My adult son lived in Portland for four years while attending a university for his second college degree. Here is a map of his neighborhood, on NE. 82nd Street, not really far from freeway access. I did a mapquest search for you on www.mapquest.com He bought a really cute house in a very safe neighborhood for just $103K. It had two bedrooms downstair and he reconverted the loft-attic for his bedroom and his own use, being able to rent out the two downstairs and have his own space. These 'roommates' paid for the entire mortgage, smart boy that we raised! Yea! it was on a pretty good sized lot and they all had a communal garden and plenty of in-driveway parking as well as off-street parking. No break-ins, no trouble, no problems! Beloved Dad-o-his and I visited him many times there and loved not only his area, but really liked Portland a lot. It has hot summer and ... like Seattle ... a lot of rain, but that's why it is so gorgeously lush! http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&addtohistory=&address=%5b12%2d151%5d%20Ne%2082nd%20Ave&city=Portland&state=OR&zipcode=97220&country=US&location=XmzrNyJYjuGeRbx8uvbRNvU8aBqPlcGhKjx9YoR4zO33QCfDlYzGj1DXrrP4O2HqOH3%2bNUqrx8Rk70M1o1v70%2bX25uB%2fPcOGo68u%2fLbUyGhYcpQMBrZYmvSoHqrumY09OaXL8DRgzt%2ftFlTE%2b6asbA%3d%3d&ambiguity=1#west

i would have to say either north or south east portland because im sorta new here myself.

nooooo!!! dont live on 82nd, all the hookers and druggies live there, along with the car dealers too!!...try Gresham, clean, exciting, fair priced, and lots of stuff to do.