Located on the peninsula between the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, the neighborhoods of Kenton, Arbor Lodge, and Portsmouth fill in the middle of the North Portland peninsula, sitting east and southeast of St. Johns. The three neighborhoods share the Interstate corridor and cover a wide range of housing stock, from historic bungalows to modern infill, at three distinct price points.
Kenton’s history as a 1911 company town for Swift Meat Packing has shaped its industrial and residential landscape. While the area was once home to the Vanport housing project, built for shipyard workers during WWII and destroyed by flooding in 1948, the neighborhood today is anchored by tree-lined streets and classic Craftsman, bungalow, and foursquare-style homes. Kenton’s Historic Firehouse, built in 1913, remains a neighborhood landmark.
The Paul Bunyan statue, a 31-foot landmark at N Interstate and N Denver across from the Kenton/N Denver MAX station, was built for Oregon’s 1959 centennial and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. It stood at Interstate and Argyle until 2002, when it was moved 59 feet south to make room for the Yellow Line.
Just south of Kenton, Arbor Lodge is bounded by N Lombard to the north, Interstate 5 to the east, N Ainsworth to the south, and Willamette and Chautauqua Boulevards to the west. Its neighbors are Kenton, Piedmont, Overlook, and University Park. Residential streets feature Cape Cods, bungalows, and Old Portland-style homes. Arbor Lodge picked up its anchor retail when the Yellow Line stations opened in 2004, bringing the New Seasons Market and the Fred Meyer at Interstate and Lombard (remodeled around 2016). More recent activity has been along the N Lombard restaurant and shop corridor.
Portsmouth sits in the middle of the North Portland peninsula, bordering Kenton to the east, University Park to the south, and St. Johns to the west. Residential streets showcase Victorians, ranch-style homes, and bungalows. Portsmouth has several parks, including Northgate Park, Columbia Park, and McCoy Park, with open space, picnic areas, and recreational facilities.
1911 company town turned thriving North Portland neighborhood, anchored by the Paul Bunyan statue and a revitalized N. Denver business district.
Residential North Portland neighborhood bordered by N. Lombard, with redevelopment along the commercial corridor.
Central North Portland neighborhood bordering Kenton to the east, University Park to the south, and St. Johns to the west, with parks at Northgate, Columbia, and McCoy.
Industrial/residential mix along the Columbia River in North Portland.
Island community in the Columbia River with floating homes, marinas, and Jantzen Beach shopping.
Narrow neighborhood on a levee between the Columbia's North Portland Harbor channel and Bridgeton Slough, known for its floating homes and its stretch of the 40-Mile Loop along Marine Drive.
North Portland neighborhood on the bluff above the Willamette, with downtown and West Hills views from the N Willamette Boulevard side. Overlook Park itself is inland at Fremont and Interstate, with ball fields, a playground, and an off-leash area.
Largely industrial neighborhood along the Columbia Slough, in Northeast Portland.
About this data. Market statistics on this page are compiled from sold and active residential listings reported to Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS) over the trailing 12 months. Refreshed twice daily; last refresh Sep 9, 2026 at 11:46 PM Pacific. Data deemed reliable but not guaranteed; statistics reflect listing activity reported to RMLS and may not include private, off-market, or new construction sales. © RMLS. Equal Housing Opportunity. Presented by Lovejoy Real Estate.
Three North Portland neighborhoods sharing the Interstate corridor and the same general single-family price band. Read the SFR row for each polygon: Kenton and Portsmouth sit close in medians with Arbor Lodge trading a little higher, and pace of sale is brisk across all three. Condo counts are thin in each polygon and the median swings around a small sample, so read those rows as directional.
Buyers can compare these three areas head-to-head and decide on the basis of commute, transit access, and the specific block more than the market trajectory. Kenton and Arbor Lodge both have Yellow Line stations; Portsmouth has extensive bus service but no MAX station of its own.
In Kenton, the revitalized N Denver Avenue business district holds Pizza Fino, North Star Coffeehouse, and other independent operators, with Portland International Raceway nearby.
In Arbor Lodge, New Seasons Market and the remodeled Fred Meyer at Interstate and Lombard anchor the retail. The N Lombard corridor has continued to add restaurants and shops, including Ukiyoe Japanese Restaurant.
In Portsmouth, the neighborhood shares access to St. Johns retail to the west and University Park to the south, with a smaller number of independent cafés, breweries, and markets inside its own boundaries.
The area is served by Portland Public Schools. Verify attendance boundaries for a specific address with the district directly using the PPS School Finder. See the Oregon Department of Education report card for current program and performance data.
With MAX Yellow Line stations in Kenton and Arbor Lodge, frequent bus service through Portsmouth, and access to Interstate 5, these three neighborhoods are well-connected to the rest of the city. The TriMet MAX Yellow Line runs through Kenton and Arbor Lodge, with rail service to downtown Portland. Portsmouth is served by frequent TriMet bus routes along N Lombard, N Willis, and N Rosa Parks Blvd, but the Yellow Line does not run through Portsmouth. N Lombard is the primary east-west arterial. Downtown Portland is roughly 15 to 20 minutes off-peak. PDX is about 20 minutes via I-5 to I-205.
Kenton, Arbor Lodge, and Portsmouth give you Yellow Line access (in Kenton and Arbor Lodge), historic housing stock, and price points that sit below the inner-east neighborhoods. You give up centrality (downtown is a MAX ride rather than a walk), the concentrated commercial density of inner Portland, and, in Portsmouth’s case, direct rail access.
The direct alternatives: St. Johns trades MAX proximity for a distinct sense-of-place historic downtown; Alberta Arts and Concordia trade the North Portland peninsula feel for the inner-east grid at a higher entry price.
Reach out before you’re ready. The earlier we talk, the more options you have. Every consultation starts with your priorities: budget, housing style, timing, and what you’re not willing to give up. Use the form below, or reach us at clientcare@lovejoyrealestate.com.