ZIP Code · OR

ZIP 97236

Part of Portland, OR

Pop. 37,558·Multnomah County·78th most expensive ZIP in Oregon

Median rent (all units)

$1,671/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.0%

Month-over-Month

+0.7%

vs US Median

-$261

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 97236 · $1,671

More affordable than 60% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,470

1 BR

$1,580

2 BR

$1,800

3 BR

$2,470

4 BR+

$2,900

Research median

$1,800/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

January. Asking rents in ZIP 97236 usually run 1% below trend in January and 0.9% above it in June, about $32 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 97236 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2020.

Past year vs. the rest of Oregon

Rent in ZIP 97236 changed +4.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 106 Oregon ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.6%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($75,090) is $1,877 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,800); a 3-bedroom is $2,470.

Rank in Portland

12th cheapest of 27 ZIP codes in Portland.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 97233, 2 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,487/mo), about $2,200 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 97236. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$20,052/yr

At $1,671/mo median

Location

CityPortland

StateOR

CountyMultnomah County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (4.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.0% YoY, +0.7% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 97236 (Portland, OR) is majority owner-occupied, 21.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

37,558

Median income

$75,090

Median age

37.7

Renters

41.6%

Age distribution

22.4%

22.8%

28.3%

12.7%

13.9%

Under 1822.4%

18–3422.8%

35–5428.3%

55–6412.7%

65+13.9%

Gender

48.8%

51.2%

Male48.8%

Female51.2%

Race & ethnicity

53.6%

19.1%

14.5%

White53.6%

Black8.3%

Hispanic19.1%

Asian14.5%

Other4.5%

Education (25+)

17.6%

26.7%

33.7%

21.9%

No HS diploma17.6%

HS diploma26.7%

Some college33.7%

Bachelor's+21.9%

Housing tenure

58.4%

41.6%

Owner58.4%

Renter41.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 97236 in Portland, OR has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,314 → $1,671

up 27.2%

Income

$58,093 → $75,090

up 29.3%

Population

39,399 → 37,558

down 4.7%

Renter share

43.1% → 41.6%

-1.5 pts

Bachelor's+

21% → 21.9%

+0.9 pts

Median age

36.6 → 37.7

+1.1 yrs

Five years ago, renters in ZIP 97236 in Portland, OR paid around $1,314 a month. That figure now sits near $1,671, up 27.2% from the 2021 baseline. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 97236 in Portland, OR now reports about $75,090, up from $58,093 in 2021. Census counts show ZIP 97236 in Portland, OR losing about 1,841 residents over the five-year window, down 4.7% on net. The renter share has eased from 43.1% to 41.6%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 97236 in Portland, OR reflects that arc in its own way.

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About renting in ZIP 97236

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 97236 covers Portland, OR. The median rent here is $1,671/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,580/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,800/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($75,090/yr), ZIP 97236 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 97236?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $67,000/year (about $32/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,671/mo in ZIP 97236. The local median household income is $75,090/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 97236?

Rent in ZIP 97236 has risen 4.0% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2020.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 97236?

Asking rents in ZIP 97236 are usually lowest in January, about 1% below their yearly trend, and highest in June, about 0.9% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $32 a month. This pattern comes from 5 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 97236 compare to other ZIPs in Oregon?

ZIP 97236 is one of the more affordable among Oregon ZIP codes for rent, ranking #78 of 114 at $1,671/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 97236 changed +4.0%, against a typical +1.6% across the 106 Oregon ZIP codes Zillow tracks.