The Portland metro is home to 2,510,529 people (up 3.8% over five years), with a median household income of $94,573. Typical rent of $1,803/month works out to 22.9% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Portland's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 22.1% |
| Professional & management | 13.8% |
| Manufacturing | 12.2% |
| Retail trade | 11.3% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 8.3% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 22.9% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Portland market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,803/month suggests a household income around $72,000/year. The metro's median household income is $94,573.
By workforce share: Education & health care (22.1%), Professional & management (13.8%), Manufacturing (12.2%) (Census ACS 5-year).