The Portland metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1.9 million people.   Some of the larger cities in the metro area are Beaverton, Hillsboro, Lake Oswego, Milwaukie, Sherwood, Tigard, Tualatin, West Linn, Wilsonville. 

The Willamette River divides the city into its west and east sides of town.   The west side neighborhoods include the Pearl District, West Hills, Arlington Heights, Council Crest, Multnomah Village, Bridlemile and Downtown.  The neighborhoods of Irvington, Alameda, Grant Park, Laurelhurst, Eastmoreland and Sellwood are some located on the east side of town.  [ map ]

  
In May 2008, Portland was the nation's 7th most expensive large city in the United States:  San Fransisco  $609,700, San Diego  $543,300,  Los Angeles  $492,700,  New York  $488,400,  Seattle  $476,800, Washington, D.C.  $469,200,  Portland  $385,400.  (source New York Times)  Although the numbers may have slipped for every city, Portland still remains the least expensive large city on the west to purchase a home.

By some estimates, the Portland area is expected to grow by 1 million by 2034, and with mass transit in place, smart growth