Gresham

MEDIAN INCOME*

$61,826

MEDIAN HOME VALUE

$447,109

AVERAGE RENT

$1616/month

Population

108,624

*Statistics Sources

About Gresham

Unlike many of the other suburbs in the Portland metro area, Gresham is in the same county as Portland itself. Gresham is located directly east of Portland. It is bordered by Portland to the west, the Columbia River and Washington State to the north, Troutdale and rural communities/forestland to the east, and Damascus/Happy Valley to the south.

Gresham is a large town characterized by suburban neighborhoods, farmland, industry, and retail. The area is mostly flat although there are several extinct volcanoes south of Main City Park called the East Buttes. They include Gresham Butte, Hogan Butte, Gabbert Butte, and more. Excellent hiking and parks are located around this area. The picturesque Persimmon Country Club is also nestled within a bowl next to the buttes.

There are many other greenspaces to explore throughout Gresham including neighborhood parks like Butler Creek Park, community parks like Red Sunset Park, and the large Main City Park located near Historic Downtown Gresham. Main City Park has many facilities including a small off-leash dog park, playground, lawns, 2 baseball diamonds, the Gresham Skatepark, horseshoe pits, and the unique Tsuru Island Japanese Garden. It is situated on a portion of the Springwater Corridor, a 21 mile long bicycle and pedestrian path between Boring, OR and Portland.

Historic Downtown Gresham is a charming main street style town center with many shops, restaurants, cafes, and other services. The Gresham History Museum is located here and worth a look. Not to be missed during the summer months is the Children’s Fountain, where kids can splash in one of two fountains – one for toddlers and one for big kids. The Gresham Farmer’s Market is held every Saturday from May through October. It’s one of the better markets in the Portland metro, which makes sense in a town known for their berries.

Lucky residents of Gresham are a very quick hop away from both the Columbia River Gorge and Mt Hood. Distance to Government Camp is less than an hour. Distance to Multnomah Falls is less than 30 minutes. Outdoor enthusiasts of all types can find plenty to do nearby.

Homes here are generally more affordable than other suburbs near the Portland metro area. It has a plethora of suburban neighborhoods characterized by modest-sized one and two-story homes on standard sized lots featuring garage space and backyards. There are also many affordable apartment complexes and attached housing options.

More people use mass transit than is typical of suburban communities, mainly due to the MAX blue line that runs from Gresham straight through Portland and all the way out to Hillsboro. Gresham is also served by the TriMet bus system.

The outskirts of Gresham are rural although former farms are slowly giving way to new neighborhood developments. There are several large builders currently turning bare acreage into dense subdivisions. These include DR Horton, LGI, Lennar, and Clearwater.

I-84 runs through the northern portion of Gresham. I-84 is an interstate that runs from Portland east through the Columbia River Gorge, before turning southeast and into Idaho. However, there are a few small towns that border the northeast section of Gresham that are worth noting: Fairview, Wood Village, and Troutdale.

Fairview is a small city of about 10,000 located northeast of Gresham. Like many suburbs, it was originally a farming community. Most people in Fairview own their homes and it has a distinct identity characterized by a suburban small town feel that mixes with the almost urban location so close to Gresham and Portland.

Wood Village is located directly east of Fairview (and still north of Gresham) and is an even smaller city of about 4,000 residents. It was built as a company town for a plant that has since closed. It’s been proposed a couple of times to consolidate Wood Village and Fairview together without success.

Troutdale is located directly east of Wood Village. It has a larger population of about 16,000 residents. Known as the gateway to the Columbia River Gorge, Troutdale is also very close to Mt Hood. Oxbow Park, a popular launch point onto the Sandy River is just to the east. This 1,000 acre natural area features 12 miles of trails, camping,  Historic Downtown Troutdale is worth a visit, too. It features art galleries, antique stores, shops, and eateries.

Employment in Troutdale has grown in recent years due to the nearby Amazon and FedEx distribution centers. If you love the outdoors and would like to live in a semi-suburban-close-to-rural community with a strong identity, Troutdale is a good option.