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In recent years, Portland, Oregon, has experienced a surge in population due to its magnetic quirkiness and fabulous atmosphere. Creativity and uniqueness thrive here, and residents strive to keep it that way with their famous mantra: Keep Portland weird. Local governance has made a conscious effort to make the city enjoyable for people of all ages and backgrounds with outstanding public transportation infrastructure and environmentally friendly measures for long-term sustainability.
In the shorter-term, the senior population of Portland grows each year, as does the housing demand. Senior apartments in Portland are appearing more and more often, providing a lovely lifestyle option for seniors who don’t need extra care support and are looking to enjoy Portland from the comfort of an independent space.
In this guide, you’ll learn what it’s like to live in Portland senior apartments, along with what it costs and how people pay. You’ll learn about benefits for veterans and public assistance to help cover the cost of senior living, along with what regulations dictate senior apartment standards. Listings used to create this guide were pulled from a 10-mile radius from downtown Portland, which includes parts of Vancouver, Washington. Learn more about life in Portland senior apartments below.
Types of care available in Portland, OR
Senior Apartments
My loved one is currently a resident at Brookdale Fisher's Landing and the experience has been very good to great. Our loved one is now on hospice and all is well.
I am currently a resident at Hazelwood Community Apartments and overall it has been a good experience. I didn't sign up for meals or housekeeping, so I can't comment on those. All of which has since gone away. Shortly after I got settled in with my move to Hazelwood Community, we received an announcement that Hazelwood will no longer be designated for 55+ and disabled persons. All services dismissed, they turned this into a low cost housing project, letting the general public in. I would not recommend Hazelwood Community Apartments for elders, safety is an issue.
We're very pleased with how things have gone at the Vintage. It's a very nice looking community, and the staff have all been very friendly. They really take the time to speak with their residents and get their input on how to make The Vintage a great place.
13031 SE Foster Rd, Portland, OR 97236
Arcadia Senior Living is a locally owned and operated assisted living community focused on personalized care, purposeful living, and happy residents. Our team of healthcare professionals determines a care plan for each person, which is personalized to meet each resident’s unique needs. We...
I would say that it was a lovely place for mom to live but that they are woefully unprepared to deal with anyone with dementia who is uncooperative, in denial, and occasionally loud.
3450 N Williams Ave, Portland, OR 97227
The Canyons introduces an entirely new way to live. It’s an entirely accessible, urban and modern apartment community in the heart of North Portland, Oregon — with a concierge and COVID-19 safety features designed right into the building. Perfect for active adults, anyone with limited mobility...
Well, The Canyons is really just an apartment building with community activities, more than a senior facility. That's great if, like me, that's what you need. The senior residents love that there are people...
11939 NE Davis St, Portland, OR 97220
Are you looking to become part of an Affordable thriving, active community full of opportunities to bring new meaning to your lifestyle? Income Restrictions ApplyThe Hazelwood Community Apartments is a vibrant community in NE Portland that offers independent living for people with disabilities...
It's a great place. I would recommend to others. We picked this community because of the price, and it was the only one available.
2400 NE 112th Ave, Vancouver, WA 98684
Pacifica Senior Living Vancouver is an elegant intimate senior living community that elevates assisted living to a higher standard of excellence since 2016. Our community offers a holistic and joyful environment to our residents, their families and friends. With just 48 apartments, we at Pacifica...
I feel that the staff is a real team, they help each other out. The level of experience and expertise of the care staff & med techs has greatly improved
17171 Southeast 22nd Drive, Vancouver, WA 98683
A Great Place to Live a Great LifeIt’s time to trade boredom for fun, trade stress for safety, and trade isolation for being part of a vibrant, energetic community. That’s what you’ll get as a resident at Brookdale Fisher’s Landing, an exceptional southwest Washington state assisted living...
We have been very happy with our choice of Brookdale at Fisher's Landing. My sister moved in to this care facility in early April and she is settling in nicely. The administrative staff and caregivers are...
1300 Northeast 16th Avenue, Portland, OR 97232
Holladay Park Plaza is a very nice beautiful building. The staff was very friendly. They gave us a very nice presentation of their community and all they offered. It is perfect for people who like to live in...
9001 NE 54th St, Vancouver, WA 98662
We invite you to visit The Vintage at Vancouver to truly appreciate our professionally decorated retirement facilities. Our Social Room is designed for large screen television viewing, playing bingo and cards, hosting potlucks and events and visiting with family, friends and residents....
The care at this community is good. The staff are outstanding. I am happy having a clean community to live in. I know that I have recommended other families to this community for a great place to live.
1212 SE Clay, Portland, OR 97214
4619 N Michigan Ave, Portland, OR 97217
2020 NW Northrup St, Portland, OR 97209
5520 NE Glisan St, Portland, OR 97213
1132 SW 19th Ave, Portland, OR 97205
6611 NE MLK Blvd, Portland, OR 97211
597 N Dekum, Portland, OR 97217
6404 SE 23rd Ave, Portland, OR 97202
8502 N. Wayland Ave., Portland, OR 97203
3825 SE 80th Ave, Portland, OR 97206
3530 SE 84th Ave, Portland, OR 97266
7810 SE Foster Rd, Portland, OR 97206
515 Washington St, Vancouver, WA 98660
13775 SW Old Scholls Ferry Rd, Beaverton, OR 97005
3409 Main St, Vancouver, WA 98663
16932 SE Division, Portland, OR 97236
1550 SE Oak Grove Blvd, Milwaukie, OR 97267
Portland has a relatively high cost of living compared to the national average. But among the senior living options available, senior apartments are some of the most affordable in the city. Explore local senior apartment costs and Portland tax and affordability information below.
According to internal research, one-bedroom apartments in Portland cost an average of $1,645 per month in early 2023. Studio apartments fell around $1,284 a month, while a two-bedroom senior apartment averaged at a monthly rate of $2,089.
Listed below are some common features or services included with these apartments:
Many senior apartment buildings welcome pets, though pets will likely be subject to size restrictions and will cost extra in pet rent.
Other additional fees you might run into at senior apartments in the Portland area include the following:
Cost of living in Portland is 24% higher than the national average. While there’s no sales tax in Oregon, housing in Portland is 62% higher than the national average.[01]
Neither Oregon nor Washington tax Social Security benefits; a plus for senior renters on both sides of the state line. Even so, many seniors choose to live in the Portland suburb of Vancouver, Washington, which has some better tax benefits for retirees and where the overall cost of living is only 4% higher than the national average. In fact, in Vancouver, housing is 2% lower than the national average housing cost.[02]
Here are a couple differences between senior taxes in Oregon and Washington:
The following numbers indicate average baseline costs in Portland senior apartments. Please note that average add-on expenses aren’t included in the numbers below.
13.82 miles from you
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17.20 miles from you
Most seniors pay for senior apartments the same as conventional apartments; that is, private funds are the primary sources of payments for rent. Some apartment complexes for seniors may include certain utilities or even social events in the monthly rent. For seniors needing extra help, in-home care is a common add-on option when you don’t want to move into assisted living.
Private pay methods that Portland seniors may use to cover the cost of apartments include income sources like savings, Social Security benefits, pensions, and investment returns, as well as any of the following:
Landlords in Portland and Vancouver cannot discriminate against tenants based on race, color, national origin, disability, familial status, or sex, according to the federal Fair Housing Law and the Fair Housing Act.
In Oregon, landlords cannot consider a tenant’s past eviction cases — whether the tenant won or lost — between April 1, 2020 and March 1, 2022. Communities qualify as senior apartment buildings when they restrict residency to families with at least one person who has a disability or who is 55+.
Additionally, apartment buildings must make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Reasonable accommodations are designed to help provide equitable opportunities for people with disabilities. Listed below are some reasonable accommodations:
Reasonable modifications are design changes to a facility that make the building and living unit easily accessible. Most of the time, landlords aren’t required to pay for changes, with exceptions in common areas and in some subsidized housing situations. Reasonable modifications may include installing features like the following in the common areas or in a tenant’s unit:
While senior apartments do not have specific regulations in Portland, standard apartments do need to conform to regulations the landlords and tenants must follow. For advocacy help in situations of disability law in senior apartments, you can contact Fair Housing Center of Washington in Clark County or the Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) in Multnomah County.
Landlords in the Portland metro must maintain a safe and healthy living environment by meeting the following requirements and making repairs when needed.
While landlords must provide habitable living accommodations, tenants must follow their own set of rules. Some of general rules expected of Portland tenants include the following:
Review tenant and landlord resources in Washington
Review tenant’s rights, laws, and protections in Oregon
North Mall Office Building
725 Summer St. NE, Suite B
Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-986-2000
Email: hcs_housing.info@hcs.oregon.gov
Find an office near you
Phone: 360-236-4501
Oregon and Washington don’t have COVID-19 restrictions in place at this time. Recommendations are as follows.
Vaccinations. Portland residents are encouraged to get vaccinated and boosted to fight infection and serious illness.
Masking. Masks may be required in some settings, including most health care facilities. Some senior apartments may have additional requirements; check with specific apartment management.
Social distancing. In Washington, residents can enable WA Notify on their phones to receive alerts if they’ve been exposed to COVID-19.
Number of in-network assisted living facilities in market
Portland, like much of the rest of the country, is expecting significant growth in their senior population in the coming years. As such, many new-construction senior living solutions are popping up all over the Portland metropolitan area.
Common amenities in these new builds include emphasis on convenience and practicality. Senior apartments in Portland are being built close to shopping and leisure, with easy access to public transportation. Even so, many new construction communities feature abundant or easy parking with secure, controlled access. Additionally, many communities are going above and beyond Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance standards with practical inclusions, such as wider doorways and grab rails in showers, to make senior apartments easily accessible and navigable for all.
Portland consistently ranks highly on the national scene for sustainability. From strategic sustainable measures by Portland governance to greener choices in everyday life, the cultural emphasis on environmental responsibility plays a big role in the Portland lifestyle.
Eco-friendly measures in senior apartments commonly include the following:
Portland is technically in a geological rainforest. While the city is known for its rainy days, one cannot deny the resulting beauty in Portland’s scenery. The city neighbors several stunning national parks with towering mountains and tumbling waterfalls, and you can find Portland natives out hiking and enjoying the fresh air most weekends.
This affinity for their locale translates into a desire to be outside more — or to bring a sense of the outdoors inside. In several senior apartment buildings, there’s a sense of breezy, natural beauty. Renters enjoy tasteful design elements such as exposed wood, elevated ceilings, and open-air hallways in their apartment buildings. Layouts in the apartments themselves can be quite spacious, boasting glorious views of the city’s beautiful scenery. And for the days when indoor activities just aren’t enough, most senior apartment complexes are located near bike lanes and paths for easy cycling access and fresh air.
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Percentage of seniors 65 and older within the Portland population[01]
Portland residents benefit from a wealth of excellent health care options. Explore some of the top-rated hospital systems in the Portland metro area below.
Ranked No. 1 in Portland, OHSU hospital is nationally ranked in six specialties. The hospital is particularly high-performing in senior health procedures such as heart conditions, orthopedics, and pulmonology.
Ranked No. 2 in Portland, Providence St. Vincent Medical Center is high-performing in neurology and cancer procedures.
The No. 3 hospital in Portland, Kaiser Permanente has excellent rankings in gastroenterology and diabetes-related procedures.[17]
Portland is a beacon of accessible, plentiful, and affordable public transportation. Review some of the many transportation options available to you as a Portland resident below.
Overall, Portland has a reputation for excellent transportation as well as walk-friendly and bike-friendly infrastructure. The below scores are ranked from zero to 100, painting Portland as one of the West Coast’s most accessible cities.
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49
83
Trendy Portland prides itself on its quirkiness and charm. With its plentiful national parks and its endless offerings for rainy day activities in the city, there’s always something to do close to home.
From local vendors to national brands, Portland offers an excellent shopping experience. Local scenes such as Hawthorne Boulevard or the Pearl District take shoppers from boutiques to excellent food and beyond. You can also browse the famed Portland Saturday Market, a nationally recognized open-air arts and crafts market celebrating small businesses and handmade art. Avid readers are sure to love Powell’s, a nationally-recognized bookstore, celebrated for its dizzying selection of new, used, and rare books.
Portland is a naturally vibrant place, filled with art, color, and creativity. For those looking to enjoy an afternoon of art and history, the Portland Art Museum features world treasures spanning centuries. Seniors more interested in the dramatic arts can enjoy inspiring performances at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall or at Roseland Theater.
For ideas of what to do when family and friends come to visit, Portland has plenty of attractions to delight all ages. The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) is a continual favorite among visitors. The museum regularly features events and shows to spark curiosity and educate the public on the scientific wonders of our world. Additionally, animal lovers are sure to delight in the nearby Oregon Zoo. The zoo features numerous exhibits, from aquatic and arctic environments to family farms and botanical gardens.
Portland rests between a number of striking national parks and ecological wonders. Residents of all ages often spend their weekends hiking in one of the neighboring parks, which include the following:
To stay closer to home, you can’t go wrong with an afternoon spent in the Portland Japanese Garden. The gardens and art displays therein offer a serene and stunning getaway for when you need a moment of peace and beauty.
The Canyons PDX, Affinity at Vancouver and Hazelwood Community Apartments are the top-rated Senior Apartments facilities near Portland, OR. These Senior Apartments facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Senior Apartments in Portland is 1,772 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
Payscale. (2023). Cost of Living in Portland, Oregon.
Payscale. (2023). Cost of Living in Vancouver, Washington.
SmartAsset. (2023). Oregon retirement tax friendliness.
SmartAsset. (2023). Washington retirement tax friendliness.
United States Census Bureau. (2023). Population estimates: Portland city, Oregon (V2021). [Data set]. QuickFacts.
Oregon Health Authority. (2023). Oregon Health Plan (OHP) Benefits.
Washington State Health Care Authority. (2023). What are my basic covered services?
Oregon Department of Human Services. (2023). Medicare Savings Programs.
Multnomah County Department of County Human Services. (2023). Affordable/Subsidized Housing Resources.
Oregon State Bar. (2023). Rights and Duties of Landlords.
City of Portland. (2023). 33.229 Elderly and Disabled High Density Housing.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2023). Reasonable Accommodations and Modifications.
Oregon State Bar. (2023). Illegal Housing Discrimination.
Oregon State Bar. (2023). Habitability.
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
United States Census Bureau. (2023). Population 65 years and over in the United States: Portland-Vancouver-Hillboro, OR-WA Metro Area. [Data set]. American Community Survey.
U.S. News and World Report. (2023). Best hospitals in Oregon.
WalkScore. (2023).Portland.
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