Digital Marketing Exec Expects Portland to Surpass No. 6 Best Place to Live Rank

Augusto Beato, CEO of Portland SEO, feels that Portland will even surpass the No. 6 rank among best place to live given by the U.S. News & World Report.

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"Portland's desirability is constantly increasing with all the developments occurring in the city," said Beato. "I won't be surprised if we get a No. 3 rank in the next two to three years."

The U.S. News & World Report attributed the big jump from No. 32 last year due to growing job market and increased net migration. Portland was ranked No. 20 in 2016. The rankings include 125 metro areas.

The scores are derived from a survey of 2,500 residents, as well as data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, FBI crime data and information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as well as U.S. News' own rankings of high schools and hospitals.

Austin, Texas, topped the list thanks to its fast-growing economy and lower housing costs compared to similar-sized metros. It was followed by Colorado Springs, Colorado; Denver; Des Moines, Iowa; and Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Portland scored its lowest marks in "value," thanks to high and rising housing costs, and, curiously, "quality of life," a ranking based on crime rates, health care, education and commuting times.

But the city made up for all that with a perfect 10 out of 10 in "desirability," based on an internet survey that asked people from all over the country about where they'd prefer to live.

Portland is a well-rounded city its museums, art galleries and the oldest public library on the West Coast feed a population with more academic degrees than the national average. The metro area's loyal sports fans avidly support their NBA basketball team, the Portland Trail Blazers; MLS soccer team, the Portland Timbers; and major junior ice hockey team, the Portland Winterhawks.