Living in Gresham Oregon - EVERYTHING You Need to Know

What is Living in Gresham Oregon Like?

Just 16 miles outside of Portland, Gresham, with an estimated population of slightly less than 114,000 at the time of writing, is the fourth largest city in Oregon. This wonderful community has experienced rapid growth of late, emerging from the shadows of Portland to become a thriving urban center in its own right. With a diverse population made up of longtime residents, families, young professionals, and growing immigrant communities, those living in Gresham, Oregon, enjoy a high quality of life.

Living in Gresham, Oregon, puts excellent hiking trails, skiing, windsurfing, and biking opportunities at your fingertips, with Mt. Hood and the Columbia River Gorge just down the road. The Gresham parks, shopping, and historic downtown only add to the charm of this beautiful city.

If you're looking to move to a city with a diverse population, surrounded by natural beauty and things to do, with a lower cost of living than other cities in the area, then Gresham would be a good spot for you. Keep reading to learn about Gresham neighborhoods, the cost of living, schools, things to do, and much more. I think you'll see that Gresham, Oregon, is a fantastic place to live!

Skip Ahead to:

1. The Moving to Gresham Oregon Team

2. What is the Cost of Living in Gresham Oregon?

3. Living in Gresham Oregon Tips/Info/Blog Posts

4. Top Destinations & Attractions in Gresham Oregon

5. Public Schools in Gresham Oregon

6. Best Neighborhoods in Gresham Oregon

7. Top Businesses & Employers in Gresham Oregon

8. FAQs About Living in Gresham Oregon

9. Helpful Links for Moving to or Living in Gresham Oregon

The Moving to Gresham Oregon Team

Let our team of trusted professionals help you buy or/and sell a home in Gresham, Oregon. Elizabeth Davidson has sold real estate in Gresham, Oregon, for over 12 years. Her knowledge of Gresham and the surrounding areas will be of great value as you navigate this challenging real estate market. To learn more about Elizabeth, CLICK HERE to check out her About Me video. If you're considering buying a home in Gresham, Oregon, CLICK HERE to sign up for Listing Alert. Just enter the price range and other criteria you're looking for, and you'll receive an email as new homes hit the market in Gresham that match your criteria.

Todd Davidson is an experienced mortgage broker and can help you get the best financing option for your home purchase. Not quite ready yet? Todd can help you put together a plan to get you there. Whether you're thinking a few months or a year or more if you want to buy a home in Gresham, Oregon, CLICK HERE to email Todd and set up a call or just call him at 971-275-2465. Together our Moving to Gresham team can help you make moving to or within Gresham, Oregon, a reality!

Elizabeth Davidson

Realtor

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Todd Davidson

Mortgage Broker

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What is the Cost of Living in Gresham Oregon?

Any thoughts of moving to Gresham, Oregon? If so, the cost of living would be an important factor in your decision-making. I calculated the REAL cost of living in Gresham, Oregon, by factoring in today's costs for housing (rent and own), utilities, food, transportation, healthcare, and other necessities to live. To live in Gresham, Oregon, and rent, you would need to make $46,000 a year. To live in Gresham, Oregon, and buy a home, you would need to make $65,000 a year. Rental amount is based on current low end cost of studio or one bedroom, purchase is based on recent low end sales of a three bedroom and monthly payment with 20% down.

Living in Oregon Tips/Info/Blog Posts

Helpful Tips for Moving to Oregon and Buying a Home

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WANT TO KNOW WHEN A HOME MATCHING YOUR CRITERIA GETS LISTED? SIGN UP FOR LISTING ALERT > CLICK HERE

REALTOR CONNECT > CLICK HERE

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DOWNPAYMENT ASSISTANCE INFO > CLICK HERE

OREGON BOOKS AND OTHER RESOURCES > CLICK HERE

The REAL Cost of Living in the Portland Metropolitan Area!

Top Destinations & Attractions in Gresham Oregon

Living in Gresham, Oregon, puts you an hour and fifteen minutes from Seaside and the Oregon Coast where you can enjoy some of the most breathtaking beaches you'll ever see. An hour and fifteen minutes away is Mt. Hood and it's excellent skiing, hiking, and camping. So you don't need to travel all that far to get to these major attractions. Are you living in Gresham and want to stay closer to home? You're in luck! There are plenty of things to do and see living in Gresham, Oregon:

Oxbow Park

Situated on the Sandy River, Oxbow Park covers 1,200 acres of natural wild area and is surrounded by ancient forests, just 24 miles from Downtown Portland. With amazing views of the Sandy River and an abundance of outdoor activities, including tubing, kayaking, boating, swimming, hiking, and fishing, Oxbow Park offers a great escape for the whole family.

With a full-service campground, the park offers one of the closest camping opportunities around Portland and is an amazing spot to have a picnic and enjoy wildlife.

Living in Gresham Oregon - Oxbow Park

The Spring Water Trail

This scenic 21-mile paved trail goes from Downtown Portland through Gresham and concludes in Boring, Oregon. You'll see a variety of wildlife while passing through wetlands, buttes, pastures, agricultural fields, neighborhoods, and industrial areas during this scenic trip. Whether you walk, hike, run, or bile, you're sure to enjoy the amazing scenery the Spring Water Trail has to offer.

Historic Downtown Gresham

Take a stroll down Main Ave in Gresham, and you'll walk through Historic Downtown Gresham. With attractive tree-lined streets, Gresham Station, and many other businesses, shops, and restaurants, Historic Downtown Gresham is a popular spot for Gresham residents and those visiting the city. Check out Tsuru Island Japanese Garden in the Main Street City Park or attend the many events held in Historic Downtown Gresham, such as third Thursday, Cruzin Historic Downtown Gresham, or the Farmers Market. Historic Downtown Gresham is a very vibrant place for Gresham residents to congregate.

Mt. Hood Jazz Festival

People living in Gresham and surrounding areas have flocked to Gresham for over 25 years to see the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival. Over three days, attendees are treated to roughly 50 different musical acts. With food vendors, beer, and wine tents to accompany the music, this early August event is one you must go to if living in Gresham, Oregon.

Public Schools in Gresham Oregon

If living in Gresham, Oregon, your kids will be in the Gresham-Barlow school district. There are some great public schools in the district, but overall the Gresham-Barlow school district isn't the best. On-time graduation rates for 2022 were 74% vs. 80% state-wide, putting the school district in the bottom half of the state averages. Reading and math proficiency is below state averages as well.

If considering moving to Gresham, Oregon, you should carefully research the schools as some are really good. There are links below for Niche.com and Great Schools in the "Helpful Links for Moving to and Living in Gresham Oregon" section, to help with your evaluation. Also, check out the Gresham school district link to see what schools your kids will attend.

Neighborhoods in Gresham Oregon

If moving to Gresham, Oregon, naturally you'll want to research and pick the best Gresham neighborhood for you and your family. Below is a list of the Gresham neighborhoods to start your research:

Centennial
Central City
Coalition
Gresham Butte
Gresham Pleasant Valley
Historic Southeast
Hogan Cedars
Hollybrook

Kelly Creek
North Central
North Gresham
Northeast
Northwest
Powell Valley
Rockwood
Southwest
Wilkes East

If moving to Gresham, Oregon, and you'd like to buy a home in one of these fabulous neighborhoods, CLICK HERE to sign up for LISTING ALERT to be the first to know when a home matching your criteria gets listed for sale in Gresham, Oregon. To connect with a local realtor, CLICK HERE. One of the most important decisions you'll make when moving to Gresham, Oregon, is picking an experienced realtor who can help you get the house you want at the best price. At living in Oregon, we work with the best realtors throughout the state and can help you get the right realtor to make your move and home purchase as easy as possible.

Top Businesses & Employers in Gresham

Gresham is a fantastic city with a ton to offer. With Oregon's largest city, Portland, close by, many jobs are available to people living in Gresham, Oregon. Some nice-sized companies in Gresham also employ Gresham residents. A few of the top employers for those residing in Gresham:

Mt. Hood Community College
City of Gresham
Mal & Seitz
Eastco Diversified Services
Cascade Athletic Club
Gresham Toyota
Cramer Fish Sciences
Shurky Jurky

If you're relocating to Gresham, Oregon, you'll have plenty of job opportunities to seek out in Gresham. Plus, being in such close proximity to Portland, the Portland international airport, and the entire Portland metro area as a whole - there are plenty of other opportunities nearby if living in Gresham, Oregon!

FAQs About Living in Gresham Oregon

What is Gresham known for?

Gresham is well known for hosting the renowned Mt. Hood Jazz Festival each year and having an abundance of outdoor recreation close by, with the Columbia River Gorge and Mt. Hood just down the road.

What cities are nearby Gresham?

If living in Gresham, Oregon, you'll have a number of great cities close by. Troutdale, Happy Valley, Clackamas, Milwaukie, Gladstone, and Portland, are the Oregon cities within 15 miles of Gresham. Camas and Washougal are close-by towns on the Washington side of the border. Both of which are around seven miles away for those living in Gresham.

What is the weather like in Gresham?

Living in Gresham, Oregon, you'll find you get a decent amount of rain. Gresham receives, on average, 56 inches of rainfall throughout the year, raining on average 164 days. The 144 days of sunshine are pretty amazing for those living in Gresham, Oregon, but for some, it may not be enough to make it worth it. Temperature averages range from an average low of 35 degrees to an average high of 84 degrees.

What are the pros and cons of living in Gresham Oregon?

Pros of living in Gresham, Oregon:

Proximity to outdoor recreation: Mt. Hood, the Sandy River, and Columbia River Gorge are all very close, giving those visiting or living in Gresham plenty of beautiful sites, fishing, camping, and skiing nearby.
Lower average home prices: Living in Gresham, Oregon, you'll find the cost of housing is about 10% less than the rest of Multnomah County. So living in Gresham is more affordable than in other areas.
Gresham Main Street: If living in Gresham, Oregon, you'll have to check out main street. It has a number of bars, restaurants, museums, a city park, a splash pad, and great shopping, to go along with a fantastic farmers market!

Cons of living in Gresham, Oregon:

The Rain: As mentioned above, it can rain a lot. If you plan to move to Gresham, Oregon, make sure you can handle rain and grey skies for a good portion of the year. The summers can make living in Gresham worth it for some, but not all.
Commuter Traffic: Rush hour traffic getting in/out of Gresham can be rough on I-84, and I-205 can back up during rush hour, so give yourself some extra time.
Not that big: Gresham is the fourth largest city in Oregon, so it's a decent size. It does lack some of the big city amenities, such as high-end restaurants and other things. But with Portland just down the road, anything you're missing living in Gresham is likely close by.

Does Gresham Oregon have good public schools?

If considering moving to Gresham, Oregon, you should carefully research the schools as some are really good, but overall, Gresham schools are not the greatest. Gresham schools rank below the state average on reading and math proficiency. The on-time graduation rates are also below the state average.

Is Gresham Oregon safe?

Crime rates for Gresham are high for a city of its size, but that doesn’t mean it’s unsafe to live there. Depending on where you live in Gresham and the neighborhood, there are some not so good areas but you'll find there are many areas of Gresham that are very safe to live in and raise a family.

What is there to do living in Gresham, Oregon?

Living in Gresham, Oregon, there are a ton of things to do. Mt. Hood, the Sandy River, and Columbia River Gorge are all close, putting an abundance of outdoor recreation at your fingertips. Portland is less than 15 minutes away, putting big city amenities close by. Gresham has beautiful parks and other attractions to see as well. So you won't run out of things to do if visiting or living in Gresham, Oregon.

I want to relocate to Gresham. How do I make it happen?

You've come to the right spot if you're thinking of moving to Gresham, Oregon. There’s a wealth of information on this website to help including some helpful links below. If you want to ask questions, try our Facebook Group > Moving to Oregon where we have an expansive group of locals to answer question you have. If you’re looking to buy a home in the Gresham area, getting pre-approved for a mortgage should be your first step. For Mortgage Info, contact me. I would love to tell you more about what living in Gresham, Oregon, is like as well as help with your mortgage if you plan to purchase a home. If you just want to to research home prices and homes for sale in Gresham, Oregon, CLICK HERE. No info or login needed to see all the homes for sale in Gresham, Oregon, currently.

For FAQs about moving to Oregon or living in Oregon, check out my blog, 31 FAQs About Living in Oregon. For more information about living in Oregon, check out the homepage of LIVING IN OREGON.