What areas to avoid in the Portland area?

hurricanekeri

I am moving up to Tigard in April a few months before my husband and I will be taking public transportation.  I am wondering what areas to avoid, as I will be looking all over town for work and I don't want to end up in the wrong side of town.

JeniLovesNeil

There are only 2 areas that really come to mind.  Portland is a very safe place to live and every neighborhood has good/bad pockets.  

I personally would stay out of Rockwood - between Stark/Halsey and NE 162nd/201st.  And SE Powell between SE 92nd and 181st Ave.  

You can also use http://portlandmaps.com/ to look up addresses and neighborhoods and check their crime ratings, etc. 

hurricanekeri

Thank you This puts my mind more at ease.

estherandgeoff2

Though I wouldn't want to live in those areas, I wouldn't be scared to drive through them. I think the smartest thing to do is to figure out what is a sensible commute time for you from Tigard. I'd look for jobs in Wilsonville, Tualatin, Beaverton, Tigard, SW/NW Portland. But if something came up in SE/NE Portland I wouldn't dismiss it perse.

hurricanekeri

I will not be passing on a good job (or any job at this point) because of the area but, I will be avoiding walking through bad areas. I love to walk.

DramaGeek

I work in an area you were told to avoid :-P  I've never felt unsafe (Rockwood area), but I wouldn't walk around alone at night probably.  As long as you're commuting during the day with other commuters, I wouldn't worry about it, quite honestly.  Now, if you're working the night shift...well, then personally I'd either commute with someone or drive myself.

hurricanekeri

DramaGeek:

I work in an area you were told to avoid :-P  I've never felt unsafe (Rockwood area), but I wouldn't walk around alone at night probably.  As long as you're commuting during the day with other commuters, I wouldn't worry about it, quite honestly.  Now, if you're working the night shift...well, then personally I'd either commute with someone or drive myself.

  I hope that I get a day swift job because, I won't have a car that I can commute with.  I will have a car that I use for grocery shopping ect. but, I will cost too much to drive it more than that (V8). It is for the best anyway because, I will get very lost.

DramaGeek

If you have to commute via public transportation, I would suggest focusing on the west side/downtown. It will take you an hour via MAX to get from Tigard/Beaverton to Rockwood.

hurricanekeri

Good to know.