Downtown city life may not be for everyone, but for those who are drawn to the fast paced lifestyle of the city center, it can offer some pretty amazing perks. Downtown Portland, in particular, is one of the most vibrant downtowns in the U.S. to live in.

One of the most obvious benefits is transportation. There’s no need for a car if you use Portland’s nationally recognized public transit system, TriMet. For most residents of downtown Portland, walking, biking, and public transit are the preferred mode of transportation.

City blocks in Portland were intentionally designed smaller than in some other cities (200 feet instead of a typical 300 to 800 feet), making for a closer walk to Portland’s many corner restaurants and shops. If your workplace is downtown, this means you may truly be able to do without a car completely.

The Pearl District is one of the most popular places to live in the downtown area because of the abundance of retail shops and easy transportation. You can search this site to find condos and lofts in the Pearl District and other downtown Portland areas.