North Portland

North Portland

North Portland, or NoPo as the locals call it, is the 5th quadrant in Portland. North Portland is a mix of Residential, commercial, and industrial areas. It features neighborhoods such as Overlook, Kenton, and St. Johns and is known for diverse mix of homes and people. North Portland also features such attractions as the Portland International Raceway, and the University of Portland. North Portland also is home to industrial areas like Swan Island which is home to many companies including Daimler.

Click on a neighborhood below to learn more…

Arbor Lodge

The Arbor Lodge neighborhood has experienced a lot of growth in the last few years, as well as improvement and restoration to the area. The neighborhood has a great mix of singles, young families, and local old-timers who care about each other and their community.

Arbor Lodge is located in North Portland, and has an urban feeling with easy access to other Portland neighborhoods as well as a short commute to downtown Portland. Nearby neighborhoods include Alberta, Boise, Eliot, Humboldt, Kenton, and Piedmont. Arbor Lodge borders the I-5 freeway as well as the Max light rail, which makes getting around Portland much easier. However, you’ll be glad to know that the ramps to each are located on the outskirts of the neighborhood so you wont have to be bothered with the constant noise.

Arbor Lodge locals enjoy a euro-urbanite lifestyle of walking, bicycling, and locally owned coffee shops, restaurants, bike shops, and boutiques. The neighborhood and shops have an eclectic vibe, but there are also commercial establishments such as a New Seasons Market and a recently expanded Fred Meyer. There are four parks in the area: Arbor Lodge Park, Peninsula Rose Park (which contains the first official Rose Garden in Portland), Gammans City Park, Matt Dishman Community Center and Pool. Neighbors are focused on restoring the area and are very community conscious.

An increase of young homebuyers and the on-going developments and restorations in the area has resulted in the opportunity for upward mobility in the neighborhood, where homes keep appreciating and growth continues. Years ago you would mostly find “fixer-up” homes in the area, but now the area is much more established and you will find a little bit of everything. Most homes are modest and the typical architectural styles include Old Portland, classic Bungalow, Tudor, Cape Cod, and Ranch styles.

Arbor Lodge is the perfect neighborhood for anyone who is looking to live in a great community-minded area with affordable housing and growth potential. Come take a stroll through the neighborhood to get the full extent of the vibe here, you wont be disappointed.

Boise

The neighborhood of Boise is located in North Portland and is often associated with Elliot, a slightly southern bordering neighborhood, however Boise is a neighborhood all to itself. This is an urban neighborhood with Interstate 5 bordering its west side, Humbolt Neighborhood to the north, Eliot neighborhood to the south, and King neighborhood to the west. The Boise neighborhood is experiencing rapid development as the population continues to grow, and north Portland become more popular. This is partially due to the Mississippi Avenue area of the neighborhood, where a younger, indie, hipster vibe is ever present and is one of the main reasons the Boise neighborhood has blown up in the last few years.

Boise is a very diverse neighborhood with lots of personality, and it boasts its own unique and eclectic vibe. It is a self-sustaining, community oriented neighborhood where residents support local business owners and take care of each other. You will see a large number of residents in the Boise neighborhood walking, or riding bikes and scooters around town, and like a lot of north and northeast Portland neighborhood you will find many coffee houses, music venues, pubs, nurseries and funky local restaurants with their own individual style. There are also many families in the area with lots of kids running around and playing at local parks.

Because this is an urban neighborhood the residential areas are mixed in with commercial areas, which makes for convenience to almost anything you’ll need. There are a lot of parks in the area as well, including Denorval Unthank Park, Dawson Park, Overlook Park, Two Plum Park, Summer-Albina Park, Lillis-Albina Park, King School Park, Irving Park, Patton Square Park, Mallory Meadows Park, Madrona Park, and Peninsula Park. As you can see there are more than enough parks (i.e., grassy areas) to go around in this urban oasis.

Legacy Emanuel Hospital and Health Center is right around the corner, as well as Portland Community College, which draws in a younger crowd to the neighborhood. Downtown Portland is within minutes due to the close proximity of Interstate 5 and 84, as well as the Steel, Fremont, and Broadway bridges.

Homes in the Boise neighborhood come in all types of architectural styles, and you will find a lot of historic charm that you can’t find in a lot of the newly constructed suburbs. Although home prices have been on the rise for the last few years due to the thriving Mississippi Avenue section of the neighborhood, you can still find affordable homes in the area.

If you’re interested in an urban neighborhood that isn’t smack in the middle of downtown, and still has the charm of community consciousness, head up north to the Boise neighborhood and plant your roots.

Bridgeton

Situated along the south channel shore of the Columbia River, the Bridgeton neighborhood is located in north Portland on the North Portland Harbor. As a marine community it is perfect for boat lovers, and offers beautiful views of the Columbia River. The vibe in this neighborhood is very laid back and its residents definitely enjoy the slower paced life that many waterfront areas do. This is a neighborhood with a charming, small-town feel with very community oriented residents who tend to know each other by name. It’s hard to believe that you can find a neighborhood with a relaxed, marina lifestyle only 15 minutes from the city center.

Although Bridgeton is technically closer to Vancouver, Washington (mileage wise) than it is to Portland, it is still considered within the city limits and makes it very easy for residents to work in either city. Residents are also drawn to the public schools in the area, which include Faubion Elementary School, Harriet Middle School, and Jefferson High School.

Nearby neighborhood include East Columbia, Arbor Lodge, Kenton, and Piedmont.
Bridgeton neighborhood homes consist of a lot of floating homes, condos, houseboats, row houses, town homes, and residential homes all in a variety of architectural style. There are a wide variety of homeowners in the Bridgeton neighborhood as the marine lifestyle draws people from all walks of life.

Residents of Bridgeton enjoy lots of outdoor activities, most of which include hiking and walking along the shoreline as well as through the neighborhood, golfing, and plenty of bird watching. Due to its close proximity to both downtown Portland and Vancouver, the Bridgeton neighborhood has a lot to offer its residents in terms of restaurants, shopping, nightlife, parks, etc. Residents often boat to the undeveloped islands located in the Columbia River to explore. There are three parks in the area: East Delta Park, Farragut City Park, Peninsula Rose Park, Kenton City Park, and Gammans City Park.

Bridgeton has a very remote feeling, as there are few indicators that you’re so close to the hustle and bustle of downtown Portland. So if you’re looking for a quiet, quaint retreat from the city, and you enjoy living on or near the water, the Bridgeton neighborhood would be the perfect fit for you.

Cathedral Park

Cathedral Park is a charming little neighborhood located in north Portland next to St. Johns Bridge and on the east shore of the Willamette River. The neighborhood received its name from the 23 acres park aptly named Cathedral Park, which is a gorgeous waterfront park in the area. This is a peaceful, suburban-like neighborhood that is still very close to commercial areas that offer residents all the shopping, dining, and coffee shops their hearts desire.

Although Cathedral Park is typically the local residents’ park of choice, there are also a few other parks in the area that are frequented, including St. Johns City Park, Willamette Cove, and the Harbor View City Park. Also, residents often visit the enormous Forest Park that stretches over 5,000 acres, it’s just minutes away from Cathedral Park by crossing over the St. Johns Bridge. This neighborhood is very family oriented, and residents are involved in their community. This is a smaller community with barely over 3,000 residents with a population density of 4 people per acre.

Half of the population of Cathedral Park is homeowners, and the neighborhood has seen an increase in residents, as well as new homeowners, in the last few years. Due to the affordable housing options, Cathedral Park attracts a wide array of residents, from students enrolled in the University of Portland (which is just south of the neighborhood), to young families, local old-timers, and singles. Its close proximity to downtown Portland makes this is a neighborhood where many people can easily live and commute to pretty much anywhere in the city.
Homes in Cathedral Park range from classic Bungalow, to Cape Cod, Old Portland, Craftsman, and condo and apartment style housing as well. If you take a stroll through the neighborhood you’ll see that there are plenty of modest homes on quiet streets.

Areas that border the Cathedral Park neighborhood include, the St. Johns neighborhood to the northeast, University Park to the southeast, the Willamette River to the west, and Smith Lake to the far east. Families in the area send their kids to James John Elementary School, George Middle School, and Roosevelt High School.

This is a great neighborhood for anyone who wants to live away from the urban, downtown Portland neighborhoods, but still have a close commute when you want (or need) to head into the city.

Eliot

The Eliot neighborhood is technically located in north Portland, but it is very close in and is just on the other side of the Willamette River across from the Pearl District, so it is very close to downtown Portland. It is an urban neighborhood with a mix of residential and commercial property throughout, as well as plenty of single-family homes. Located near the 5 and 84 freeways, this is a great neighborhood for anyone who commutes to pretty much anywhere in the Portland area.

Eliot residents have a lot of pride in their neighborhood and are picky about what businesses they let into the area, which resulted in McDonald’s unsuccessful move into the area recently. Although it’s an urban area, they want to maintain the history and charm of the neighborhood. Eliot is a culturally diverse neighborhood with a very active community and a lot of neighborhood pride. The residential areas of Eliot have cute homes on quiet streets where a lot of families reside, and the commercial areas are constantly being redeveloped and improved upon. There are lots of music venues, funky shops, restaurants, coffee shops, and entertainment in the neighborhood, which is a draw for new homeowners.

Eliot is surrounded by the Boise and King neighborhoods to the north, Loyd to the south, Grant Park to the east, and the Willamette River to the west. Eliot is also within minutes of the very popular neighborhoods of Alberta, Beaumont-Wilshire, Pearl, and Hawthorne. Although residents can find almost anything they need in their own neighborhood, they also take advantage of the neighborhoods close proximity to downtown Portland as well as all the other hip and trendy northeast neighborhoods.

There are great schools in the neighborhood for local families to take advantage of, including the Boise-Eliot Elementary School, Beaumont Middle School, and Grant High School. Families also spend a lot of time at the neighborhood’s Dawson Park and Matt Dishman Community Center and Pool, as well as nearby Irving Park and Lillis Albina Park.

Homes in the Eliot neighborhood have a lot of historical charm, and many have been renovated or reconstructed. Architectural styles include foursquare, victorian, cottages, and other classic east Portland styles, as well as some newer lofts and condos.

Hayden Island

The Hayden Island neighborhood is located in north Portland and is exactly what the name suggests it is, an island. This neighborhood is perfect for boaters and outdoor fanatics as there is an abundance of wilderness areas on the island, as well as the ever so desirable marine lifestyle. Positioned in the Columbia River next to the Oregon and Washington state border, the Hayden Island neighborhood makes a perfect locale for commuters heading into Portland, Oregon or Vancouver, Washington.

Hayden Island covers over 1,000 acres and has a lot of amenities to offer its residents, including plenty of restaurants, shops, cafes, grocery stores, etc. On the eastern tip of the island lies Jantzen Beach shopping complex where locals do a lot of their shopping, however, the commute to downtown Portland or Vancouver is also relatively close. The 5 freeway bridge runs right over Hayden Island and makes for easy access to either city.

With only 9% of the Hayden Island population being under the age of 17, it’s no surprise that there aren’t any elementary, middle, or high schools in the neighborhood. The island attracts lots of singles and older couples without children, in fact, close to 72% of the population is over the age of 40, which makes the neighborhood a nice place to retire.

As you can imagine in a marine setting, there are a lot of floating homes on Hayden Island as well as riverfront homes. There are many reconstructed and renovated homes on the island, some of which are away from the water and in a more park like setting. You will also see plenty of house boats, apartments, condos, and trailer homes in the neighborhood, as well as some luxury homes large estate.

The only park on Hayden Island is the Lotus Isle City Park, which spans just a little under two acres of land and offers residents paved paths, a playground, and picnic tables. Locals visit the Lotus Isle City Park regularly, as well as all the beaches on the island, which offer plenty of outdoor activities for residents. Less than one mile south, on the 5 freeway, is the East Delta Park and the Portland International Raceway, and Hayden Island residents also frequent both of these park and recreational areas as well.

Kenton

The Kenton neighborhood is located in north Portland, and is an up and coming neighborhood with a lot of growth and development potential. Portlanders know Kenton as the neighborhood with a gigantic statue of Paul Bunyan located in the heart of the neighborhood that stands 31 feet tall. The neighborhood is also home to the Portland Metropolitan Expo Center and the Portland International Raceway. Kenton is full of friendly, hard-working, family oriented residents who take pride in their neighborhood. This is a large neighborhood for Portland as it spans close to 2,200 acres, and it is populated by roughly 7,000 residents.

There are many parks and recreational areas in Kenton and the surrounding areas that locals visit often, some of which include Kenton City Park, Trenton City Park, Arbor Lodge Park, Peninsula Park, Gammans City Park, Farragut Park, Columbus City Park, University City Park, McKenna Park, and Portsmouth Park. The amenities at these parks offer Kenton residents more than enough outdoor activities, everything from basketball courts, to soccer fields, to paved and unpaved walking paths, playgrounds, picnic tables, off-leash dog areas, softball field, tennis courts, and an outdoor swimming pool.

Kenton is very family friendly and there are many families in the neighborhood, both young and well-established, all of which enjoy being able to send their children to some great Portland public schools. These schools consist of Chief Joseph Elementary School, Ockley Green Middle School, and Roosevelt High School. With over 25% of the population being under the age of 17 it’s easy to see why these schools are flooded with Kenton residents.

This neighborhood is mostly a residential area but there are plenty of commercial areas throughout Kenton as well. There are several locally owned restaurants, shops, pubs, and coffee houses that line the main street of Denver Avenue, which runs through the eastern portion of the neighborhood. Kenton is only about 10 minutes from downtown Portland, and is bordered by the 5 freeway which makes for an easy commute to pretty much any Portland neighborhood. Northern Kenton is bordered by one of the Columbia River channels known as North Portland Harbor, and across the channel is Hayden Island. Other neighborhoods that border Kenton consist of Bridgeton, Piedmont, and Woodlawn to the east, Arbor Lodge, Overlook, and University Park to the south, and Portsmouth and St. Johns to the west.

Homes in Kenton are still pretty affordable, which attracts a lot of new investors and homeowners to the neighborhood, and there are many beautiful homes. The typical home styles in Kenton range from Craftsman to Bungalow, to Cottages, Old Portland, Victorian, and Foursquare styles, and many have been restored to their original charm.

King

Located in northeast Portland and surrounded by an abundance of equally attractive neighborhoods, the King neighborhood is a family friendly place with many young and established families. King is constantly growing and changing everyday, and due to the neighborhoods affordable housing options it is attracting many new homeowners who want to live in the hip northeast Portland area without having to pay the high prices associated with some of the bordering neighborhoods. There is a nice mix of families and singles, as well as commercial and residential areas in King.

Neighborhoods that border King consist of Vernon, Humboldt, and Piedmont to the north, Overlook and Boise to the west, Eliot, Irving, and Sabin to the south, and Alameda and Beaumont Wilshire to the east. There is also a portion of the ever so popular Alberta Arts District within the King neighborhood, and the neighborhood also boasts some of its own shops, restaurants, coffee houses, pubs, and nightlife. There are many locally owned businesses in King, and residents support their local business owners as much as they can, there is definitely a strong community feel in the neighborhood and residents take care of each other.

King is home to some great schools, some of which include King Elementary School, Tubman Middle School, and Jefferson High School. With close to 30% of the population being under the age of 17, it’s easy to see why families are so interested in raising their children in this neighborhood. There is also a very active neighborhood association in King that is geared toward constantly improving the neighborhood and its residents. This is also a very active community as a whole and its common to see plenty of residents strolling the streets, playing in the front yard, or taking advantage of the many parks in the area. Some of these parks include Peninsula Park and Alberta Park.

Homes in the King neighborhood are all across the board in terms of styles and prices. There are many affordable modest homes to choose from, as well as gorgeously restored and more expensive older homes. A nice mix of new construction, renovated and/or restored older homes, and fixer-up homes make up the residential properties in King, so there’s a little bit of everything for the new homeowner. Home styles typically include turn of the century Cottages, Old Portland, Foursquare, and Craftsman.

Overlook

The Overlook neighborhood is located in north Portland, and has some great views of the surrounding areas. This is a rather large neighborhood in size, and spans over 2,100 acres, but is home to only 6,093 residents which makes for a population density of merely 2 persons per acre. Overlooking the Willamette Valley, Swan Island, and the West Hills, it’s easy to see why the neighborhood got it’s name. Overlook attracts residents who want to live in a less urban feeling neighborhood that is still not far from downtown. There are many young and well-established families in Overlook, and it is a very community conscious, family oriented neighborhood.

Overlook is bordered by Arbor Lodge to the north, across the Willamette River are Northwest District to the south and Northwest Industrial to the west, and Piedmont, Humboldt, and Boise to the east. The 5 freeway runs alongside the neighborhoods eastern border which makes for an easy commute to downtown (about 5 minutes) and surrounding neighborhoods. The Willamette River runs along the western and southwestern borders, and provide some great views for Overlook residents.

There are many things for residents to do in Overlook, with many locally owned businesses in the neighborhood as well as plenty of outdoor amenities as well, there’s something for everyone. There are some parks in, and around, the neighborhood that residents take advantage of, these include Overlook City Park, Madrona City Park, Mocks Crest Property, Denorval Unthank City Park, Grammans City Park, and Arbor Lodge City Park. Some amenities at these parks consist of off leash dog area, baseball field, tennis courts, playground, basketball court, soccer field, softball field, track, horseshoe pit, paved and unpaved paths, picnic tables, a volleyball court, and much more.

Overlook is a family friendly neighborhood with roughly 22% of residents being under the age of 17. There are some great Portland public schools for families to send their children to, these schools consist of Beach Elementary School, Ockley Green Middle School, and Jefferson High School.

Homes in Overlook span a wide range of architectural styles, such as English Tudor, Cape Cod, Victorian, Bungalow, Cottage, Craftsman, ranch, and Old Portland Foursquare. There are also some condos and townhouses in the neighborhood as well. There are plenty of options in Overlook for new homeowners.

Portsmouth

Portsmouth is located in north Portland and is an urban neighborhood with a lot to offer its residents. This is a constantly evolving neighborhood with community oriented residents who are set on improving the neighborhood in every way possible. The population of Portsmouth is a little over 8,300 and it spans across 696 acres of residential and commercial areas. There are a lot of families that live in Portsmouth, probably due in part to the affordable housing options in the neighborhood. Residents enjoy the neighborhoods close proximity to the Willamette River, Smith Lake, and Bybee Lake, as well as all the water activities that come with them.

Bordered by University Park and Arbor Lodge to the south, Kenton to the east, Cathedral Park and St. Johns to the west, and Kenton and St. Johns wrap around the northern border of Portsmouth as well. The 5 freeway is just west of the neighborhood and the St. Johns Bridge is just east, both of which provide an easy commute into downtown Portland. Also, the Willamette River is just south of the neighborhood, and both Smith Lake and Bybee Lake are just north. Portsmouth is a great neighborhood to live in and is surrounded by other great areas as well, making it desirable to new homeowners.

The Portsmouth neighborhood has one of the highest populations of children in the Portland area, with over 33% of the population of the neighborhood being under the age of 17. It’s no surprise that Portsmouth residents send their kids to some of the larger schools in the area, these schools include Clarendon Portsmouth Elementary School, George Middle School, and Roosevelt High School. If you’re looking to live in a neighborhood with lots of families and children, Portsmouth might be the perfect place for you.

In addition to all the outdoor activities provided by the nearby lakes and rivers, there are also some nice parks in and around Portsmouth as well. Some of these parks consist of Portsmouth Park, Northgate Park, University City Park, Columbia City Park, Trenton City Park, and McKenna City Park.

Homes in Portsmouth are generally very affordable compared to many other Portland neighborhoods and you can find just about any style you’re looking for. There are many older homes that have been restored or are waiting to be restored, as well as new construction, and modern custom built homes. Architectural styles range from bungalows to cottages, to foursquare, old Portland, craftsman, ranch, and Victorian. There’s a little bit of everything for new homeowners to choose from.

St. Johns

The St. Johns neighborhood is located in north Portland and is an extremely large neighborhood that spans a whopping 7,055 acres. The neighborhood feels more like a small town unto itself rather than a neighborhood in the city limits of Portland, and with a population density of only one person per acre it’s easy to see why. St. Johns is considered an up and coming neighborhood and has grown in popularity over the last decade. It’s an extremely family friendly neighborhood and there are many young and well-established families in St. Johns. There are many cute coffee shops, restaurants, pubs, and shops in downtown St. Johns, many of which are independently owned, and there is also an industrial district in the northern part of the neighborhood as well.

Bordered by Cathedral Park, University Park, and Portsmouth to the south, Hayden Island to the east, Sauvie Island to the west and northwest, and across the Willamette River and Washington state line is Blurock Landing, Washington to the north. The 5 freeway is just to the east of the neighborhood and makes for an easy commute into either downtown Portland or Vancouver, Washington. There is also the St. Johns Bridge that connects the neighborhood to the northwest Portland neighborhoods. St. Johns is surrounded by water on all sides except for the southeastern section of the neighborhood, and Smith Lake and Bybee Lake are both within the neighborhood as well, so this is the perfect place for anyone who loves marine style living.

St. Johns is home to a lot of school aged children, in fact 29% of the neighborhoods population is under the age of 17, which means there are lots of St. Johns residents attending the local schools, Some of the schools in and around the neighborhood consist of James John Elementary School, George Middle School, and Roosevelt High School.

Due to the neighborhood being surrounded by water, there are a lot of outdoor water activities for residents to enjoy, such as beaches, boating, and gorgeous strolls along the water with beautiful views. In addition to these water activities, there are also many parks in and around St. Johns that locals take advantage of as well, some of these parks include Pier Park, Chimney City Park, Kelly Point City Park, Smith and Bybee Lakes Wildlife Area, Moore Island City Park, Delta Park West, and Northgate Park.

Homes in St. Johns are very affordable, and may be some of the most affordable homes in the city of Portland. Home prices have raised over the last decade, but haven’t risen too high, and there are many different housing types available for new homeowners. Home styles run the range of Cape Cod, Victorian, ranch, bungalow, and foursquare.

Sunderland

The Sunderland neighborhood is located in north Portland, and is not a very populated neighborhood with only about 600 residents. The small population is due to the fact that Sunderland is mostly an industrial neighborhood, with only a few small residential sections throughout. Although much of the 1,205 acre neighborhood is occupied by industrial areas, the neighborhood is still very close to commercial districts in nearby neighborhoods as well as plenty of other amenities in the area. Many residents both work and live in Sunderland which makes it a convenient neighborhood for those who don’t want to commute to work everyday.

The Sunderland neighborhoods is bordered by Cully to the east, East Columbia to the west, Woodlawn and Concordia to the south, and across the Columbia River and over the Washington state line is Riverview, Washington to the north. The Columbia River makes up the northwestern border of the neighborhood, and provides water activities for residents. The 5 freeway is just to the west of the neighborhood and provides an easy commute into downtown Portland or Vancouver, Washington. Also, most of the eastern border of the neighborhood backs up to the Portland International Airport.

The Sunderland is a family friendly neighborhood even though there aren’t a lot of residents, and roughly 10% of families in Sunderland have children. The large majority of these children attend the local public schools in the area, and these public schools consist of Faubion Elementary School, Woodlawn Middle School, and Wilson High School. There are also some private schools around the Sunderland neighborhood as well.

There are some great parks in the Sunderland neighborhood, some of these parks include Farragut City Park, Woodlawn City Park, Whitaker Ponds Natural Area, Columbia Children’s Arboretum, and Fernhill Park. These parks include amenities such as basketball courts, paved and unpaved paths, picnic tables, playgrounds, softball fields, playgrounds, soccer fields, softball fields, stage, water play feature, garden, pond, off-leash dog area, horseshoe pit, tennis court, track, and volleyball court. Golf is also an amenity within the neighborhood, there are actually two different golf courses in Sunderland: Riverside Golf and Country Club, and the Broadmoor Golf Course. The Columbia Edgewater Golf Course and Country Club is also just right across the neighborhoods western border in East Columbia.

Homes in Sunderland tend to be in the old Portland style, and most are single family homes. There are many floating homes in the Sunderland neighborhood, and you’ll also find some condos, townhouses, and apartments throughout the neighborhood as well.

University Park

Located in north Portland, the University Park neighborhood gets it’s name for being home to the University of Portland, which is one of the oldest schools in the area. This is a vibrant neighborhood with gorgeous views of downtown Portland, and the surrounding bridges. College students make up a large majority of the 5,250 residents in University Park, however, there are many families with young children in the neighborhood, as well as a good mix of people from all walks of life. You will see an abundance of quiet tree lined streets with older homes and well maintained lawns throughout the neighborhood, and there are several commercial areas nearby as well.

University Park is bordered by other popular neighborhoods as well, including Cathedral Park to the west, Arbor Lodge and Kenton to the east, Portsmouth and St. Johns to the north, and across the Willamette River is Northwest Industrial to the south. The 5 freeway is just one neighborhood away to the west of University Park, and St. Johns Bridge is also just to the north of the neighborhood, both offering quick commutes to downtown Portland and other surrounding neighborhoods. The Willamette River makes up the southern border of the University Park neighborhood and offers many water activities for residents.
Although most of the students in the neighborhood are college students, there are still many families in University Park with children in grade school. Roughly 14% of the population is under the age of 17 and attending local public schools in and around the neighborhood. These public schools include Astor Elementary School, George Middle School, and Roosevelt High School.

University Park has several parks and natural areas in the neighborhood as well as in nearby neighborhoods. These parks include Harbor View City Park, McKenna Park, Portsmouth Park, Columbia City Park, University City Park, Northgate Park, Willamette Cove, Trenton City Park, Gammans City Park, and Arbor Lodge City Park. In addition to all the amenities at these parks, there are also many water activities available thanks to the Willamette River, and residents take full advantage of them.

Thanks to some areas in University Park still waiting to be restored and improved, there are still some relatively affordable homes in the neighborhood. Homes are generally in the old Portland style, and consist of bungalow, English cottage, craftsman, foursquare, Victorian, farmhouse, and some colonial mansions. There are also several townhouses, condos, and many apartments in the neighborhood to accommodate the many renters the university tends to bring into the neighborhood.