Careers at the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory
About Portland
Portland, Oregon has been rated one of the most livable cities in the United States. Sperling's Best Places rates Portland number three overall, number one for young couples, and number eight for Most Energetic City. Bicycling Magazine has called Portland the number one cycling city in the US.
Portland offers free, accessible, and user-friendly public transport in the city center. But that's not all. You'll notice bicycle lanes, streetcars, and even skateboard lanes! Our downtown is full of sculptures, fountains, and other public art, and short blocks make it easy to walk.
Commuting
The average one-way commute time is 25 minutes. More than 12% of Portland residents commute using our mass transit system, which is clean, fast, and safe, and more than 2% cycle or walk to work.
Free time
Portlanders work hard, and play hard. Portland has more than 50 miles of trails in Forest Park, in addition to many other beautiful parks. We are within 2 hours of the Columbia River Gorge, ocean beaches, Mt Hood, and the high desert.
Portland is home to Powell's Books, one of the world's greatest bookstores. Several public library systems serve the metropolitan area. The largest university in Oregon, Portland State University, is downtown, and there are a number of smaller colleges, universities and community colleges in the area.
Portlanders are crazy about food and drink. The Food Network calls Portland their Delicious Destination of the year. There is a happening restaurant scene with prices in all ranges. We have nationally known coffee roasters and award-winning baristas, and quirky coffeehouses by the score. Oregon, and particularly Willamette Valley, winemakers and wines are well-respected, and Portland is home to the most craft brewpubs anywhere in the world.
About the weather
Portland and the Willamette Valley have a mild climate. While people here claim that “it rains all the time,” we only get 42 inches of rain a year—only five inches more than the US average. Most days have no measureable precipitation, and we have 144 sunny days per year.