Southern suburb of Portland with a growing downtown
Milwaukie is a suburb with just over 21,000 residents immediately south of Portland. Though it’s closely connected to the City of Roses, it has its own growing downtown and is known for its full holiday season events calendar. “We have that small-town charm and a very strong community of folks who want to make this place better,” says Joseph Briglio, the assistant city manager of Milwaukie. “We're so close to Portland—we're literally just one street away—so people have the ability to have the big city amenities right next door but come back to a suburb.”
Milwaukie is a suburb with just over 21,000 residents immediately south of Portland.
Residents have the ability to have the big city amenities but come back to a suburb.
Milwaukie is home to several company headquarters. Bob’s Red Mill Natural Foods.
Though it’s closely connected to the City of Roses, Milwaukie has its own growing downtown.
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Riverside downtown Milwaukie and nearby food carts
Downtown Milwaukie is centered on Main Street, which stretches alongside the Willamette River and Oregon state Route 99E. The historic city center is home to a vibrant food scene, fueled by a dozen or so local eateries, cafes and bars, that is experiencing a reawakening since the pandemic. “Storefronts that were empty are now becoming full, whether it’s office space or new retail or restaurants,” Briglio says. “We’re seeing the lights turn back on in the dark, closed-off portions of Main Street faster than we've seen.”
Milwaukie Station Food Cart Pod—a collection of about 10 different food carts near a set of sheltered picnic tables—offers quick service and the laid-back environment the Portland metro area dining scene is known for. At-home chefs can pick up fresh produce, as well as flowers, artisanal gifts and prepared foods, at the Milwaukie Farmers Market on Sundays from May through October.
Historic Milwaukie offers shopping and dining in walking distance from home.
Artful cuisine and farm direct teas at Cloud Pine Tea + Culture in Historic Milwaukie.
The Milwaukie Farmer's Market runs every Sunday May thru October.
Main Street in downtown Histoic Milwaukie hosts retail and restaurants.
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Fishing and boating in Milwaukie Bay Park
Situated along the Willamette River, outdoor play often happens on the water in Milwaukie. Milwaukie Bay Park, an 8-acre slice of land adjacent to downtown, has fishing and boating ramps. It’s one of the city's chief outdoor gathering spaces, hosting the annual Winter Solstice celebration on the shortest day of the year. Neighbors mingle over a bonfire or smaller barrel fires in the park, though the highlights of the event are the “Christmas Ships” decked with holiday lights that pass the shoreline, a local tradition since 1954.
The winter holiday season also includes the Umbrella Parade & Tree Lighting. “Wintertime is very special here,” Briglio says. Residents show off festive umbrellas adorned with Christmas lights, ornaments and tinsel and enjoy warm drinks, treats and a brass band before marking the beginning of the season with a tree lighting at City Hall. Umbrellas mark the area's rainy winter season—which is preceded by a wet fall and followed by an early spring—though Milwaukie enjoys four seasons and a temperate climate otherwise. First Friday Milwaukie brings residents downtown to enjoy art installations, food trucks and local vendors along Main Street from May through October.
Twentieth-century homes in Milwaukie appreciating in value
Most Milwaukie homes were built during the 20th century. Cottages from the first half of the century line the city’s residential streets, as well as split-level and ranch-style homes from the 1960s and 1970s. The median home sales price in Milwaukie is about $508,000, compared to a $580,000 median in neighboring Portland and a national median of roughly $406,100. However, real estate value in Milwaukie is appreciating, with the median sales price increasing about 2% yearly. Homes in the city are in demand too, lasting an average of 34 days on the market, compared to the national average of 44 days. Those located near the city’s creeks are at increased risk of potential flooding.
Most Milwaukie homes were built during the 20th century.
Split-level homes give Milwaukie its unique suburban character.
Ranch-style homes from the 1960s and 1970s can be found throughout Milwaukie.
The median home sales price in Milwaukie is about $508,000.
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Art education at Milwaukie Academy of the Arts
Public school students in Milwaukie will advance through the North Clackamas School District, which receives an overall B grade from Niche. Most teenagers in the city are zoned for Milwaukie High School, which is also home to the Milwaukie Academy of the Arts, both earning B-minus grades. Milwaukie Academy of the Arts is a public charter school that weaves art education into every subject and accepts students who live within the school district upon application. Students may choose from courses like directing, stagecraft, orchestra, ceramics and AP Studio Art.
Most teenagers in the city are zoned for Milwaukie High School.
Public school students in Milwaukie will advance through the North Clackamas School District
Lewelling Elementary School features colorful student murals.
Whitcomb Elementary School provides education in the neighborhood of
Southgate.
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Oregon state routes intersect near downtown Milwaukie
Two of the area’s major thoroughfares—Oregon state Route 99E and Oregon state Route 224—intersect just north of downtown Milwaukie. Oregon state Route 99E, locally known as Southeast McLoughlin Boulevard, connects to Portland in the north and Oregon City in the south. Oregon state Route 224, also referred to as the Milwaukie Expressway, connects to Interstate 205 east of the city. The TriMet MAX Orange Line Light Rail runs through downtown Milwaukie to downtown Portland and the city’s trendy Pearl District, while several TriMet buses connect Milwaukie to surrounding areas.
Highway 99E will take you to major metro areas like Portland.
The transit center allows for quick commuting for residents of Ardenwald, OR.
Max Orange Line runs through Ardenwald.
Highway 99E offers commuters access to Oregon City to the south.
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Milwaukie crime rates stay below state averages
According to FBI statistics, both property crime and violent crime rates in Milwaukie have largely stayed below state averages since 2020. The city saw slightly over a 2% increase in violent crime between 2020 and 2023, though property crime trended down by 15% during the same time frame.
Manufacturing job market in Milwaukie
Milwaukie is home to several company headquarters. Bob’s Red Mill Natural Foods, which sells whole grain foods and baking ingredients, is based in the city, as is Dark Horse Comics, the largest comic publisher in the Northwest. However, the manufacturing industry employs the largest number of Milwaukie residents. Precision Castparts fashions metal castings for the aerospace and energy industries, employing over 1,000 residents.
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