In recent years, Portland, Oregon, has experienced a surge in population due to its magnetic quirkiness and fabulous atmosphere. Creativity and uniqueness thrive here, and residents strive to keep it that way with their famous mantra: Keep Portland weird. Local governance has made a conscious effort to make the city enjoyable for people of all ages and backgrounds with outstanding public transportation infrastructure and environmentally friendly measures for long-term sustainability.
In the shorter-term, the senior population of Portland grows each year, as does the housing demand. Senior apartments in Portland are appearing more and more often, providing a lovely lifestyle option for seniors who don’t need extra care support and are looking to enjoy Portland from the comfort of an independent space.
In this guide, you’ll learn what it’s like to live in Portland senior apartments, along with what it costs and how people pay. You’ll learn about benefits for veterans and public assistance to help cover the cost of senior living, along with what regulations dictate senior apartment standards. Listings used to create this guide were pulled from a 10-mile radius from downtown Portland, which includes parts of Vancouver, Washington. Learn more about life in Portland senior apartments below.
Well, The Canyons is really just an apartment building with community activities, more than a senior facility. That's great if, like me, that's what you need. The senior residents love that there are people...
Better Living Residential Care was really good about communicating the needs of my loved one to me. They had a Thanksgiving dinner for the entire community there and the residents were able to invite their...
It's a great place. I would recommend to others. We picked this community because of the price, and it was the only one available.
I would say that it was a lovely place for mom to live but that they are woefully unprepared to deal with anyone with dementia who is uncooperative, in denial, and occasionally loud.
The care at this community is good. The staff are outstanding. I am happy having a clean community to live in. I know that I have recommended other families to this community for a great place to live.
We developed a proprietary recommendation system that orders Portland community options based on factors we know are important to seniors and their families:
We collect proprietary data from our network of 14,000+ senior living communities in the U.S., with regular refreshes of data and information
We have 387,000+ reviews from senior living residents and family members that provide first-hand accounts about senior living communities
Portland has a relatively high cost of living compared to the national average. But among the senior living options available, senior apartments are some of the most affordable in the city. Explore local senior apartment costs and Portland tax and affordability information below.
According to internal research, one-bedroom apartments in Portland cost an average of $1,645 per month in early 2023. Studio apartments fell around $1,284 a month, while a two-bedroom senior apartment averaged at a monthly rate of $2,089.
Listed below are some common features or services included with these apartments:
Many senior apartment buildings welcome pets, though pets will likely be subject to size restrictions and will cost extra in pet rent.
Other additional fees you might run into at senior apartments in the Portland area include the following:
Cost of living in Portland is 24% higher than the national average. While there’s no sales tax in Oregon, housing in Portland is 62% higher than the national average.[01]
Neither Oregon nor Washington tax Social Security benefits; a plus for senior renters on both sides of the state line. Even so, many seniors choose to live in the Portland suburb of Vancouver, Washington, which has some better tax benefits for retirees and where the overall cost of living is only 4% higher than the national average. In fact, in Vancouver, housing is 2% lower than the national average housing cost.[02]
Here are a couple differences between senior taxes in Oregon and Washington:
The following numbers indicate average baseline costs in Portland senior apartments. Please note that average add-on expenses aren’t included in the numbers below.
Most seniors pay for senior apartments the same as conventional apartments; that is, private funds are the primary sources of payments for rent. Some apartment complexes for seniors may include certain utilities or even social events in the monthly rent. For seniors needing extra help, in-home care is a common add-on option when you don’t want to move into assisted living.
Private pay methods that Portland seniors may use to cover the cost of apartments include income sources like savings, Social Security benefits, pensions, and investment returns, as well as any of the following:
A VA pension is a monthly payment that can be used toward your rental fees and in-home care costs as a veteran senior in Portland. The Aid and Attendance benefit is among the most generous of pension additions you may be eligible for as a disabled veteran and can be used toward anything that improves your quality of life, such as rent in a senior living community.
Applying for veterans benefits can be a long and difficult process, so many local Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) have veteran service officers available to help you understand what you qualify for and how to get the benefits you are entitled to. Note that offices may not have walk-in services available due to COVID-19; many are offering phone appointments instead.
In addition to these offices, nonprofit organizations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the American Legion have service officers to help you understand veterans benefits and claims. Other organizations with local branches, such as the National Association for Black Veterans and the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), also offer veteran service officers to advocate for Black or disabled veterans trying to access their benefits.
Portland also offers numerous veterans helplines you can call for quick, helpful information. Below, you’ll find a number of resources meant to connect you to local veterans services officers, veterans services by county, benefits guides, and more.
Number of veterans who live in Portland
Percentage of Portland veterans who are 55+
Resources for Portland veterans
Multnomah County Veterans Services
Schedule a phone appointment: 503-988-8387
Aging, Disability, and Veteran Services Helpline: 503-988-3646
Email: veteran.services@multco.us
Clackamas County
Phone: 503-650-5631
Clark County
Phone: 360-693-7030
Washington County
Phone: 503-846-3060
Portland Regional Office
1505 NE 122nd Ave.
Portland, OR 97230
Phone: 503-688-5361
Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs
Phone: 503-412-4777
TriState Paralyzed Veterans of America
Phone: 503-412-4762
Find a service office
American Legion
Phone: 503-412-4706
Find a post
Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
Phone: 503-412-4750
Find your local office
National Association for Black Veterans
Phone: 503-412-4159
Oregon chapter
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
Phone: 503-412-4757
Find a post
Transition Projects’ veterans hotline
Phone: 855-425-5544
Veterans crisis line
Phone: 800-273-8255
Medicaid is offered in Oregon through the Oregon Health Plan and in Washington through Apple Health. While Medicaid does not cover the cost of senior apartments in either state, both Medicaid programs can help cover in-home health care services if medically necessary.
Through OHP, you may be eligible for the following services:
Navigating Medicaid and eligibility can be a bit confusing. Oregon has Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs) that work with OHP as an all-in-one resource for your health care questions, appointments, and guidance through the health care systems in Oregon. Additionally, an OHP ombudsman can help secure Medicaid benefits and advocate for health care.
Oregon also has the following fantastic services to help guide you through the process:
Washington seniors may be eligible for the following Apple Health services:[07]
There may also be additional waivers available to you as a Washington resident. For instance, the Community Protection Waiver helps Washington residents stay in their home of choice rather than in an institutional setting in the event of needing 24-hour care, skilled nursing, assistive technology, specialized equipment and supplies, therapies, and more.
For questions about Apple Health and other health waivers, there are numerous ways to get answers:
Oregon residents with a disability or over the age of 65 may also have access to HCBS waivers to receive health care in their residence through the Oregon Department of Human Services. For more information, contact the department by email.
Seniors in Washington may be eligible for Home and Community Service (HCS) waivers through Washington’s Aging and Long-Term Support Administration (ALTSA). For more information, learn who to contact by age and location on the ALTSA website.
Portland resident Medicaid resources
Oregon OHP Ombudsman Program
500 Summer St. NE, E20
Salem, OR 97301
Phone message line: 877-642-0450
Email: oha.ombudsoffice@odhsoha.oregon.gov
Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) Phone: 503-988-3646
Email: adrc@multco.us
Clark County Area Agency on Aging for Washington residents
201 NE 73rd St., Suite 201
Vancouver, WA, 98665
Phone: 360-735-5720
Medicare is a federal health insurance program that may cover some medical costs, such as medically necessary in-home care. Seniors with HIV or AIDS may be eligible for pharmaceutical drug assistance through either Oregon’s CareAssist program or Washington’s Early Intervention program.
Medicare will not cover the cost of rent in a senior apartment. Medicare Savings Programs are available to Oregon seniors with Medicare Part A whose income falls within a certain limit. These programs may cover part of a senior’s Medicare premium.
You can apply for Medicare Savings Programs online and see which of Oregon’s three Medicare programs best fit your needs.[08] Oregon and Washington also both offer Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) services. PACE is a Medicare program with a Medicaid service option that bridges some of the gaps in Medicare Parts A-D; you can explore details on the state websites in the resources below. PACE coverage might include the following:
To apply for Medicare online, visit the Social Security Administration application website. For assistance with Medicare benefits and Medicare Savings Programs, you can contact Portland’s Social Security Administration office or connect with your county’s long-term care ombudsman. In addition to concerns with Medicare benefits, ombudsman programs help residents understand their rights and serve as a source of advocacy for seniors.
In the state of Oregon, seniors have access to Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA). Washington residents also have access to Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (also called SHIBA), serving in the same capacity. In both states, SHIBA is a network of trained volunteers dedicated to educate and advocate for Oregonians and Washingtonians who have or who need Medicare.
Portland resident Medicare resources
Social Security Administration
Portland Social Security Office
1538 SW Yamhill St.
Portland, OR, 97205
Phone: 888-632-6990
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Oregon and Washington both offer a variety of public assistance options to help Portland seniors pay for in-home care or senior apartment rental expenses.
Through Housing Choice vouchers (HCV), formerly known as Section 8 vouchers, Portland seniors can have access to subsidized housing or rental assistance through the federal government. Subsidized rent varies by county, but generally tenant rent is set between 28% and 30% of a tenant’s gross income.[09] Applicants must meet certain income restrictions to apply for HCV, and some communities accepting HCV may additionally have age restrictions.
To apply for HCV or subsidized housing, connect with the local Housing and Urban Development (HUD) office or the Portland Housing Authority. Note that there may be a waitlist in effect to apply for subsidies or government benefits. Portland residents can find additional agencies and informational offices below for the following public assistance resources by state:
Explore the resources section below for contact and other information regarding these public assistance services.
Social Security benefits can provide income to help you pay for your costs of living. Your eligibility may depend on the benefits requirements, like your current financial situation and your work history.
For assistance with Social Security benefits, contact your local Social Security Administration (SSA) office.
Portland resident public assistance resources
Portland Field Office
Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal Office Building
1220 SW Third Ave., Suite 400
Portland, OR 97204
Phone: 971-222-2600
Landlords in Portland and Vancouver cannot discriminate against tenants based on race, color, national origin, disability, familial status, or sex, according to the federal Fair Housing Law and the Fair Housing Act.
In Oregon, landlords cannot consider a tenant’s past eviction cases — whether the tenant won or lost — between April 1, 2020 and March 1, 2022.[10] Communities qualify as senior apartment buildings when they restrict residency to families with at least one person who has a disability or who is 55+.[11]
Additionally, apartment buildings must make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Reasonable accommodations are designed to help provide equitable opportunities for people with disabilities. Listed below are some reasonable accommodations:[12]
Reasonable modifications are design changes to a facility that make the building and living unit easily accessible. Most of the time, landlords aren’t required to pay for changes, with exceptions in common areas and in some subsidized housing situations. Reasonable modifications may include installing features like the following in the common areas or in a tenant’s unit:[13]
While senior apartments do not have specific regulations in Portland, standard apartments do need to conform to regulations the landlords and tenants must follow. For advocacy help in situations of disability law in senior apartments, you can contact Fair Housing Center of Washington in Clark County or the Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) in Multnomah County.
Landlords in the Portland metro must maintain a safe and healthy living environment by meeting the following requirements and making repairs when needed.[10,14]
While landlords must provide habitable living accommodations, tenants must follow their own set of rules. Some of general rules expected of Portland tenants include the following:[14]
Review tenant and landlord resources in Washington
Review tenant’s rights, laws, and protections in Oregon
North Mall Office Building
725 Summer St. NE, Suite B
Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-986-2000
Email: hcs_housing.info@hcs.oregon.gov
Find an office near you
Phone: 360-236-4501
Oregon and Washington don’t have COVID-19 restrictions in place at this time. Recommendations are as follows.
Vaccinations. Portland residents are encouraged to get vaccinated and boosted to fight infection and serious illness.
Masking. Masks may be required in some settings, including most health care facilities. Some senior apartments may have additional requirements; check with specific apartment management.
Social distancing. In Washington, residents can enable WA Notify on their phones to receive alerts if they’ve been exposed to COVID-19.
Portland, like much of the rest of the country, is expecting significant growth in their senior population in the coming years. As such, many new-construction senior living solutions are popping up all over the Portland metropolitan area.
Common amenities in these new builds include emphasis on convenience and practicality. Senior apartments in Portland are being built close to shopping and leisure, with easy access to public transportation. Even so, many new construction communities feature abundant or easy parking with secure, controlled access. Additionally, many communities are going above and beyond Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance standards with practical inclusions, such as wider doorways and grab rails in showers, to make senior apartments easily accessible and navigable for all.
Portland consistently ranks highly on the national scene for sustainability. From strategic sustainable measures by Portland governance to greener choices in everyday life, the cultural emphasis on environmental responsibility plays a big role in the Portland lifestyle.
Eco-friendly measures in senior apartments commonly include the following:
Portland is technically in a geological rainforest. While the city is known for its rainy days, one cannot deny the resulting beauty in Portland’s scenery. The city neighbors several stunning national parks with towering mountains and tumbling waterfalls, and you can find Portland natives out hiking and enjoying the fresh air most weekends.
This affinity for their locale translates into a desire to be outside more — or to bring a sense of the outdoors inside. In several senior apartment buildings, there’s a sense of breezy, natural beauty. Renters enjoy tasteful design elements such as exposed wood, elevated ceilings, and open-air hallways in their apartment buildings. Layouts in the apartments themselves can be quite spacious, boasting glorious views of the city’s beautiful scenery. And for the days when indoor activities just aren’t enough, most senior apartment complexes are located near bike lanes and paths for easy cycling access and fresh air.
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Number of seniors over the age of 65 currently living in Portland
Percentage of seniors 65 and older within the Portland population
Mean annual income for Portland seniors 65 and older
Portland residents benefit from a wealth of excellent health care options. Explore some of the top-rated hospital systems in the Portland metro area below.
Ranked No. 1 in Portland, OHSU hospital is nationally ranked in six specialties. The hospital is particularly high-performing in senior health procedures such as heart conditions, orthopedics, and pulmonology.
Ranked No. 2 in Portland, Providence St. Vincent Medical Center is high-performing in neurology and cancer procedures.
The No. 3 hospital in Portland, Kaiser Permanente has excellent rankings in gastroenterology and diabetes-related procedures.
Portland is a beacon of accessible, plentiful, and affordable public transportation. Review some of the many transportation options available to you as a Portland resident below.
Overall, Portland has a reputation for excellent transportation as well as walk-friendly and bike-friendly infrastructure. The below scores are ranked from zero to 100, painting Portland as one of the West Coast’s most accessible cities.
Trendy Portland prides itself on its quirkiness and charm. With its plentiful national parks and its endless offerings for rainy day activities in the city, there’s always something to do close to home.
From local vendors to national brands, Portland offers an excellent shopping experience. Local scenes such as Hawthorne Boulevard or the Pearl District take shoppers from boutiques to excellent food and beyond. You can also browse the famed Portland Saturday Market, a nationally recognized open-air arts and crafts market celebrating small businesses and handmade art. Avid readers are sure to love Powell’s, a nationally-recognized bookstore, celebrated for its dizzying selection of new, used, and rare books.
Portland is a naturally vibrant place, filled with art, color, and creativity. For those looking to enjoy an afternoon of art and history, the Portland Art Museum features world treasures spanning centuries. Seniors more interested in the dramatic arts can enjoy inspiring performances at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall or at Roseland Theater.
For ideas of what to do when family and friends come to visit, Portland has plenty of attractions to delight all ages. The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) is a continual favorite among visitors. The museum regularly features events and shows to spark curiosity and educate the public on the scientific wonders of our world. Additionally, animal lovers are sure to delight in the nearby Oregon Zoo. The zoo features numerous exhibits, from aquatic and arctic environments to family farms and botanical gardens.
Portland rests between a number of striking national parks and ecological wonders. Residents of all ages often spend their weekends hiking in one of the neighboring parks, which include the following:
To stay closer to home, you can’t go wrong with an afternoon spent in the Portland Japanese Garden. The gardens and art displays therein offer a serene and stunning getaway for when you need a moment of peace and beauty.
The Canyons PDX, Better Living Residential Care and Hazelwood Community Apartments are the top-rated Senior Apartments facilities near Portland, OR. These Senior Apartments facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Senior Apartments in Portland is $1,718 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
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Payscale. (2023). Cost of Living in Vancouver, Washington.
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Oregon Health Authority. (2023). Oregon Health Plan (OHP) Benefits.
Washington State Health Care Authority. (2023). What are my basic covered services?
Oregon Department of Human Services. (2023). Medicare Savings Programs.
Multnomah County Department of County Human Services. (2023). Affordable/Subsidized Housing Resources.
Oregon State Bar. (2023). Rights and Duties of Landlords.
City of Portland. (2023). 33.229 Elderly and Disabled High Density Housing.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2023). Reasonable Accommodations and Modifications.
Oregon State Bar. (2023). Illegal Housing Discrimination.
Oregon State Bar. (2023). Habitability.
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
United States Census Bureau. (2023). Population 65 years and over in the United States: Portland-Vancouver-Hillboro, OR-WA Metro Area. [Data set]. American Community Survey.
U.S. News and World Report. (2023). Best hospitals in Oregon.
WalkScore. (2023). Portland.
Ask an A Place for Mom local advisor at no cost.
Payscale. (2023). Cost of Living in Portland, Oregon.
Payscale. (2023). Cost of Living in Vancouver, Washington.
SmartAsset. (2023). Oregon retirement tax friendliness.
SmartAsset. (2023). Washington retirement tax friendliness.
United States Census Bureau. (2023). Population estimates: Portland city, Oregon (V2021). [Data set]. QuickFacts.
Oregon Health Authority. (2023). Oregon Health Plan (OHP) Benefits.
Washington State Health Care Authority. (2023). What are my basic covered services?
Oregon Department of Human Services. (2023). Medicare Savings Programs.
Multnomah County Department of County Human Services. (2023). Affordable/Subsidized Housing Resources.
Oregon State Bar. (2023). Rights and Duties of Landlords.
City of Portland. (2023). 33.229 Elderly and Disabled High Density Housing.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2023). Reasonable Accommodations and Modifications.
Oregon State Bar. (2023). Illegal Housing Discrimination.
Oregon State Bar. (2023). Habitability.
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
United States Census Bureau. (2023). Population 65 years and over in the United States: Portland-Vancouver-Hillboro, OR-WA Metro Area. [Data set]. American Community Survey.
U.S. News and World Report. (2023). Best hospitals in Oregon.
WalkScore. (2023). Portland.