Survey shows decline in Portland-area voters with negative views of city
PORTLAND, Ore. () — New data show a decline in Portland-area voters who believed the region was on the 'wrong track' as of late 2024.
From Dec. 12 to Dec. 20, around 700 voters from Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties responded to the latest economic survey from Portland Metro Chamber and DHM Research.
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According to the results, 29% of tri-county residents believe the metro is headed in the 'right direction' while 38% of participants said it is on the 'wrong track.' This is a decrease from 2023, when 51% of respondents held negative views of the area.
The report highlighted that Multnomah County voters were most likely to say their area is off on the wrong track. Although there is still a higher share of residents sharing these views, researchers noted the results could be interpreted differently.
'I think if I were to look at the most positive way, we're working our way out of the hole that we were in a couple years ago,' DHM Research Senior Vice President John Horvick said during a media briefing. 'If we look at the historic numbers, we have the potential within our community to get back to a place where most people feel positive.'
The survey additionally asked respondents to identify the region's biggest issues. About 35% of participants named homelessness, while affordable housing took the second-place spot at 18%. Around 12% of voters mentioned safety, crime and a lack of police presence as well.
When asked what their top concerns were, 65% of voters answered 'homelessness' once again — compared to 71% in the 2023 report.
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Other top areas of concern last year were cost of living, affordable housing, drug use and addiction and K-12 education.
The survey also called on voters to weigh in on the central city, specifically. The percentage of Portland residents who had visited the downtown area within a month increased from 69% in 2023 to 76% last year. There was also a year-over-year increase in other tri-county residents who visited downtown, from 45% to 57%.
Of those who stopped by the central city last year, 33% reported that it had gotten worse when compared to 2023. About 31% believed Downtown Portland 'stayed the same,' while 29% said it had improved.
Results showed that 55% of visitors felt unsafe in the city during the day, but that number was previously 20% higher.
'We don't want to gloss over, though, that there are some first signs of.. the public seeing progress in this area,' Portland Metro Chamber's Executive Vice President of Public Affairs Jon Isaacs said, mentioning the efforts of organizations like Downtown Portland Clean and Safe and the Enhanced Service District. 'We've had a hyper-focus the last five years on restoring livability, getting the city cleaner… improving public safety, and then obviously with the real clear focus on downtown.'
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Nearly a quarter of visitors said they came downtown for business or work. Others told researchers they visited for activities like dining, live entertainment or shopping.
Those who don't visit downtown as often cited open-air drug use, homelessness and crime as top concerns.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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