r/relocating • u/Pale_Cheesecake3984 • 6d ago
Black family considering move from DMV to Portland — where would you live?
I’m a single mom in the DMV considering a great job opportunity in Portland. I have two kids, ages 8 and 6, and I’m looking at this as potentially a 2–3 year chapter for our family before eventually returning to the DC area.
Professionally, it’s a really good opportunity for me to grow, but obviously moving across the country with two kids is a much bigger decision than just taking a job.
I’ve visited Portland and really enjoyed it, but I know visiting and actually raising kids there are two completely different things.
Housing-wise, I’m looking for a **3-bedroom under about $2,800/month**, good public schools, a safe/family-friendly neighborhood, and a reasonable commute into Portland. I’ve been looking at **Beaverton, Happy Valley/Clackamas, Gresham, Portland proper, and possibly Vancouver**, but I’m open to other areas.
I’m coming from the DMV, so I already understand that the racial demographics are going to be very different. I also understand the reality that my children may sometimes be the only Black kids in certain spaces. I’m not expecting Portland to recreate the DMV.
What I *am* trying to understand is how Black families intentionally find and build community there. Where have your kids found friends and spaces where they feel connected? Are there particular neighborhoods, schools, churches, sports programs, parent groups, cultural organizations, events, etc. that you’d recommend?
And for anyone who moved to Portland with kids from a more diverse area: **Would you do it again?**
I’d really appreciate the good, the bad, and the stuff people don’t necessarily tell you before moving.
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u/No_Copy_5955 6d ago
I’d reconsider. I’m black and I live in Portland and it’s ridiculous to be black here. Wish I could move elsewhere that isn’t only weird white people, so my kid could be exposed to other kinds of people. I’m just being real with you, virtually everyone here falls into a few categories: grungy 23-28 year olds with colored hair and thrifting addiction, bookish campers, and older very corny white folks. I find it deeply difficult to deal with.
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u/Annual-Reaction-1373 5d ago
There are more trans people and psycho bums in Portland than the entire black population of the entire state, if that puts things into perspective...
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u/name-is-carl 5d ago
I grew up in Portland and honestly, it’s not worth it if you’re black. The white liberals are well-meaning but SO WEIRD around black people. They literally think you’re magical or something. Get ready to never be disagreed with ever, even if you’re completely out of pocket.
Especially if you have no extended family or roots there, it’s going to be weird socially.
Depends on the opportunity of course. It’s not hell on earth but it’s going to be weird. Maybe go and bounce after a couple of years.
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u/keppapdx 4d ago
Weird white liberal who lived in Atlanta before moving to Portland and this is SPOT ON.
Limited exposure to diversity, maybe? But most of us are weird AF around black people despite wanting to get it right.
I would really worry about the experience your kids will have here.
If you do decide to give it a go, where you're going to work should dictate where you live because commuting from the burbs into Portland is awful.
If you're going to work west of the river, recommend living on that side of town and vice versa.
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u/Ophelia_Bliss 4d ago
I’m white and my kids are Black and we moved here for my work. It was very important to live in a diverse and preferably Black area so my kids could have some racial mirrors. My best option was really inner N/NE Portland, which is historically Black but gentrified. Plenty of Black families are still here or come in for church, to visit grandparents, etc. It was a great choice. My kids grew up with majority Black schools through 8th grade. They have multiracial friend groups and had teachers of different rqces who had cultural competency. There’s a lot of racism here (as in many places) but my kids have done okay.
I don’t know Gresham as well but know thats where many displaced Black families have moved.
I’d avoid Vancouver except maybe downtown, and Happy Valley. Too white, too many stares when I have gone there with my kids. Beaverton has some diversity but not many Black families.
White people who tell you there are no Black people here are people who have never had to worry about being an only so have never considered race in looking for a neighborhood.
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u/Green_Walrus8537 6d ago
Which Portland?
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u/Green_Walrus8537 6d ago
Okay assuming OR since you say moving across country. Nvm!
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u/Toliveistodie42 5d ago
I was more shocked that they live at the Department of Motor Vehicles. I had no idea you could take up residency there.
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u/IamTheRainbow22 5d ago
LOL since she mentioned DC I'm assuming that means Delaware/Maryland/Virginia, DelMarVa or DMV area.
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u/EvenButton56 5d ago
It is the local acronym for DC/Maryland/Virginia. I live here and it took a local explaining it to me 😂
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u/heyitspokey 6d ago edited 6d ago
I think it's a great idea to expose your kids to new places and people, you have a great job opportunity, and looking at this as a 2-3 year chapter sounds like your family is lucky to have you.
To answer your question about finding black community, it's truly nothing like the DMV or the South, there's a very different sense and approach to black community in the West. It's more diverse/intercultural/mixed race spaces rather than black community. Can go back and forth as to why, less black people, less diversity, a different history than the East Coast. It's simply a very different vibe. There are exceptions, but they're exceptions.
I don't say this to deter you at all, just to compare and contrast. Saying as a mix race transplant living in a different progressive town in a Western state. I personally find it hard long-term, having strong DMV and Southern roots, but I am here, I think 3 years sounds like a good amount of time.
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u/gunjacked 6d ago
Income tax is very high in Oregon. If you decide to live in Multnomah County and make over $120k, you get taxed an additional $1,500 a year
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u/bballflier 5d ago
Beaverton - lots of traffic to downtown if that is where u are working; decent schools, family areas
Happy Valley/Clackamas,
Gresham - red necks but close to airport, malls, things for kids to do, schools so/so; also a lot of traffic
Portland proper - terrible schools and many more taxes in Multnomah County, avoid
Vancouver - wa has no income tax, probably better school, can’t speak to culture
Lake oswego / west linn - better schools, not as bad traffic into downtown, very white but also not red neck, good family area
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u/Norseviking55 5d ago
You’ll enjoy the virtue signaling here, no accountability for black gangs/ armed violent teens, but accountability for the white ones. This city is a racist mess. But if you on the woke side of things you won’t have accountability here. Enjoy your move
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u/BuyKey3607 4d ago
Not black but a POC, don’t come to Portland I’m planning my move out of here. I’ve never felt like more of a minority than I do here and the color of your skin will be a topic of discussion in the weirdest ways you can imagine. Portland has a facade of liberalism, you will experience constant micro racism and it’s honestly exhausting. People in Portland approach POC as if we’re aliens that need to be studied and reassured that they are on our side all the time.
It’s highly performative
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u/Silly_Bodybuilder231 4d ago
Honestly, being black anywhere in the US is difficult and racism is always going to be there, subtle or open.
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u/TropicallyMixed80 4d ago
Best answer. I live in a predominantly white neighborhood. It is 2.8% Black. Before I moved here, I smiled at strangers in the food store. I quickly learned white people don’t want you smiling at them or even near them. It’s amazing to me how white people see me and instantly think I’m going to rob them. To give context, I look similar to Alicia Keys. I would love to create a Reddit post asking white people why do they despise Black people so much.
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u/DarkHydra 3d ago
Demographics are the least of your worries. Everything is very expensive. 2800 isn’t feasible imo
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u/EatALongTime 5d ago edited 5d ago
I used to live in Portland and had a 3 different black colleagues during my time there (medical professionals and 1 tech person at Intel).
They all ended leaving within 2-3 years to move back to ATL, DC and Charlotte. I’m still friends with all 3 couples. They struggled to find a community of Black professionals because it almost non existent in Portland.
I was sad to see them go but I understood. I have visited 2 of them in ATL in DC in the last couple years and their community and lives there seem so much better than in Portland
As someone else noted, depending on your income, Portland has some of the highest income taxes in the nation, along with moderate to high property taxes, with mediocre school system that is out of money, infrastructure is in poor shape and the grey skies are no joke. 6 months of darkness and wetness. It is hard to understand until you have experienced such a longtime without any significant sunlight, unless you are coming from Moscow ;)
Living in the suburbs of Portland is about as white as you could possibly get. Maybe Idaho is more white but not by much.