Walkable neighborhoods to rent in with access to walking trails/forest?
Looking to move to Portland from Texas, and researching before coming up in a couple months to take a look around.
For info - I’m mid-40s, single pan woman. I work from home, so proximity to downtown etc isn’t necessarily a factor but I do want to be somewhere that’s a bit busy with walkable options to a neighborhood bar (bonus if it’s queer/lesbian but that’s asking for the moon probably), and a local coffee shop. I have a car, but I’d like to be more active and walk more than drive.
I would really like to rent somewhere with a strong neighborhood community but not all families and/or all people in their 20s, that doesn’t feel cookie cutter or too suburban. Ideally with trees (I know that sounds silly but if you’ve been to Dallas you know what I mean compared to Portland), and access to walking/running trails.
I know Portland doesn’t have a reputation as super diverse, but I would like to try to be in a more diverse area for whatever definition of diverse may apply.
Budget is in the $1500-$2000 range but I’d like to keep it around $1500 if possible. Open to houses/apartments/whatever although ideally I don’t want to have to have a roommate. Lofts are fine, it’s just me and two cats.
If I was able to have my perfect place - somewhere that I can look out a window while working and see people walking by (maybe an apartment above a commercial area or something?), ideally more diverse. I’d like to be able to walk for coffee in the morning, evenings and weekends I can walk trails if I want to, or go out dancing or to an event as well. If I have to drive to do so, if it can be under 30 min one way that would be great.
Any suggestions for neighborhoods to check out? I really appreciate it!
Posted Jul 8, 2025, 4:54 PM UTC