Area Guide No. 12
Multnomah County · About 15 miles east of downtown Portland
Gresham is Oregon's fourth-largest city and the second-largest in the Portland metro, home to roughly 112,000 people in eastern Multnomah County. It is a diverse, family-oriented community with a reinvested historic downtown, direct MAX light-rail service into Portland, and the Columbia River Gorge and Mount Hood right at its back. Buyers choose it for the more affordable homes, the easy transit, and the outdoor access that few big-city suburbs can match.
Gresham · Multnomah County · Oregon
Gresham, Oregon · Multnomah County
The latest verified news about the major employers and companies that anchor this area, with sources cited. Each item links to the reporting outlet that published it.
01
Boeing laid off 50 workers at its Gresham facility in November 2024 as part of a global workforce reduction of about 17,000 jobs.
KGW reported that the Gresham cut was part of roughly 2,200 layoffs across Washington and Oregon, following months of strike pressure and restructuring. Boeing remains one of Gresham's flagship industrial employers.
Source: KGW, November 2024
02
About 1,200 Boeing machinists in the Gresham area joined a nationwide strike in September 2024 after rejecting a contract offer.
They picketed outside the Gresham facility as part of the roughly 30,000-member IAM workforce that walked off the job, according to KGW. The strike and its resolution reshaped pay and benefits for the region's aerospace workers.
Source: KGW, September 2024
03
Microchip Technology announced about 2,000 layoffs across its plants, including its Gresham fab, in March 2025.
CEO Steve Sanghi said the reduction at Gresham would be slightly smaller than at its Colorado Springs and Philippines plants; Gresham employs roughly 850 to 900 people. The move followed a decision to shelve a planned $162 million CHIPS Act expansion, per KGW.
Source: KGW, March 2025
Monthly Market Snapshot
Gresham's September median rose more than 6% year over year, one of the stronger gains in the metro, with market time steady. Figures are the latest published by the public sources cited below and were retrieved on November 3, 2026.
Median Sale Price
$484,769
Up 6.5% year over year
All home types, Redfin, September 2026. A month-over-month change was not published by the cited sources.
Median Days on Market
~29 days
Vs 28 days a year earlier
Redfin, three months ending September 2026.
Homes for Sale
~420
October 2026 snapshot
Movoto listed-home inventory of roughly 416 to 425 homes in October 2026.
New Listings
2,487
Up 1.9% from August 2026
Portland Metro, RMLS Market Action, September 2026. City-level new-listing counts are not published by the cited independent public sources.
Total Market Time
68 days
Up from 57 days in August 2026
Average days from listing to accepted offer, Portland Metro, RMLS Market Action, September 2026.
Pending Sales
1,760
Down 12.6% from August 2026
Portland Metro, RMLS Market Action, September 2026.
Gresham's median is climbing and homes still sell in about a month, so the market favors prepared buyers. Prices remain below the metro median, which keeps Gresham one of the more accessible options on the east side.
A rising median and steady demand give Gresham sellers a solid hand. Pricing against recent comparables and marketing the listing hard in the first two weeks captures the momentum while it lasts.
Sources & data date
Fair Housing note: These figures describe the area as a whole and vary by neighborhood, home type, and price range. Penner Group Properties is committed to the Fair Housing Act and to equal opportunity in housing, and we do not steer buyers toward or away from any community.
A quiet street in Gresham, minutes from the MAX
01 · Area Highlights
Gresham grew from an agricultural town into Oregon's fourth-largest city, and it still wears that history lightly: century-old farmhouses share streets with mid-century ranches and new townhomes, and historic downtown feels like a hometown rather than a business district. The city sits about 15 miles east of downtown Portland, which makes it a practical base for commuters and a relaxed one for families.
The big draw is the balance. Homes cost meaningfully less than in inner Portland, and the MAX Blue and Red lines run straight into the city. The Columbia River Gorge, Multnomah Falls, and Mount Hood are all within an easy drive to the east, while Gresham's own parks, trails, and cultural calendar keep things close to home.
01b · Navigable Map
Pan, zoom, and drag around this live map to get your bearings before you even call us: pin the MAX lines, historic downtown, the parks and trails, and the neighborhoods this guide covers.
Gresham, Oregon · Multnomah County
02 · Community Detail
Gresham's population is around 112,000, making it the fourth-largest city in Oregon. It is one of the most culturally diverse communities in the state, and that mix shows up in the city's food, festivals, and faith communities. The city's own plan describes it simply as a community of families.
The neighborhoods run the gamut. Rockwood is the most urban and densely settled, a diverse working-class area with easy MAX access and some of the lowest entry prices in the metro. Kelly Creek combines century-old farmhouses with modern homes, parks, and wetlands. Gresham Butte offers the largest lots and the highest prices, while Pleasant Valley is a family-oriented, semi-rural area. Powell Valley, Historic Southeast, Hogan Cedars, and North Gresham round out the mix.
Four public school options serve the city: the Gresham-Barlow School District is the main district, joined by the Centennial and Reynolds districts and the regional Center for Advanced Learning magnet. Boundaries vary by exact address, so we always verify the boundary for a specific property before you commit.
Parks and trails thread through the heart of the city
Manufacturing and tech campuses anchor the local economy
03 · Major Employers
Gresham is the largest employment center in eastern Multnomah County, with a strong manufacturing base and growing health care and retail sectors. Here are the names anchoring the local economy:
The city's largest high-tech employer. Microchip's Fab 4 semiconductor manufacturing facility in Gresham runs around the clock and employs close to 700 people, making it one of the largest chip fabs in the Pacific Northwest.
Boeing of Portland maintains a major manufacturing and assembly operation in Gresham, a longtime anchor of the city's traded-sector economy.
A large regional operations and processing center for U.S. Bank, one of the biggest office employers in eastern Multnomah County.
A global semiconductor company with a significant Gresham presence, part of the Silicon Forest manufacturing cluster that stretches east of Portland.
Gresham is the largest employment center in eastern Multnomah County, with a strong manufacturing base and growing health care and retail sectors. Its position on I-84 and the MAX Blue and Red lines makes it a practical base for commuters to Portland, the Columbia River Gorge, and points east.
04 · Restaurant Guide
Gresham's dining scene is one of the metro's most underrated, with a standout Lebanese institution on Main Street, a lively Mexican and Latin scene, and dependable diners and bistros around town. Some of our favorites, by area:
Nicholas Restaurant
VisitA Portland-area Lebanese and Mediterranean legend, known for fresh-baked pita, family recipes, and a warm, welcoming room on Main Street.
323 N Main Ave
Boccelli's Ristorante
VisitClassic Italian comfort food in the heart of historic downtown, a long-running favorite for pasta, red sauce, and family dinners.
246 N Main Ave
Srisiamchai Thai Restaurant
VisitA small, highly rated Thai spot on Main Street known for bold curries, noodle bowls, and friendly service.
229 N Main Ave
The Local Cow
VisitA downtown favorite for burgers and craft beer, famous locally for its garlic parmesan fries.
336 N Main Ave
Birrias Tamazula
A top-rated spot for birria, serving tender braised beef with rich consommé, tacos, and quesabirria.
184 NE 2nd St
Taqueria & Bar El Michoacano
Locals call it the best tacos in Gresham, a lively taqueria that stays open late.
Downtown Gresham
Elixir Mezcaleria
A mezcal bar with Latin American and Mexican plates, a great spot for small bites and craft cocktails.
53 NE Roberts Ave
Agave Azul
A well-liked Mexican restaurant serving classic plates, margaritas, and weekend specials.
155 SE Vista Ave
Heidi's of Gresham
VisitA classic American diner and family restaurant, a dependable pick for breakfast, burgers, and old-fashioned comfort food.
1230 NE Cleveland Ave
McCrae's Country Cafe
A breakfast favorite serving generous country-style plates, pancakes, and weekend morning lines.
401 W Powell Blvd
Sweet Betty's Bistro
VisitA cozy bistro known for brunch, baked goods, and a relaxed neighborhood atmosphere.
543 NW 12th St
Asian Thai Bistro
VisitA dependable downtown Thai restaurant with a broad menu of curries, stir-fries, and noodle dishes.
120 N Main Ave
From Lebanese pita to late-night tacos, downtown has it
The Gresham Farmers' Market, a downtown ritual
05 · Activities
Gresham's parks are the quiet stars of the city, and the gateway to the Gorge and Mount Hood is right at its doorstep. Here is how locals spend their weekends:
The top-rated outdoor destination in the area: a sprawling regional park along the Sandy River with a pebble beach, miles of hiking trails, wildlife viewing, and the scenic Oxbow Park Loop. A short drive east of town.
Gresham's 21-acre downtown park has jogging paths, picnic areas, a skatepark, paddle-boat rides, and the Gresham Heroes Memorial. Right beside it, the volunteer-maintained Tsuru Island Japanese Garden sits off the Johnson Creek Trail.
An easy network of trails climbs to an outlook over the valley, a quiet spot for a short hike close to home.
Just across the line in Fairview, this regional park offers swimming, a lake, picnic areas, and family-friendly trails, one of the metro's best summer spots.
Fresh local produce, artisan food, and live music in historic downtown, a weekly community ritual through the growing season.
Downtown Gresham hosts the Gresham Arts Festival, the Indigenous Arts Festival, and open-air concerts at the Arts Plaza, with bronze public art and the Mt Hood Theatre along Main Street. The MAX puts all of it minutes from Portland.
We know this town block by block. Tell us what you are looking for and we will show you the Gresham that fits, from the school boundary to the Saturday market.
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