Living in Gresham Oregon - EVERYTHING You Need to Know

What is Gresham known for?

Gresham is well known for hosting the renowned Mt. Hood Jazz Festival each year and having an abundance of outdoor recreation close by, with the Columbia River Gorge and Mt. Hood just down the road. 

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What cities are nearby Gresham?

If living in Gresham, Oregon, you'll have a number of great cities close by. Troutdale, Happy Valley, Clackamas, Milwaukie, Gladstone, and Portland, are the Oregon cities within 15 miles of Gresham. Camas and Washougal are close-by towns on the Washington side of the border. Both of which are around seven miles away for those living in Gresham.

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What is the weather like in Gresham?

Living in Gresham, Oregon, you'll find you get a decent amount of rain. Gresham receives, on average, 56 inches of rainfall throughout the year, raining on average 164 days. The 144 days of sunshine are pretty amazing for those living in Gresham, Oregon, but for some, it may not be enough to make it worth it. Temperature averages range from an average low of 35 degrees to an average high of 84 degrees.

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What are the pros and cons of living in Gresham Oregon?

Pros of living in Gresham, Oregon:

1. Proximity to outdoor recreation: Mt. Hood, the Sandy River, and Columbia River Gorge are all very close, giving those visiting or living in Gresham plenty of beautiful sites, fishing, camping, and skiing nearby.

2. Lower average home prices: Living in Gresham, Oregon, you'll find the cost of housing is about 10% less than the rest of Multnomah County. So living in Gresham is more affordable than in other areas.

3. Gresham Main Street: If living in Gresham, Oregon, you'll have to check out main street. It has a number of bars, restaurants, museums, a city park, a splash pad, and great shopping, to go along with a fantastic farmers market!

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Cons of living in Gresham, Oregon:

1. The Rain: As mentioned above, it can rain a lot. If you plan to move to Gresham, Oregon, make sure you can handle rain and grey skies for a good portion of the year. The summers can make living in Gresham worth it for some, but not all.

2. Commuter Traffic: Rush hour traffic getting in/out of Gresham can be rough on I-84, and I-205 can back up during rush hour, so give yourself some extra time.

3. Not that big: Gresham is the fourth largest city in Oregon, so it's a decent size. It does lack some of the big city amenities, such as high-end restaurants and other things. But with Portland just down the road, anything you're missing living in Gresham is likely close by.

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Does Gresham Oregon have good public schools?

If considering moving to Gresham, Oregon, you should carefully research the schools as some are really good, but overall, Gresham schools are not the greatest. Gresham schools rank below the state average on reading and math proficiency. The on-time graduation rates are also below the state average.

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Is Gresham Oregon safe?

Crime rates for Gresham are high for a city of its size, but that doesn’t mean it’s unsafe to live there. Depending on where you live in Gresham and the neighborhood, there are some not so good areas but you'll find there are many areas of Gresham that are very safe to live in and raise a family.

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What is there to do living in Gresham, Oregon?

Living in Gresham, Oregon, there are a ton of things to do. Mt. Hood, the Sandy River, and Columbia River Gorge are all close, putting an abundance of outdoor recreation at your fingertips. Portland is less than 15 minutes away, putting big city amenities close by. Gresham has beautiful parks and other attractions to see as well. So you won't run out of things to do if visiting or living in Gresham, Oregon.

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I want to relocate to Gresham.  How do I make it happen?

You've come to the right spot if you're thinking of moving to Gresham, Oregon.  There’s a wealth of information on this website to help including some helpful links below. If you want to ask questions, try our Facebook Group > Moving to Oregon where we have an expansive group of locals to answer question you have. If you’re looking to buy a home in the Gresham area, getting pre-approved for a mortgage should be your first step. For Mortgage Info, contact me. I would love to tell you more about what living in Gresham, Oregon, is like as well as help with your mortgage if you plan to purchase a home. If you just want to to research home prices and homes for sale in Gresham, Oregon, CLICK HERE. No info or login needed to see all the homes for sale in Gresham, Oregon, currently. 

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For FAQs about moving to Oregon or living in Oregon, check out my blog, 31 FAQs About Living in Oregon. For more information about living in Oregon, check out the homepage of LIVING IN OREGON.