and the most diversity in the region. You can also expect to pay the least property tax and less in utilities and property taxes in Washington.
For nature lovers, Clackamas and Washington County both have many terrific parks and natural areas, so it’s hard to pick a favorite in that category. Still, both have more options than the population-dense Multnomah County.
Considering a Move? Work with an Experienced Realtor
With over 2,000 homes sold in the tri-county area, our small team is one of the most experienced in the area. Our top 1% sellers agents and top 1% buyers agents would love to hear about your real estate plans. If you’re considering a move in the next 12 months, give us a call today at 503-714-1111 or chat with the bot on this site. We’d love to connect today!
