Is Centennial, Portland A Good Place To Live?

Is Centennial, Portland a nice place to live? Should I move to Centennial, Portland? What is it like living in Centennial, Portland? Find out information on living conditions, demographics, transit options, schools, daycares, things to do, and homes for sale.

Before you even start your home buying search, you’d want to know which area to move to. Several factors can influence the choice of place such as demographics, nearby schools, amenities, local community, and more. If you’re considering moving to Centennial, Portland, there are several ways for you to identify if Centennial is a good fit for you.

Centennial: Highlights

  Centennial Neighborhood Guide

Who are your Centennial neighbors?

The demographics of a place can be a fair indicator of how ‘neighborly’ a place is. 44% of the households in Centennial are renter-occupied.

Is Centennial a walkable neighborhood?

Quality of life is subjective and can depend on a variety of things. While some home buyers might want a walkable city that offers ample things to do closer to where they live, others might prefer the suburbs with their tranquil streets, peace and quiet, and proximity to open spaces and nature. For some, the idea of being car-dependent is unacceptable, while for others, a reasonable drive time to their favorite weekend hangout is a dream come true.

Taking that into account, it would be great to know what amenities are available in the neighborhood, and whether you can complete most of your daily tasks on foot. Centennial, Portland has a walk score of 60, a bike score of 75, and a transit score of 43.

Public transit in Centennial, Portland is provided by TriMet (bus). There are 67 TriMet bus stops in Centennial, Portland. The nearest airport is Portland International Airport.

What are the best schools in Centennial, Portland?

The definition of a good school can vary depending on what people are looking for - some might be interested in schools which have great sports programs, while others might be looking at schools that are better at preparing kids for higher education. Since perspective can make a difference, independent bodies like Niche assign ratings to schools and are commonly used by parents to make a decision. However, you are encouraged to verify these ratings through other sources including visiting the campus.

It is not surprising to note that places with highly-rated public schools tend to have relatively higher home prices because of the perpetual demand for those neighborhoods. If you have children or plan on having in the future, checking out the nearby schools and their ratings is a good idea. Arthur Academy (#88 in state), Gresham Arthur Academy (#297 in state), Butler Creek Elementary School (#269 in state) are among 14 C and higher rated public elementary schools in the district. Ron Russell Middle School (#141 in state), Alice Ott Middle School (#119 in state), Metro East Web Academy (#150 in state) are among 6 C and higher rated public middle schools in the district. David Douglas High School (#39 in metro), Metro East Web Academy (#101 in state), Centennial High School (#83 in state) are among 5 C and higher rated public high schools in the district.

Choosing an area with good school rating consistency is important. While the area you’re looking at right now might have great elementary schools for your young children, it’s well worth examining the middle and high schools they’ll grow up to attend. The nearby elementary school, middle school and high school quality ratings from Niche are very similar. If you have children and desire a consistent school experience as they grow up, this neighborhood may be a good place to plant long-term roots.

School info and ratings provided by

What are the activities for kids in Centennial, Portland?

For households with kids, accessibility to nearby parks, playgrounds, daycare centers as well as highly-rated preschools is key. There are a few parks and playgrounds in Centennial, Portland, including Zoiglhaus Brewing Company, Powell Butte Nature Park, and Parklane Park. These playgrounds provide great recreational facilities for kids, as well as adults. Families can enjoy a nice picnic under the shade in summer months, or walk along the trail for a weekend activity with the kids.

Proximity to good daycare centres is extremely important, especially if the parents have a full-time job. For young families there are plenty of options for childcare in Centennial, Portland, including Melody's Munchkins, Gresham Heights Learning Center, Lad N' Lassie Day Care Center, and Becky's Day Care. Proximity to urgent care centers such as Rose City Urgent and Family Practice, Parkrose Urgent Care: Adventist Health Portland, and Adventist Medical Center is also a plus.

What's nearby Centennial?

Whether a neighborhood is a good place to live or not could also depend on the nearby amenities. Having a high walk score means that there are a lot of places nearby like stores, restaurants, coffee shops, schools, and more. While the scores are by no means perfect, they are a good indicator for "stuff to do" around those places. Things like proximity to grocery stores, dining options, and parks can make a huge difference in your daily lives.

There are also plenty of dining options for the residents of Centennial, Portland. You can grab your morning cup of coffee from Tea Leaf Botanicals, Bella Vista Park, or Dutch Bros. Coffee and sit down for a relaxed weekend brunch at Domino's Pizza, Subway, or Tienda La Tapatia. Dessert shops like Bella Cupcakes, Dairy Queen, and Cost Plus World Market in Centennial, Portland are great options for satifying your sweet tooth. Residents love to order tacos from Don Ladis Taco Shop, Taco Bell, or Mi Pueblo and burgers from Carl's Jr., Bridge City Taproom, or McCool's Pub & Grill. Fred Meyer, Mi Pueblo, or El Pueblo are some great spots for a fun dine-in experience.

Centennial, Portland has quite a few grocery stores including Fred Meyer, United Grocers, and Pakse Market.

Who is the best internet provider in Centennial, Portland?

A good internet and broadband connection is a must-have, whether you work from home or not. Broadband internet connection options in Centennial, Portland include wireline, DOCSIS, Asymmetrical xDSL, ADSL, fiber, terrestrial fixed wireless, VDSL, and satellite from 11 different providers. Aside from optic fiber which provides Gbps speeds, you can get up to 987 mbps download speeds via DOCSIS powered by Comcast.

What are the noise levels and air quality in Centennial, Portland?

Most often than not, the higher the walk score, the higher the noise. So if you’re an extremely noise-sensitive person and it’s absolutely intolerable, you may need to opt for a neighborhood with a lower walk score.

Last month, the air quality in Centennial, Portland was good (Air Quality Index, i.e., AQI was 35 for pollutant PM2.5). In 2020, the air quality was bad for 8 days when AQI for pollutant PM2.5 exceeded 100.

Should I buy a house in Centennial, Portland?

There is one important indicator of knowing how good the neighborhood is - the number of homes sold in the past. A high percentage of homes sold in the past say, 5 years could indicate that it’s an up and coming neighborhood with people looking to settle here. At the same time, a neighborhood with low home sales, in spite of getting listed on the market could indicate that current residents are looking to move out. It would be nice to speak to residents of this neighborhood to understand what they loved, or didn’t like about living here.

16 homes were listed for sale this month in Centennial, Portland . This is 24% lower compared to the same time last year, and 27% lower compared to last month. The total number of homes for sale in Centennial, Portland is 3% lower than it was at the same time a year ago. 18 homes were sold in Centennial, Portland this month. 0% more than previous month. 59% less than same month last year.

You can also look at several other factors before deciding to make the move. For example, do all the houses in the neighborhood look almost identical? That could mean that the homeowners association might not be the most adjusting. Is there space for parking? Where would your friends and family park when they come to visit you? Your garage could already be full with your own vehicles. How well is the neighborhood maintained? It could help you identify whether you’d want to live next to such neighbors.