The 7 Best Portland Neighborhoods To Call Home In 2025

Surrounded by the waters of Casco Bay, the coastal city of Portland is the most populous in the Pine Tree State. According to the 2020 census, the city registered just over 68,000 residents, and the greater metropolitan area is home to over half a million people. And for good reason—the list of living-in-Portland perks is long. First, transportation is super convenient. The area is serviced by the Portland Area Jetport, located only five miles from Downtown, and the Greater Portland Metro bus system is easy to navigate. Also, residents are guaranteed world-class medical care at Maine Medical Center, which has over 67 public parks and VIP access to Maine’s natural beauty. Not to be overlooked, Portland’s culinary scene is off the charts with a number of renowned brick-and-mortar hotspots, along with a vast collection of over 500 food cart pods scattered throughout the city limits. While each neighborhood in the city is stamped with its own unique flair, here are seven of the best to consider for 2025.

West End

The West End has long been one of the most desirable neighborhoods to live in Portland, and it is suitable for many types of residents. Young professionals love living next door to Downtown, while families are happy with its above-average public schools and quiet, tree-lined residential areas.

Among the many green spaces it provides, the neighborhood is famous for its Western Promenade, an 18.1-acre public park that offers incredible views of the Casco Bay and New Hampshire’s White Mountains in the distance. It is also on the National Historic Register of Places, thanks to its grandiose homes that line the “Prom,” as the locals refer to it.

Getting around the West End neighborhood couldn’t be easier. It is extremely pedestrian and cyclist-friendly, boasting high walk and bike scores on Redfin. Plus, it has a dog-loving reputation with lots of accessible sidewalks to go roaming around with your four-legged buddy.

The food scene in the West End matches some of the best in the city. Morning people flock to Tandem Coffee + Bakery, an award-winning coffee shop housed in an old retro gas station from the 1960s. Folks also love the casual Clam Bar perched on the working waterfront and serving up Maine classics like lobster rolls and fried clams.

East Bayside

On this part of the Portland peninsula, you’ll find a diverse mix of residents. Young, old, families, singles, native Mainers, and newcomers all call East Bayside home. The neighborhood radiates with an eclectic, artsy vibe, and residents are excited that it is experiencing a sort of renaissance itself, becoming a destination for Portland tourists and a boon for the folks who already live there. Plus, the neighborhood’s housing costs remain relatively affordable.

Moreover, East Bay has great amenities. People love its proximity to a plethora of grocery stores—you’ll see big names like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s but also specialty shops like The Cheese Shop of Portland and Onggi, a market focused on fermented food items. There’s also several Greater Portland Metro bus stops in the neighborhood to get residents anywhere they’d like to go.

And like most neighborhoods in Portland, East Bayside is brimming with local breweries, coffee shops, and mouthwatering restaurants. Rising Tide Brewery, Belleflower Brewing Company, and Austin Street Brewery, all within blocks of each other, offer casual outdoor spots to hang while sampling craft brews. This area is also home to The Shop, Island Creek Oysters’ outpost featuring a lengthy raw oyster menu and tinned fish platters. Plus, right at the edge of East Bayside is a row of top-rated restaurants on Middle Street—Eventide, Mr. Tuna, Honey Paw, and Duckfat.

Libbytown

Located just two miles from downtown Portland, Libbytown offers its residents the best of both worlds—easy access to the city’s cultural offerings with a less bustling, suburban feel. In the 1970s, the neighborhood was split in half when Interstate 295 was built, but it still manages to remain a cohesive area, relatively affordable, and full of activity.

Most of the homes in Libbytown are single family-houses built in the early 1900s with styles ranging from New Englander to Cape Cod to American Foursquare. According to Redfin, the median housing price is $698,500, but locals are noticing that Libbytown is becoming more of a hot ticket, thanks to new commercial development attracting an influx of new residents.

For example, Thompson’s Point is an ever-growing entertainment complex and community-centric gathering spot located in the neighborhood. Families love it for the onsite Children’s Museum & Theatre and other kid-friendly events like the Summer Sunsets concert series, which features local music, food trucks, and panoramic views of the water.

More simply, residents love Libbytown for its many green spaces, including Dougherty Field, which houses the Kiwanis public pool, a skatepark, and a community garden, and its oceanfront views, adding a nautical touch to the already historic neighborhood.

Back Cove

The Back Cove is an estuary basin developed into a prime residential area in Portland. Baxter Boulevard, the neighborhood’s main thoroughfare, runs along the coastline and is a community hub for gatherings and get-togethers. Homes were built around this picturesque cornerstone, offering a distinct brand of suburban bliss with views of Downtown across the water. It’s no wonder Back Cove is voted one of the best Places to Raise a Family in Portland, according to the latest Niche rankings.

Residents of Back Cove enjoy the potential for homes on bigger lots in classic New England styles. Homes closer to Baxter Boulevard and the water can be more costly, but further northeast, they remain affordable with three-bedroom ranches starting at $400,000.

No matter where you live, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the natural beauty of the Back Cove neighborhood. Starting with the Back Cove Trail, a 3.6 mile loop around the basin that’s great for walking, biking, and birding while enjoying the Portland skyline. Also nearby are the Canco Woods, a 16.5-acre urban forest that allows residents to explore wooded trails and local wildlife.

The neighborhood is also hosting the inaugural Back Cove Music & Arts Festival this year, a two-day event featuring 20 musical acts, including Andre 3000 and Jack White, in Payson Park. Hoping to become a summertime tradition, the festival celebrates everything that makes Portland special.

Deering Center

For a sleepier suburban feel in the western region, look to Deering Center, a family-friendly neighborhood that residents love for its walkability and unique green spaces. Kiddos—from kindergarten to college—can skip the bus since no school in the area is over a mile away. The garden-style Evergreen Cemetery is a favorite place for locals to leisurely stroll among its solemn and contemplative grounds. Mayor Baxter Woods is a nearly 30-acre nature preserve that provides ample hiking and mountain biking trails under the shade of the state’s signature pines.

Stevens Avenue is the anchor of Deering Center’s business district, and it’s giving the Old Port area a run for its money. Shoppers will love the array of boutiques like Abura, Handiwork, and Darby Jones, and specialty food shops like Pat’s Meat Mart and The Honey Exchange. Residents are also spoiled with many Stevens Avenue counters and restaurants like Le’cha for ice cream and bubble tea, Noble Pizzeria & Barbeque, and The Knotted Apron, a French bistro with amazing cocktails.

The Stevens Square Community Center speaks to Deering Center’s welcoming spirit and sense of togetherness. The facility is a one-stop shop for recreation, entertainment, and dining with an onsite pool, daycare, cafe, and gymnasium. It even hosts an indoor farmers market through the winter months.

Oakdale

Sharing space with the University of Southern Maine, Oakdale is a safe, mature, and friendly neighborhood in the city, perfect for raising a family. Most of the homes are over 100 years old, and some of the spacious saltbox- and Mansard-style abodes have been converted to four-unit apartments, commonly rented by students.

This off-peninsula neighborhood is less congested than other options in Portland, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t full of fun things to do. It’s located near Hadlock Field, home of the Portland SeaDogs, the Red Sox AA minor league team. Locals love to root on the home team while devouring a famous sea dog biscuit (a delicious ice cream sandwich). Oakdale is also home to The Great Lost Bear, a quirky Portland brewpub and restaurant that’s been in business since 1979. The kid-friendly institution is the kind of neighborhood spot you’ll frequent over and over.

Another main attraction of Oakdale is its series of pocket parks and mini green spaces. The most notable is Longfellow Park, the site of many family-friendly community events like a Monster Mash Dance & Costume Parade in October and a holiday Lighting Celebration in December.

Munjoy Hill

With the Portland Observatory standing proudly over the neighborhood, Munjoy Hill itself stands proudly over Casco Bay—161 feet to be exact. The once-gritty immigrant neighborhood dubbed “The Hill” has undergone gentrification in recent years, but the community is working hard to uphold its history and heritage.

Despite that, it’s become highly desirable for folks moving to Portland, and its inventory of new condos and renovated homes has increased to meet the demand. Some Mainers believe that the mix of old and new is what makes Munjoy Hill 2.0 special. It’s nice to get lost in the neighborhood's walkable streets and stumble upon businesses that have been there for decades, interspersed with up-and-coming hotspots.

That said, Munjoy Hill joins the ranks of the many Portland neighborhoods that lead the city’s culinary scene. The neighborhood seems to have a monopoly on the best bakeries in town—Belleville puts out the most Parisian croissants possible, while Katie Made Bakery offers a buffet of decadent desserts. For dinner, The Front Room is a tried-and-true comfort food eatery, while the award-winning Terlingua strings together three words you don’t hear very often: Maine barbeque masters.

Munjoy Hill dwellers love the neighborhood’s proximity to East End Beach, a popular public beach good for kayaking, swimming, or just snoozing on the sand. The beach is surrounded by Fort Allen Park, a large green space great for picnicking or listening to live music at one of the summer concerts hosted on the park’s historic bandstand.

Ultimately, any one of these seven neighborhoods would be ideal if you’re looking to make Portland your next home. Whether you choose an urban neighborhood just steps from Downtown or an area with a more suburban feel, there’s a place in the city for everyone. Perhaps Oakdale’s family-oriented community events appeal to you, or maybe you’re smitten with Back Cove’s storybook setting. Possibly Deering Center’s micro downtown is calling your name, or maybe you are drawn to East Bayside’s funkier edges. They each represent Portland in their own way, so you just need to decide which one best represents you.