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Data: Consumer Affairs; Graphic: Jim Sergent/Axios

Portland's public transportation system is among the top 10 in the country, according to a new Consumer Affairs ranking.

Why it matters: That's something to be proud of, and it could save you some cash if you jump on board.

By the numbers: Portland ranked No. 8 among the nation's 50 largest urban areas, beating much bigger metros like Miami and Houston.

We got top marks for accessibility and usefulness, affordability and operational safety.

Between the lines: ConsumerAffairs analyzed federal transit and Census data to understand how often residents board transit, how far they travel, ADA accessibility, fares relative to riders' earnings, and rates of collisions, injuries and other safety incidents.

Yes, but: Portland's ranking comes with a big asterisk. The data was based on 2024 stats — before TriMet enacted some of the agency's largest permanent service reduction in decades.

Catch up quick: In August, TriMet implemented major service changes to 33 bus lines, eliminated two and shortened the MAX Green Line. Riders traveling from Clackamas County now must transfer at Gateway to continue downtown.

The agency has also eliminated hundreds of staff positions.

Meanwhile, ridership remains at roughly 70% of pre-pandemic levels.

Even after the cuts, TriMet is still staring down an average annual budget gap of about $160 million, according to its latest adopted budget.

The agency said its operating costs — like labor, vehicle maintenance, fuel and security — have risen 56% since 2019 and are one of the key drivers of its financial strain.

What we're watching: Portland may still be competitive nationally when it comes to our transit system, but TriMet said it still needs a long-term source of revenue to avoid further reductions.

Portland public transit ranks No. 8 nationally

A national ranking puts Portland at No. 8, despite recent TriMet service cuts.

Infographic: "Where Portland ranks for public transit" shows Portland 8th with lavender bar (66.5). Best: San Francisco 78.6, New York 77.6, Washington, D.C. 74.8. Worst: Buffalo 33.2, Jacksonville 33.1 with dark bars.

Portland&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="public transportation system" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/08/14/trimet-max-bus-i5-closure" data-vars-content-id="3b40a9e0-e0fe-4780-943d-8f1fab465166" data-vars-headline="Portland public transit ranks No. 8 nationally" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/08/14/trimet-max-bus-i5-closure" target="_self">public transportation system</a> is among the top 10 in the country, according to a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Consumer Affairs ranking" data-vars-click-url="https://www.consumeraffairs.com/movers/cities-with-the-best-public-transit#full-data" data-vars-content-id="3b40a9e0-e0fe-4780-943d-8f1fab465166" data-vars-headline="Portland public transit ranks No. 8 nationally" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.consumeraffairs.com/movers/cities-with-the-best-public-transit#full-data" target="_blank">Consumer Affairs ranking</a>.Why it matters: That&#x27;s something to be proud of, and it could <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="save you some cash " data-vars-click-url="https://www.apta.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/APTA-POLICY-BRIEF-Transit-Savings-09-27-2023.pdf" data-vars-content-id="3b40a9e0-e0fe-4780-943d-8f1fab465166" data-vars-headline="Portland public transit ranks No. 8 nationally" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.apta.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/APTA-POLICY-BRIEF-Transit-Savings-09-27-2023.pdf" target="_blank">save you some cash </a>if you jump on board.

Transit

News

Data: Yardi Matrix via RentCafe.com; Chart: Jim Sergent, Axios

The average new apartment shrunk in Portland during the past decade to some of the smallest dwellings in the country, according to a new survey from RentCafe.

Why it matters: Even though square footage shrunk, renters of all apartments in Portland are paying more — even accounting for a 39% increase in inflation.

Zoom in: Portland's new apartments slimmed down 47 square feet to 665, while Zillow finds the average apartment rents for $1,810 per month. 

That's $524 more — up 1.5% adjusted for inflation — than 10 years ago, while living in 7% less space.

Zoom out: Portland is bucking the national trend. The typical new apartment in the 100 cities RentCafe looked at grew 13 square feet, or a little over 1%, between 2016 and 2025.

Floor plans grew the most in the South where Tallahassee, Florida, has the nation's highest average: 1,156 square feet.

Seattle is the smallest with a 645 average.

Yes, but: Don't go ragging on our northerly neighbors too quickly — Portland sits right above Seattle at 99th on the list. 

Our average square footage of 665 is smaller than some much more densely populated metros, including San Francisco, Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Context: The nation's average apartment sizes have been on the upswing since 2022.

Portland renters pay more for less space

New apartments are 47 square feet smaller than a decade ago.

Bar chart: "Average size of new apartments" by city (2016–2025). Tallahassee 1,156 sq ft (largest); U.S. 910; Arlington 908; Seattle 645; Portland 665; St. Petersburg 909; changes -287 to 55.

The average <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new apartment" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/05/18/portland-rent-relief-could-fade-as-building-slows" data-vars-content-id="4c637cbd-335b-41d4-9570-dd43d0e953fa" data-vars-headline="Portland renters pay more for less space" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/05/18/portland-rent-relief-could-fade-as-building-slows" target="_self">new apartment</a> shrunk in Portland during the past decade to some of the smallest dwellings in the country, according to a new survey from RentCafe.Why it matters: Even though square footage shrunk, renters of all apartments in Portland are paying more — even accounting for a 39% increase in inflation.

Leaf peepers, mark your calendars: Peak fall color is expected across most of Oregon in just a few short weeks, according to a map on Explore Fall.

Zoom in: Leaves of crimson, gold, yellow and scarlet are expected to sweep south over the next several weeks.

Much of Oregon will start seeing the brightest colors by Oct. 12.

The Willamette Valley will be a little behind, with peak foliage expected in early November.

Yes, but: Weather could scramble the timetable.

A strong El Niño could raise temperatures and delay some peak colors, according to the National Weather Service.

Drought conditions — which persist in nearly 90% of Oregon — could also mute colors.

Data: Farmers' Almanac; Graphic: Jim Sergent/Axios

When Oregon fall colors will peak

Much of the state could see its brightest fall foliage starting around Oct. 12.

US map showing 2026 predicted fall foliage progression; color scale from green (little/no color) to red/brown (peak/past peak); major cities labeled; legend on the right.

Four USA maps in a 2x2 grid showing 2026 predicted fall foliage by date (Oct 16, Oct 23, Oct 30, Nov 6), colored from green (little color) to brown (past peak) across the continental U.S.

Leaf peepers, mark your calendars: Peak fall color is expected across most of Oregon in just a few short weeks, according to a map on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Explore Fall" data-vars-click-url="https://www.explorefall.com/fall-foliage-map" data-vars-content-id="adf61836-c6a1-423d-baf2-285befbe3532" data-vars-headline="When Oregon fall colors will peak" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.explorefall.com/fall-foliage-map" target="_blank">Explore Fall</a>.Zoom in: Leaves of crimson, gold, yellow and scarlet are expected to sweep south over the next several weeks.

Things to Do

Data: HERE Technologies-SBD Automotive 2026 survey; Chart: Jim Sergent/Axios

Oregonians are increasingly embracing electric vehicles, but the state's public charging network is still catching up.

The big picture: While U.S. public charging options grew 13% since last year, that growth hasn't been evenly distributed, according to HERE Technologies and SBD Automotive's annual ranking.

By the numbers: Oregon ranks No. 22 nationally for EV charging access, with 55 public chargers for every 1,000 miles of road.

Meanwhile, more than 137,000 electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles were registered in Oregon as of February, including more than 36,500 in Multnomah County, according to state figures.

HERE and SBD rank each state based on the number of registered EVs, public chargers and the chargers' availability and average power.

State of play: Oregon's charging network is growing. The state has just over 4,250 charging ports as of June, per ODOT, with another 1,300 in the works.

The state also expects to build or upgrade about 50 fast-charging stations along major highways thanks to $52 million from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program.

Twenty-four of those — totaling 126 charging ports along I-84 and highways 20, 26, 97 and 101 — are expected to start coming online next year.

Yes, but: ODOT estimates the state will need more than 17,000 public charging ports by 2030 to keep up with rapid adoption and demand.

For example, Oregon's popular EV rebate program — where qualifying buyers can get up to $7,500 for a new electric vehicle — has repeatedly burned through its available funding.

Officials expect this year's incentives to last only a little more than two months.

137,000 electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles

National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program

has repeatedly burned through its available funding

Oregon ranks 22nd for EV charging access

EV adoption is rising, and the state's charging network is working to keep up with demand.

Color-coded US map showing states by public EV chargers per 1,000 miles of road in five intensity levels; includes Alaska and Hawaii.

Oregonians are increasingly embracing electric vehicles, but the state&#x27;s public charging network is still catching up.The big picture: While U.S. public charging options grew 13% since last year, that growth hasn&#x27;t been evenly distributed, according to HERE Technologies and SBD Automotive&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="annual ranking" data-vars-click-url="https://www.here.com/ev-index-2026" data-vars-content-id="e65aa8ce-e90b-414b-b10a-437abf99652a" data-vars-headline="Oregon ranks 22nd for EV charging access" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.here.com/ev-index-2026" target="_blank">annual ranking</a>.

Travel

Columbus residents walk half a mile a day

Columbus

Bar chart shows the five cities where residents walk the most – Orlando, Boston, Anaheim, New Orleans and Tampa Bay – and the least: San Jose, Fresno, Colorado Springs, and Bakersfield and Stockton Calif.

How much walking we do in Columbus&nbsp;

Data: StreetLight; Graphic: Jim Sergent/Axios

Bar chart shows the best three cities for public transit – San Francisco, New York and Washington, D.C. – and the worst three: Buffalo, Jacksonville and Oklahoma City.

Jim Sergent

Featured stories

Columbus residents walk half a mile a day

Portland public transit ranks No. 8 nationally

Fall foliage mapped: When fall colors will peak around D.C.

Boston among the nation's top walkers

Mapped: California's next data centers — and the power they'll need