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Living in
Portland.
About
Life in Portland
Portland is a community of 13,325 people in Tennessee. The median household income is $72,380, median rent runs about $1,100 per month, and median home values are around $282,200. Unemployment is low at 2.9%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Portland at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
11.2%
Foreign-Born
1.5%
Broadband Internet
89.8%
of households
Population Growth
+4.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Portland: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Portland, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (54.2%), and 3.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.8%
of residents
65 and Older
12.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
41.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
22.9%
of households
Married Couples
49.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.67
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for TN
Rent, home values, and income in Portland
Rent and home values here are close to the TN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
13.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
96.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,351
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
66.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1996
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $329,771 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below TN average
Unemployment in Portland and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Sumner County, which includes Portland, is 0.5 percentage points lower than the TN average.
Unemployment rate
Portland: Sumner County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Sumner County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Portland Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area
Commute28.9 min avg
How Portland residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Portland, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 51% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 33 mi
Nashville International Airport (BNA)
Major hub12.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 54% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Portland runs 54% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
152.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
486.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Portland Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 22 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
87.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Sumner County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Sumner County, which includes Portland, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 22 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $672,000 |
| 2024 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $4.4M |
| 2023 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $17.2M |
| 2022 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $51,000 |
| 2021 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.8M |
| 2020 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $23,830 |
| 2019 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $152,000 |
| 2018 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $64,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Sumner County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Sumner County, which includes Portland, is typically good — 248 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
248
per year
Moderate Days
109
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Sumner County, county-wide
Climate87°F summers, 29°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Portland has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 29°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
69°/47°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
71°/48°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
48°/29°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
54.3"
Annual Snowfall
2.0"
Hot Days/Year
38
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
80
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
119
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 45°F | 27°F | 4.20" |
| Feb | 50°F | 30°F | 4.69" |
| Mar | 59°F | 37°F | 5.08" |
| Apr | 70°F | 47°F | 5.24" |
| May | 78°F | 57°F | 5.80" |
| Jun | 85°F | 65°F | 4.36" |
| Jul | 89°F | 69°F | 4.57" |
| Aug | 88°F | 67°F | 4.15" |
| Sep | 82°F | 60°F | 3.64" |
| Oct | 71°F | 48°F | 3.69" |
| Nov | 59°F | 37°F | 3.78" |
| Dec | 49°F | 30°F | 5.11" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Portland
Uninsured
11.7%
of residents
No hospitals inside Portland's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
The Medical Center at Franklin
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 8 mi away · Franklin
Highpoint Health-sumner With Ascension Saint Thoma
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.8 mi away · Gallatin
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Portland
Portland's student/teacher ratio is 14.6:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 15.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
15.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Mammoth Cave National Park, 47 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Portland
Portland has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Mammoth Cave National Park (47 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Mammoth Cave National Park
National Park
47 mi awayStones River National Battlefield
National Battlefield
50 mi awayFort Donelson National Battlefield
National Battlefield
78 mi awayAbraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
National Historical Park
83 mi awayPublic Libraries in Portland
Portland Public Library Of Sumner County
301 Portland Boulevard, Portland
Cities Near Portland
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Portland?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Portland FAQ
Is Portland, Tennessee affordable?⌄
Portland's median rent is $1,141/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $72,647/year. Median home value is $282,200.
Is Portland, Tennessee safe?⌄
Portland's violent crime rate was 153 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 487 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Portland, Tennessee?⌄
Sumner County, which includes Portland, has an unemployment rate of 3.0%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Portland, Tennessee?⌄
The cost of living in Portland is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,141/month and median household income is $72,647/year. The median home value is $282,200. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Portland, Tennessee?⌄
The average commute in Portland is 29 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from