Moving from Phoenix, AZ, to Portland, OR

Experience a different lifestyle in Portland

Phoenix and Portland, OR, are around 1,300 miles apart and quite different in population. Portland is the largest city in Oregon, with 653,000 residents. Phoenix is also the largest city in Arizona, but its population is much larger at 1.6 million.

Their metro populations follow the same pattern, as Portland’s metro of 2.5 million people is significantly smaller than Phoenix’s metro population of 4.8 million. 

Keep reading to learn what to expect from life in “Rose City.”

Embrace the rainy weather in Oregon

Portland's summers are milder, with much more pleasant temperatures than what you’re used to in Phoenix. While Phoenix’s average high is over 100 degrees, Portland’s average high is only 81 degrees.

Portland's climate is wetter due to its proximity to the West Coast. The city gets around 43 inches of rain annually, a big contrast to the desert environment in Phoenix, which averages only 9 inches of rainfall per year.

Portland's winter lows are around 36 degrees, and an average of 3 inches of snow is accumulated. Average lows are higher in Phoenix, at 43 degrees, and snowfall is extremely rare.

What to do in Portland

Outdoor enthusiasts love Portland. There are multiple parks and outdoor recreation spaces. Don’t miss Washington Park, International Rose Test Garden, Forest Park, Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Mount Tabor Park and many more.

You’ll also find plenty of culture and history with museums like the Portland Art Museum, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) and the Pittock Mansion. 

Check out Powell’s City of Books, the largest independent bookstore in the world. Afterward, grab some good food at one of the city’s food carts or local restaurants. For your sweet tooth, don’t miss Voodoo Doughnut, Blue Star Donuts and Salt & Straw (a local ice cream shop)!

Making a living in Portland

Portland has a robust job market with many opportunities for growth, especially in the technology industry. It’s often called “Silicon Forest” because of the cluster of tech companies in the area, including Intel, HP and Tektronix.

Other key industries include bioscience, education, green energy, healthcare, hospitality, outdoor apparel and precision manufacturing.

Plus, Oregon is one of the few U.S. states with no sales tax.

Planning a move to Oregon? Start with U-Pack

With our service centers near Phoenix and Portland, U-Pack® can help with your long-distance move. We’re a self-moving service, so you can save money by handling the packing, loading and unloading, and then we handle transporting your things. Get a free online quote today or call us at 844-362-5303844-594-3077. We’re here to help with your move to Oregon!