Portland Housing Market at a Glance
Median Home Price
$575,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,950
Property Tax Rate
1.03%
Avg Home Insurance
$1,300/yr
Price-to-Rent Ratio: 24.6x (Lower ratios favor buying; higher ratios favor renting)
Portland-Specific Insights
- → Oregon has high state income tax (9.9% top rate), making mortgage interest deductions more valuable.
- → Rent control measures limit annual increases to 7% + CPI; buying offers inflation hedge beyond that.
Run Your Portland Scenario
Pre-filled with Portland's median data. Adjust to your situation.
Open Calculator with Portland Data →Key Factors for Portland Buyers
1. Down Payment Requirements
With Portland's median home price of $575,000, a 20% down payment is $115,000. Putting down less triggers PMI (typically 0.5–1.5% annually until you reach 20% equity).
2. Property Taxes
OR's property tax rate averages 1.03%, which translates to roughly $493.542/month on a median-priced home. This is near the national average.
3. Tax Deductions
Mortgage interest is deductible if you itemize (must exceed standard deduction: ~$14,600 single, ~$29,200 married in 2025). Combined with OR state taxes, itemizing may be worthwhile.
4. Opportunity Cost
If you rent and invest your down payment instead (e.g., S&P 500 averaging ~10% annually), you build wealth differently. The calculator models this trade-off month-by-month to find your break-even point.