Portland, OR

The nation's largest study exploring what makes homeowners happy where it matters most — in their homes.

Portland, OR

How Happy Are Portland's Homeowners?

Portland’s known for its lush landscapes, bike culture, and appeal to keep the city “weird.” Unfortunately, it’s also known for its high cost of living, which is the main thing bringing the city’s happy homeowners down. Portland’s homeowners report slightly above-average home happiness levels, which can be credited in large part to an airy suburban lifestyle enriched by an abundance of green space and exterior home features. Portlanders enjoy more decks, fences, gardens and shade than homeowners in other areas. But they say they’d be even happier with remodeled kitchens, updated bathrooms, and air conditioning.

Portland's homeowners told us about the completed home projects that have brought them the most joy - and about the projects they desire that will make them even happier. When projects overlap, it means they make homeowners happy whether they're enjoying them now or aspiring to enjoy them later.

Top Completed ProjectsAlready Making Homeowners Happy

  • Painted interior room/area
  • Remodeled the kitchen
  • Replaced/refinished flooring
  • Planted a garden/landscaping
  • Remodeled a bathroom

Top Projects That WouldMake Homeowners Happier

  • Remodel the kitchen
  • Remodel a bathroom
  • Paint exterior
  • Plant a garden/landscaping
  • Build a patio/deck/porch/sun room

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Over 300 types of projects

Over 1 million reported costs

Real costs from real people

Happiest Home Features

Portland's homeowners told us about the home features that have brought them the most joy - and about the features they desire that will make them even happier. When projects overlap, it means they make homeowners happy whether they're enjoying them now or aspiring to enjoy them later.

Top Completed ProjectsAlready Making Homeowners Happy

  • Lots of natural light
  • Hardwood flooring
  • Central air conditioning
  • Up-to-date kitchen
  • One fireplace

Top Projects That WouldMake Homeowners Happier

  • Up-to-date kitchen
  • Up-to-date bathrooms
  • Marble or quartz countertops
  • Organized closet/storage space
  • Improved insulation

Top Completed ProjectsAlready Making Homeowners Happy

  • Patio or deck
  • Attached garage
  • Trees
  • Fence
  • Garden

Top Projects That WouldMake Homeowners Happier

  • Professional landscaping
  • Freshly painted exterior
  • Solar energy roofing features
  • Outdoor lighting
  • Hot tub

It's not just projects and features that make Portland's homeowners happy, but also factors such as equity, community and accessibility.

What Makes
Homeowners Happy?

  • Rising home values & equity
  • Easy access to highways
  • Lots of green space
  • Reasonable cost of living
  • Good local services & utilities

Overall Home
Happiness

90%

of homeowners consider themselves at least somewhat happy with their homes.

Impact of Home
Equity on Happiness

To Be Happier In My Home
I'd Like To...

60%

of homeowners say they would be happier if they could remodel or add on to their homes.

The results of our Homeowner Happiness Survey suggest that these characteristics describe the average Portland home:

  • Homeowners have:3.3 bedrooms

  • Homeowners have:2.2 bathrooms

  • Average time living in home:11 years

  • Average square footage:2,800

  • Age of home:39 years

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Interested in knowing more about what makes homeowners happy - in Portland, in other cities, and in the United States as a whole?

Check out the full Homeowner Happiness Report and find out more about our methodology.