Portland Commons Civic Dashboard

How is Portland actually doing?

Ten questions that hold Portland accountable. Real data where we have it, honest gaps where we don't. Click any card to explore.

Key Findings

126,798 permits with status Issued or Final in the database.

4,140 reported crimes in 2026-01 (76.4 per 1,000 annualized).

38,197 private-sector establishments in Multnomah County (2025 Q3), down 4,757 from peak of 42,954.

Portland has the HIGHEST local income tax burden (2.5%) of any comparable Western city — BLT 2.6%, MultCo BIT 2.0%, Metro SHS 1.0%, MultCo PFA 1.5%.

Ten Questions

Are We Building Enough?

126,798

permits processed, avg 18 days | 1707 residential in pipeline

+2.2%
BDS PermitsNow (34,307 real permits)
Partially live2026-03-24

Are People Safe?

4,140

crimes reported (2026-01) — 76.4 per 1K residents

+0.8%
Portland Police Bureau — 613,003 offense records (2016-2026)
Partially live2026-03-24

Can People Make a Living?

38,197

businesses · 412,563 jobs · 4.9% unemployment

-0.9%
BLS QCEW · BLS LAUS
Partially live2026-03-24

Is the City Solvent?

12.4

Portland's 12.4% effective rate is 2nd highest among 10 comparable Western cities — only San Francisco is higher

no rate changes this
Lincoln Institute / OR DOR / WA DOR / City budget offices
Published rates2026-01-15

Are People Getting Housed?

10,526

people homeless in Multnomah County — up 67% since 2024

+67%
HUD PIT Count · JOHS · Metro SHS · Multnomah County Health
Data needed2026-03-24

Can You Get Around?

89

TriMet routes across 6,399 stops

not yet tracked
TriMet / U.S. Census Bureau / PBOT
Data needed2026-03-24

Are Kids Learning?

42,623

students in Portland Public Schools — down 1.6% from last year

-1.6%
Oregon Department of Education
Data needed2026-03-24

Are We Meeting Our Climate Goals?

12

AQI 12 (Good) — Portland air quality is healthy today

+163%
EPA AirNow
Data needed2026-03-18

Does Portland Work as a Place to Live?

317

parks across 11,380 acres — avg street PCI 44 (Fair)

baseline established
Portland Parks / PBOT / Multnomah County Library
Data needed2026-03-24

Who Promised What?

4

ballot measures generating $542M/year — 13 elected officials tracked

13 officials tracked
Multnomah County Elections / Portland.gov
Data needed2026-03-24