Gresham is great! White settlers arrived in Gresham Oregon in 1851 and started a small residential community. In 1884, a post office opened in the community and was named after Walter Q. Gresham, the Postmaster General at the time. In 1905, Gresham was incorporated as a city. The City of Gresham Oregon grew rapidly in the 20th century thanks to its productive farms and train routes to and from Portland.
What is Gresham Oregon known for? Gresham is known for its historic downtown and community parks. Is Gresham a good place to live? Yes, it’s a nice place to live with fun attractions, clear summertime weather, and delicious restaurants. You may want to start moving to Gresham immediately, but you should wait until you’ve learned a little about living in Gresham. Here is your guide on the benefits of living in Gresham.
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Where Is Gresham Oregon?
What county is Gresham Oregon in? Gresham OR is in Multnomah County, inside the Portland metropolitan area. It directly borders Portland OR as well as Fairview, Wood Village, Troutdale OR, Damascus OR, and Happy Valley. It is 12.6 miles from Gresham to Portland. Most of Gresham is a well-developed residential city with commercial pockets, but southern Gresham contains some green spaces and undeveloped areas. Gresham, OR has a small shoreline on the Columbia River and borders Fairview Lake.
The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) serves Gresham residents. Several bus routes run through Gresham, stopping at the Gresham Central Transit Center, Gresham City Hall, and other destinations; you can use this route map to see where routes and stops are. You can also take MAX Blue Line trains to downtown Portland and cities near Portland or for moving to Gresham.
Gresham Population and Demographics
The population of Gresham Oregon in 2020 was 114,247 people, including over 2,100 Vietnam War veterans. The population grew by 8.2% between 2010 and 2020, and the population density was 4,868.2 people per square mile, up by over 300 people per square mile since 2010. Notable people from Gresham include Randy Couture, Nikki Fuller, and Robert Garrigus.
Gresham Oregon demographics include:
- 50.1% female, 49.9% male
- Median age: 38.7
- Racial and ethnic composition: 74.7% White (63.3% non-Hispanic), 20.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% two or more races, 4.9% Asian, 4.3% Black or African American, 1.2% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.9% American Indian and Alaska Native
- Median household income: $66,129 (roughly 90% of the state median)
- Educational attainment: 87.7% of residents older than 25 have graduated high school, 23.3% have a bachelor’s degree
- Foreign-born population: 16.5%
The foreign-born population in Gresham is nearly 1.5 times higher than the state average. Roughly half of foreign-born residents come from Latin America, while nearly one-quarter come from Asia.
Is Gresham Oregon safe? Here are the crime statistics for Gresham Oregon from 2020:
- Total crime rate: 3,269 offenses per 100,000 people (10.8% higher than the state, 39.3% higher than the country)
- Violent crime rate: 465 offenses per 100,000 residents (59.3% higher than the state, 19.9% higher than the country)
- Property crime rate: 2,804 crimes per 100,000 people (5.5% higher than the state, 43.2% higher than the country)
While Gresham OR has high crime rates, there are numerous safe places to live in the community. The Gresham Police Department employs 127 Gresham police officers and responds quickly to emergencies.
Gresham Oregon Cost of Living
You can use some Portland cost of living statistics to estimate the Gresham cost of living. The cost of living index for Portland is 130.1, meaning items in the Portland area cost 30.1% more than the national average. According to the Economic Policy Institute, a family of four living in the Portland metro area must earn $103,344 a year to cover their expenses. While the Gresham Oregon cost of living can be expensive, you can cut your expenses by renting and buying cheap groceries. A family of four only needs $864 for their food expenses throughout the year.
Gresham OR real estate is relatively affordable. According to Redfin, the median sale price of homes for sale in Gresham Oregon is $482,000, with a median sale price per square foot of $266. According to RentCafe, the average rent in Gresham OR is $1,614 a month.
Typical Gresham OR Living Expenses
- 1 gallon of milk: $4.00
- 1 pound of bananas: $0.75
- 1 pound of onions: $1.00
- Average Gresham monthly utilities: $117.38
- Monthly fee for a fitness club for one adult: $50.00
- 1 pair of Nike running shoes: $49.00
Source: Numbeo
Gresham Neighborhoods | Where to Live in Gresham
Gresham Oregon has more than one dozen neighborhoods as well as many informal communities and subdivisions. Here are the best neighborhoods in Gresham Oregon.
Downtown Gresham | Best Gresham Neighborhood for Gresham Apartments and Attractions
Downtown Gresham is not a formal neighborhood, but it’s a great place to live because it contains the most attractions and restaurants of any location in Gresham. You can also find several Gresham apartments and houses for rent Gresham, including Linden Place Apartments and Emerald Pointe Apartments. One bedroom apartments in Downtown Gresham covering over 600 square feet cost less than $1,300 a month to rent.
Centennial | Spacious and Affordable Homes for Sale Gresham Oregon Near Quiet Spaces
Centennial is one of the most affordable Gresham neighborhoods for Gresham real estate, with a median sale price for homes for sale of $399,650. This price has fallen by 13.1% over the last year. Centennial homes for sale tend to be rather large, containing at least three bedrooms and covering over 2,000 square feet. Centennial is in southern Gresham, close to Powell Butte Nature Park and other green spaces, making it a good choice for people moving to Gresham Oregon for outdoor activities or peace and quiet.
Gresham Weather and Climate
The Gresham Oregon climate type is Mediterranean, meaning Gresham has short but warm summers and freezing and wet winters. August is the warmest month of the year with an average temperature of 67 degrees and an average high of 82 degrees. December is the coldest month with an average temperature of 39 degrees and an average low of 36.
The summer weather in Gresham is very clear; 76% of days in July and August are clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy. Winters are very cloudy; 75% of days in January and December are overcast or mostly cloudy. More than half of the days in the winter have rain, snow, or a mixture of the two. On average, Gresham, Oregon receives 51.9 inches of rain and 9.6 inches of snow. Despite the high rainfall, Gresham weather is not humid.
August is the best month to visit Gresham. In addition to being the warmest month, August is the driest month, with just 0.5 inches of rain and 2.4 rainy days on average. You can go outside without an umbrella or a heavy jacket.
Things to Do in Gresham
You can find many fun things to do in Gresham, including family-friendly points of interest and terrific stores. Ask a resident what to do in Gresham, and they’ll tell you to go shopping. You can shop at Walmart Gresham for everything, and you can buy groceries at La Tapatia Market and WinCo Foods. Gresham Station is an outdoor shopping mall home to Best Buy, Old Navy, and other major retailers.
Mt Hood Theater
Mt Hood Theater is a family-owned movie theater that shows second-run movies in a casual atmosphere. You can buy a range of concessions at a low cost, including freshly brewed coffee and ice cream.
401 Powell Boulevard, Gresham, OR, 97030, 503-655-0604
Regal Stark Street
Regal Stark Street shows first-run movies on several different screens, including international films, documentaries, and foreign movies. The theater offers unique screenings of movies before their release dates for $5 on Monday.
2929 Northeast Kane Drive, Gresham, OR, 97030, 844-462-7342
Oxbow Regional Park
Oxbow Regional Park covers 1,000 acres along the Sandy River, one of Oregon’s best rivers for kayaking, fishing, and boating. You can also enjoy 12 miles of walking trails in Oxbow, go camping, perform animal tracking, or participate in outdoor nature courses, making Oxbow one of the best things to do in Gresham with kids.
3010 SE Oxbow Parkway, Gresham, OR, 97080, 503-663-4708
Additional Things to Do in Gresham Oregon
The Parks and Recreation Department of the City of Gresham Oregon takes care of parks, trails, and community gardens in Gresham, Oregon. The department also plans special events throughout the year; you can see the calendar of events here.
Gresham Restaurants
The Portland area may be well known for food carts, coffee, and microbreweries. But restaurants in Gresham contain a cornucopia of great culinary experiences, including kid-friendly international eateries.
Nicholas Restaurant
Nicholas Restaurant Gresham is a Lebanese and Mediterranean restaurant famous for its freshly baked pitas. You can also enjoy mezze, kabobs, and gyro wraps at low prices, and Nicholas serves affordable lunch specials on weekdays.
323 North Main Avenue, Gresham, OR, 97030, 503-666-3333
Heidi’s
Heidis is a diner that serves American and European dishes in a casual, kid-friendly environment. Heidi’s of Gresham primarily offers breakfast items, including blintzes and crepes, but you can also order burgers, sandwiches, and freshly made pastries.
1230 Northeast Cleveland Avenue, Gresham, OR, 97030, 503-667-4200
Gresham Burrito Shop
Gresham Burrito Shop offers Mexican casual food in a fun setting. You can order several different burritos, tacos, and taquitos, all of which cost less than $10.
325 North Main Avenue, Gresham, OR, 97030, 503-912-3781
Gresham Jobs
Roughly 53,000 people have jobs in Gresham Oregon. Health care and social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade are the three biggest sectors for Gresham Oregon jobs. Between 2018 and 2020, Gresham added more than 1,000 jobs to its economy, mainly in health care and manufacturing.
According to Payscale, the average salary for Gresham jobs is $66,000 and the average hourly rate is $20.56 per hour. The biggest employers in Gresham include Mt. Hood Community College, the City of Gresham, and Eastco Diversified Services. You can use Indeed to find jobs in Gresham Oregon, and you can apply for City of Gresham jobs through the city government’s website.
Gresham Schools
Gresham Barlow School District is the main Gresham school district; Reynolds School District and Centennial School District serve small portions of Gresham. Notable elementary schools in Gresham Oregon include Gresham Arthur Academy. US News and World Report ranks it in the top 100 elementary schools in Oregon. 72% of Gresham Arthur students test at or above the proficiency level for reading, 20 percentage points higher than the state average.
Gresham Oregon has a few different high schools. Springwater Trail High School has a campus-like setting with small classrooms, and students can participate in a program to earn credits at Mt Hood Community College. Gresham High School is well known for its athletic and extracurricular programs, including speech and debate. Gresham contains a few private schools, most of which are Christian. Portland Adventist Private School is an Adventist school that serves pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
Mt Hood Community College (MHCC) is in Gresham. MHCC offers over 120 professional and technical programs, including study abroad programs and ESL classes.
The Gresham Library is a branch of the Multnomah County Library system, which has over two million books and materials you can take out for free.
Gresham Statistics and Information
- Gresham OR county: Multnomah County
- Gresham area: 23.65 square miles
- Gresham zip code: 97030, 97080, 97233
- Gresham area code: 503 and 971
- Gresham elevation: 325 feet
- Gresham time zone: Pacific Standard Time (UTC-8)
- Closest airport to Gresham Oregon: Portland International Airport (PDX), 11.5 miles from Gresham
Gresham Map
You can find great attractions, restaurants, and schools using this map of Gresham Oregon.
You’ll live large while living in Gresham Oregon! Families will enjoy the great schools and fun kid-friendly attractions, while professionals will love the flourishing economy and affordable homes for sale.
But you must figure out moving to Gresham with the help of courteous professionals. PDX Movers’s team of Gresham movers serves over 3,000 customers per year. Get a free moving estimate by calling 503-746-8795.
