Nob Hill is a scenic neighborhood in Portland, Oregon, known for its gorgeous Victorian homes and proximity to downtown. It’s full of trendy restaurants, hip boutiques, and unique attractions, which draw visitors from all over. Living in Nob Hill offers culture, entertainment, and easy access to other neighborhoods, making it popular among artists, millennials, and young professionals. Nob Hill, Portland, is a great place to live for anyone looking for a walkable neighborhood with plenty of things to do. Here is everything you need to know about moving to Nob Hill.
View this post on Instagram
Table of Contents
Where is Nob Hill, Portland?
Nob Hill is a neighborhood in the Northwest District of Portland, located about five minutes outside Downtown Portland and the Willamette River. The neighborhood’s borders are US Route 30 to the north, W. Burnside to the south, NW 23rd Ave to the West, and NW 18th/20th Ave to the east.
It’s surrounded by nearby neighborhoods like the Pearl District, Goose Hollow, and Slabtown. The main thoroughfare in the area is US Route 30, which connects to I-405 and other major highways for access to other parts of the city. For public transportation, residents can use Portland’s MAX Light Rail system, which connects the downtown with the rest of the metro area. Plus, there are plenty of sidewalks and bike lanes for residents to traverse.
The Nob Hill Zip Codes are 97209 and 97210.
Map of Nob Hill, Portland
Nob Hill History and Overview
The development of Northwest Portland was primarily the vision of a developer named Captain John Couch, an accomplished mariner who captained the first sailing vessel up the Willamette River. Upon his arrival, he became a prolific real estate developer and quickly realized that the opportunity was not in Oregon City but in the pioneer settlement of Portland. In 1845, he filed a land claim for one square mile of land west of the Willamette River, and over the next few decades, he continued to develop the area known as Portland’s Alphabet District.
Many beautiful Victorian and Edwardian mansions that define the neighborhood today were built during this period. The area remained an enclave of primarily wealthy professionals until the Lewis and Clark Exposition of 1905, Portland’s first and only world fair, which brought more commercial traffic to the neighborhood. The area also experienced rapid growth in the 1920s, adding more large apartment buildings. Today, Nob Hill has a unique mix of classic Victorian, Craftsman, and Colonial revival homes with industrial flats built during WWII. It’s a bustling neighborhood offering green living, restored buildings, and a great local culture.
Other Nob Hill Demographics
- Nob Hill population: 11,455
- Nob Hill household income: $69,005
- Nob Hill educational attainment: About 99% of residents have a high school diploma, 43% have a bachelor’s degree, and 28% have a graduate degree
- Nob Hill median age: 34.2
- Nob Hill racial and ethnic composition: Nob Hill is 83.9% White, 6.3% Asian, 3.1% Hispanic, 3% Black or African American, and 3.6% two or more races
*some data reflects the entire Northwest District
What it’s Like Living in Nob Hill Portland
Nob Hill offers the best elements of living in a big city with a small-town neighborhood feel. It’s a very walkable community with some of the best parks in Portland, bike paths. You’ll often see residents sitting outside reading the newspaper or enjoying coffee on a sunny day. The unique architecture gives it an interesting character that is quintessentially Portland, and you’ll find plenty of trendy restaurants, oddball attractions, and charming blocks all over. The quaint tree-lined avenues are perfect for taking a stroll on a nice day or walking downtown for more fun and excitement. It’s also a very green neighborhood, and you’ll see plenty of urban gardens and gorgeous foliage lining the sidewalks.
Residents tend to be friendly and welcoming, offering a communal atmosphere amid an urban environment. It’s a fairly young neighborhood that attracts professionals and students in their 20s and 30s drawn to the many hot spots and entertainment venues nearby. However, it’s also a great neighborhood for families with minimal crime and good schools.
Nob Hill is a trendy neighborhood where there is always something to do. However, the pace of life is manageable, and it still offers a relaxed, residential atmosphere. Its proximity to downtown provides easy access to urban amenities, yet its unique housing and many parks give it a calmer, more residential atmosphere. So anyone looking for a mix of urban excitement and suburban bliss will love living in Nob Hill.
View this post on Instagram
Things to Do in Nob Hill – Best Restaurants, Attractions, and Shopping
Residents will find a wide range of Nob Hill attractions, from trendy restaurants to museums dedicated to the occult. For shopping, residents will find plenty of boutiques along NW 23rd Avenue or visit nearby retail centers like the Uptown Shopping Center or Thiele Square.
Marrakech Restaurants on NW 21st Ave is one of the best restaurants in Nob Hill, serving classic Moroccan food in a traditional setting with pillowed banquettes and regular belly dancing. Serratto Bar and Grill is another notable Nob Hill restaurant serving handcrafted Mediterranean fare and fine Italian wines. For those craving Asian cuisine, Tara Thai Northwest is a laidback eatery in a converted Victorian home serving traditional Thai and Laotian cuisine.
View this post on Instagram
The Freakybuttrue Peculiarium is a museum dedicated to the strange and unexplained, with exhibits on everything from aliens to bigfoot. Cinema 21 is another local favorite showing a carefully curated selection of independent and vintage films in an old-school theater with beer and concessions. The New Renaissance Book Shop is another great Nob Hill attraction selling books on metaphysics, jewelry, candles, crystals, essential oils, and more.
Nob Hill Attractions
- Marrakesh, 1201 NW 21st Ave, Portland, OR 97209 (503) 248-9442
- Serratto Restaurant and Bar, 2112 NW Kearney St, Portland, OR 97210 (503) 221-1195
- Tara Thai Northwest, 1310 NW 23rd Ave, Portland, OR 97210 (503) 222-7840
- Uptown Shopping Center 9 NW 23rd Pl, Portland, OR 97210
- Thiele Square, 2303 W Burnside St, Portland, OR 97209 (503) 224-4300
- Freakybuttrue Peculiarium, 2234 NW Thurman St, Portland, OR 97210 (503) 227-3164
- Cinema 21, 616 NW 21st Ave, Portland, OR 97209 (503) 223-4515
- New Renaissance Book Shop, 1338 NW 23rd Ave, Portland, OR 97210 (503) 224-4929
Schools in Nob Hill
Although Nob Hill attracts more young professionals than families, it does have a few schools, which are all top-notch. The neighborhood is served by the Portland Public School District, which is well respected for a major city school system. The Portland School District is above average in test scores and college prep and ranks #2 overall in the metro area.
There are two schools in the Northwest District, Chapman Elementary School and a K-12 alternative school called the Metropolitan Learning Center. Students in the neighborhood will also attend the highly regarded Lincoln High School, which is the top high school in Multnomah County.
There are no private schools in the Northwest District, but the Cathedral School, St. Mary’s Academy, and the French International School of Oregon are all nearby. Willamette University and the Oregon State University Portland Center are also nearby in downtown Portland.
Is Nob Hill Safe?
Yes, Nob Hill is generally a safe neighborhood, although being in the heart of the city, there is some occasional crime. The total crime rate in the Northwest District is 2501 per 100,000 residents, which is 7% higher than the US average but 86% lower than the citywide average.
The violent crime rate is 248 per 100,000 residents, which is 36% lower than the national average and 97% lower than Portland overall. The property crime rate is 2252 per 100,000 residents, which is 15% higher than the national average but 84.9% lower than the rest of the city.
So, while you may need to lock your doors and be aware of your surroundings, the neighborhood has a low rate of property crime and is overall much safer than the rest of Portland. Nob Hill and the Northwest District are served by the Portland Police Department, which has 1132 law enforcement professionals, including 873 officers and 259 civilian employees.
View this post on Instagram
Nob Hill, Portland Real Estate
The Nob Hill real estate market offers plenty of opportunity for residents of all backgrounds, with everything from luxury apartments to quirky restored homes. The neighborhood is famous for its unique Victorian, Edwardian, Colonial, and Craftsman-style homes built in the late 19th and early 20th century. However, residents will also find a mix of restored industrial-style apartment complexes and converted lofts.
The median list price of a home for sale in the Northwest District is $574,250, while the median price per square foot is $397. Nob Hill also has plenty to offer renters. According to Rentcafe, the average rent in Nob Hill is $2026 per month, which is considerably higher than the national average of $1727. Rent prices in Nob Hill range from $1,045 for a studio all the way up to $12,946 for a three-bedroom.
Ready to relocate to one of Portland’s most happening neighborhoods? Trust our team of dedicated Nob Hill movers to make your journey simple and stress free. Call 503-746-8795 or fill out the form on our website to request a quote.
