OR Portland
Roseway
Roseway is a compact Northeast Portland neighborhood organized around the historic Sandy Boulevard corridor, between NE 65th and NE 82nd Avenue. Expect 1920s and 1930s Craftsman bungalows mixed with mid-century ranches, two full-service parks (Glenhaven and Wellington), and anchors like the Art Deco Roseway Theater, Annie's Donuts, and Fairley's Pharmacy, which has operated on Sandy since 1913.
MARKET TRENDS
Living in Roseway
A compact Northeast Portland pocket organized around the Sandy Boulevard corridor, with pre-war Craftsman bungalows, the Art Deco Roseway Theater, and two full-service parks.
Updated April 2026 by Joe SalingWhat Roseway Is Really Like
Roseway sits in Northeast Portland between NE Prescott Street on the north, NE Sacramento Street on the south, NE 82nd Avenue on the east, and NE 65th Avenue on the west. NE Sandy Boulevard cuts diagonally through the middle, splitting the neighborhood and serving as its commercial spine. Roseway is one of Portland's smaller neighborhoods by area, bordered by Cully, Sumner, Madison South, Rose City Park, and Beaumont-Wilshire. The defining feature is Sandy Boulevard itself, a diagonal street paved in 1912 to 1913 that was once one of the busiest commercial arteries in the region and still carries that legacy today in its mix of small storefronts and mid-century signage.
A weekday morning in Roseway is coffee cups at Cameo Cafe East and Annie's Donuts on Sandy, the low hum of bus line 72 running the corridor, and residential streets that feel calmer than the boulevard's traffic map suggests. By evening the Roseway Theater marquee lights up for second-run movies, D's Bar fills for its weekly trivia and dart nights, and Pho Mekha handles the dinner crowd. Weekends shift toward the two parks: Glenhaven Park in the south with its 11,000-square-foot skatepark, soccer fields, and playground, and Wellington Park in the north with open field space and a lighted walking path.
On residential blocks you will see gardeners working small front yards, dog walkers looping the 72nd Avenue parkway, and cyclists threading through on the Going Street bike boulevard. The Roseway Neighborhood Association runs regular cleanups, the Rocky Butte Farmers Market draws residents on summer Saturdays, and Fairley's Pharmacy (operating since 1913 at the Sandy and Fremont corner) anchors the neighborhood's sense of continuity with its own past. Many interior blocks have sidewalks, which makes Roseway more pedestrian-scaled than Sumner to the east, though the corridor itself is still a five-lane arterial.
Looking for broader context on the area? Read my full Northeast Portland relocation guide for how Roseway fits into the wider district.
Homes and Architecture in Roseway
Roseway's housing stock skews pre-war and mid-century. Most homes were built between the 1920s and 1950s, with the earliest wave producing Craftsman-style bungalows that still define the neighborhood's visual identity. A second wave in the late 1940s and 1950s added modest mid-century ranches and a handful of Cape Cod-style homes. Lots tend to run 5,000 to 7,000 square feet, with small front yards, long driveways, and sidewalks on most blocks. Newer infill is limited but does appear near Sandy Boulevard, where a few lots have been redeveloped into 21st-century townhomes and duplexes.
When you shop here, expect a wider range of condition than you would see in inner Northeast neighborhoods like Grant Park or Alameda. Some homes have been carefully updated with modern kitchens and systems; others retain original finishes from their build era. Competitive dynamics are typically less intense than inner Northeast, which is part of Roseway's appeal for buyers who want pre-war character at an entry-to-mid price point. Two items to price into your underwriting: pre-1960 cast-iron sewer laterals are common and frequently show root intrusion, and some streets (especially around the 72nd Avenue parkway) still carry older paving that the city has not yet scheduled for renewal.
- Craftsman bungalows
- Mid-century ranch
- Cape Cod
- 5,000 to 7,000 sq ft lots
- Entry to mid-range for Northeast Portland
Dining, Parks, and Daily Life
Pho Mekha
A quiet Sandy Boulevard Vietnamese spot that consistently lands on best-of-Portland pho lists. The menu runs traditional: clear broths, generous noodles, and banh mi at lunch. This is the kind of everyday neighborhood restaurant residents return to regularly rather than a destination.
Annie's Donuts
A Sandy Boulevard staple for fresh, fluffy donuts and old-school counter service. Open early and often lined up on weekend mornings, Annie's anchors the Fremont-and-Sandy corner alongside Fairley's Pharmacy (operating since 1913) as part of the neighborhood's historic commercial cluster.
Roseway Theater
A 1924 Art Deco single-screen theater restored in the mid-2000s, showing second-run films at a lower ticket price than the multiplexes. The original 600-seat house has been updated with modern sound and seating while keeping its signature marquee and neon. It functions as the neighborhood's evening third place.
Glenhaven Park
Roseway's largest park sits on the southeast edge with soccer fields, a softball diamond, playground, picnic areas, and a well-known 11,000-square-foot concrete skatepark with bowls that draw skaters from across the city. Wellington Park to the north adds a second option with a newer playground and a lighted walking loop.
Daily Errands
Safeway at NE 72nd and Sandy handles the main grocery run within the neighborhood. Fairley's Pharmacy at Sandy and Fremont covers prescriptions and has operated continuously since 1913. For larger shops, Fred Meyer on NE 148th or the Cascade Station big-box cluster (IKEA, Target) are about 8 to 10 minutes by car.
Getting Around
Downtown Portland is typically 15 to 20 minutes by car via I-84 off-peak, with the NE 82nd Avenue freeway entrance just a few minutes away. TriMet bus line 72 runs Sandy Boulevard and is the primary transit option. The MAX Red and Blue lines are reachable at the Gateway Transit Center via bus 72. Bike commuters use the NE Going Street bike boulevard.
Joe's Take on Roseway
When buyers tell me they want pre-war Northeast Portland character without inner-Northeast pricing, Roseway is one of the first neighborhoods I put on the short list. You get genuine 1920s and 1930s Craftsman housing stock, you get two real parks (Glenhaven with its skatepark is legitimately one of the better city skateparks), and you get a walkable stretch of historic Sandy Boulevard with the Roseway Theater, Annie's Donuts, Fairley's Pharmacy, and Pho Mekha. The honest trade-off is that Sandy Boulevard is a five-lane arterial, not a Mississippi or Alberta-style pedestrian corridor. Walking there is straightforward; strolling there is not.
The housing stock and location suit buyers who want a sub-inner-Northeast price point, a pre-war home on a 5,000 to 7,000 square foot lot, and a short drive to both I-84 and PDX. It works well for buyers who value the Rose City Park Elementary assignment (which Niche rates well) and the McDaniel High School feeder pattern. It is less of a fit for buyers who want a six-block walkable commercial corridor the way Alberta or Mississippi deliver, or buyers who need a school district outside of Portland Public Schools.
Before you write an offer in Roseway, there are a few specifics worth checking. Pull the sewer scope on any pre-1960 home; cast-iron laterals under decades-old street trees commonly show cracks or root intrusion. Check the PPS boundary assignment for your specific address, since Roseway has been affected by the recent middle school and high school boundary changes (Roseway Heights Middle and the McDaniel High School rename, formerly Madison). Verify sidewalk condition block by block, especially on streets off the 72nd Avenue parkway where some paving is older. And if airport noise matters, pull the PDX flight-path overlay for your target address, since northern Roseway blocks closer to Columbia Boulevard can hear more approach traffic than southern blocks.
Frequently Asked Questions About Roseway
How do home prices in Roseway compare to the rest of Northeast Portland?
Roseway consistently prices below inner Northeast Portland neighborhoods like Alameda, Irvington, and Grant Park, and typically below Rose City Park and Beaumont-Wilshire on a per-square-foot basis. The outer location, the older housing stock, and the Sandy Boulevard corridor setting all contribute to the lower entry point. Roseway tends to price roughly in line with Cully, Madison South, and Sabin, and slightly above Sumner and Parkrose. The current average sales price and active listing count are shown at the top of this page and update automatically with the market.
What are property taxes like in Roseway?
Multnomah County property taxes in Roseway run at an effective combined rate of approximately 1.3% to 2.1% of assessed value, in line with the rest of the county. Because Roseway home values tend to be lower than inner Northeast neighborhoods, typical annual property tax bills are also lower on average. Oregon Measure 50 caps assessed value growth at 3% per year, so long-held homes often pay less than their market value would suggest. Verify current rates and the specific assessment for any address you are considering at multco.us/assessment-taxation.
Which schools serve Roseway?
Roseway is served by Portland Public Schools. The default elementary assignment for most of the neighborhood is Rose City Park Elementary, which Niche has rated among the higher-performing PPS elementaries. Middle school students continue to Roseway Heights Middle School, and high school students attend McDaniel High School (formerly Madison High School, renamed in 2021). Portland Public Schools uses open enrollment, so residents can apply to any PPS school regardless of address, though acceptance at oversubscribed schools is not guaranteed. Verify the specific address assignment at pps.net, since boundaries have been redrawn recently.
What is the housing stock like in Roseway?
Housing stock is predominantly 1920s and 1930s Craftsman-style bungalows mixed with 1940s and 1950s mid-century ranches and occasional Cape Cod-style homes. Lot sizes tend to run 5,000 to 7,000 square feet, with small front yards and long driveways. Amenity access includes Glenhaven Park (23 acres with an 11,000-square-foot skatepark, soccer and softball fields, and a playground), Wellington Park (newer playground and lighted walking loop), and the Sandy Boulevard commercial corridor with the Roseway Theater, Annie's Donuts, Fairley's Pharmacy, and Safeway. Sidewalks are in place on most residential blocks.
How long is the commute from Roseway to downtown Portland?
Downtown Portland is typically 15 to 20 minutes by car outside of peak hours via I-84, entered at NE 82nd Avenue or NE 58th. Peak-hour drives can stretch to 25 to 30 minutes. TriMet bus line 72 runs Sandy Boulevard and is the primary transit option through the neighborhood. For MAX access, residents take bus 72 east to the Gateway Transit Center and transfer to the Red or Blue Line, or drive to the Hollywood/NE 42nd Avenue Transit Center. Bike commuters use the NE Going Street bike boulevard to connect west toward the inner Northeast bike network.
Is Roseway walkable?
Walkability is moderate overall and strongest along the Sandy Boulevard corridor. Residents within three to four blocks of Sandy can walk to the Roseway Theater, Annie's Donuts, Pho Mekha, Cameo Cafe East, Safeway, and Fairley's Pharmacy. Interior residential blocks are more car-dependent for errands but offer sidewalks on most streets and lower traffic. Walk Scores in the neighborhood generally run in the 60s to 70s near Sandy and dip into the 50s on interior blocks. The NE Going Street bike boulevard adds a legitimate bike connection west into the broader Northeast bike network.
How does Roseway compare to nearby Northeast Portland neighborhoods?
Roseway typically prices below Rose City Park and Beaumont-Wilshire to the west, roughly in line with Cully and Madison South, and above Sumner and Parkrose to the east across I-205. Rose City Park has slightly newer housing stock and the golf course. Beaumont-Wilshire has a more established Fremont Street commercial corridor and higher prices. Cully is larger with more commercial diversity and a longer-standing arts community. Roseway is the pick when a buyer wants pre-war Craftsman housing, a historic single-screen theater, two legitimate parks, and the Sandy Boulevard corridor at a mid-range Northeast price.
Can I add an ADU or short-term rental in Roseway?
Most Roseway lots are eligible for an accessory dwelling unit under Portland's Residential Infill Project rules, which allow up to one ADU on a single-family lot. The 5,000 to 7,000 square foot typical lot size in Roseway is generally workable for ADU construction. Short-term rentals require a City of Portland STR permit; Type A permits require owner-occupancy, and Type B permits (non-owner-occupied) have stricter limits and are harder to obtain. Verify both ADU eligibility and STR permit type for your specific address with Portland Bureau of Development Services (portland.gov/bds) before counting on rental income.
Thinking About Buying in Roseway?
I help buyers navigate Northeast Portland neighborhoods every week. Let's talk about what you need, what you can afford, and whether Roseway is the right fit.
Schedule a Free Consultation Or call Joe directly: (503) 910-7364Joe Saling · Saling Homes at eXp Realty · 10+ years serving Portland metro buyers and sellers
Saling Homes at eXp Realty is committed to the principles of the Fair Housing Act and Equal Housing Opportunity. Licensed in the State of Oregon. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Verify all data independently before making real estate decisions.
HOUSING DETAIL
NEARBY SCHOOL & BUSINESS
3523 NE 70TH AVE, Portland, OR 97213
Single Family Home 2 Beds 1 Bath 2,277 SqFt
Listed by Windermere Realty Trust
3527 NE 71ST AVE, Portland, OR 97213
Single Family Home 2 Beds 1 Bath 1,596 SqFt
Listed by Windermere Realty Trust2930 NE 62nd AVE, Portland, OR 97213
Townhouse 3 Beds 2.1 Baths 1,177 SqFt
Listed by Keller Williams Realty Portland Premiere2936 NE 62nd AVE, Portland, OR 97213
Townhouse 3 Beds 2.1 Baths 1,177 SqFt
Listed by Keller Williams Realty Portland Premiere2932 NE 62nd AVE, Portland, OR 97213
Townhouse 2 Beds 2.1 Baths 912 SqFt
Listed by Keller Williams Realty Portland Premiere6205 NE Stanton ST, Portland, OR 97213
Townhouse 3 Beds 2.1 Baths 1,191 SqFt
Listed by Keller Williams Realty Portland Premiere6213 NE Stanton ST, Portland, OR 97213
Townhouse 2 Beds 2.1 Baths 912 SqFt
Listed by Keller Williams Realty Portland Premiere3823 NE 72ND AVE, Portland, OR 97213
Single Family Home 3 Beds 2.1 Baths 1,518 SqFt
Listed by Move Real Estate Inc4219 NE 78TH AVE, Portland, OR 97218
Single Family Home 2 Beds 1 Bath 1,355 SqFt
Listed by Fiv Realty4440 NE 78TH AVE, Portland, OR 97218
Single Family Home 1 Bed 1 Bath 588 SqFt
Listed by Real Broker2958 NE 64TH AVE, Portland, OR 97213
Single Family Home 3 Beds 1.1 Baths 2,388 SqFt
Listed by Where, Inc7359 NE Klickitat ST, Portland, OR 97213
Single Family Home 4 Beds 2.1 Baths 1,435 SqFt
Listed by 24/7 Properties3137 NE 70TH AVE, Portland, OR 97213
Single Family Home 3 Beds 2.1 Baths 2,336 SqFt
Listed by Redfin6961 NE Stanton ST, Portland, OR 97213
Single Family Home 2 Beds 2.1 Baths 907 SqFt
Listed by Premiere Property Group, LLC3345 NE 78TH AVE, Portland, OR 97213
Single Family Home 4 Beds 1.1 Baths 2,194 SqFt
Listed by Urban Nest Realty3205 NE 79TH AVE, Portland, OR 97213
Single Family Home 3 Beds 1 Bath 1,047 SqFt
Listed by Premiere Property Group, LLC4416 NE 75TH AVE, Portland, OR 97218
Single Family Home 4 Beds 2 Baths 2,463 SqFt
Listed by Premiere Property Group, LLC4414 NE 76TH AVE, Portland, OR 97218
Single Family Home 3 Beds 2.1 Baths 1,384 SqFt
Listed by Cascade Hasson Sotheby's International Realty2620 NE 65TH AVE, Portland, OR 97213
Single Family Home 5 Beds 2.1 Baths 3,967 SqFt
Listed by Windermere Realty Trust2837 NE 63RD AVE, Portland, OR 97213
Single Family Home 5 Beds 2.1 Baths 2,805 SqFt
Listed by Like Kind Realty
Coming Soon
Commute Score
Coming Soon
Coming Soon
Demographics
Roseway: Portland’s "Hidden" Storybook District
Roseway is the quintessential Northeast Portland neighborhood that has managed to remain largely under the radar while its neighbors surged in price. Anchored by the lush, green meridian of the Roseway Parkway, this community is defined by its architectural integrity and quiet, tree-lined streets. Homebuyers are drawn here for the "Old Portland" feel—think 1940s English Tudors, immaculate Ranches, and cozy Craftsman bungalows that offer significantly more value per square foot than nearby Beaumont-Wilshire. While the vibe is undeniably residential and serene, the neighborhood's pulse beats along NE Sandy Blvd, where vintage icons like Fairley’s Pharmacy meet modern foodie destinations like Pizzeria Otto. It’s a place where neighbors still know each other by name, and the proximity to PDX and I-84 makes it a strategic hub for professionals who want a peaceful retreat without sacrificing urban accessibility.
Explore Nearby Neighborhoods:
The Three "Macro-Zones" of Roseway
The Parkway Core
Centering on NE 72nd Ave between Fremont and Prescott, this is the neighborhood's crown jewel. Expect larger lots and premium period-correct homes facing the massive park blocks.Insider Tip: The Parkway is a local secret for quiet dog walks away from the Sandy Blvd traffic.
Sandy Boulevard Strip
The commercial heartbeat of the area. This zone is becoming a culinary destination, offering a mix of historic Art Deco architecture and some of the city's best "low-key" international dining.Insider Tip: Check out the 'Sandy Jug'—a historic jug-shaped building recently reimagined as a funky neighborhood bar.
Wellington Heights
Located on the eastern edge near 82nd Ave, this area offers the most affordable entry points. It’s home to Wellington Park and provides a more diverse, slightly more urban feel.Insider Tip: Look for the hidden "Skidmore Trail" between 79th and 82nd for a shortcut through a secret wooded path.
Community Comparison
| Feature | Roseway | Hollywood District |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Vibe | Quiet, Storybook Residential | Dense Urban / Transit Hub |
| Price Point | Mid-Range ($450k-$650k) | Higher Tier ($600k-$900k) |
| Parking | Extremely Easy / Street | Challenging / Paid |
| Housing Stock | Single Family Bungalows | Condos & Large Four-Squares |
| Green Space | Roseway Parkway & Wellington | Grant Park (Nearby) |
Roseway Lifestyle Matrix
Dining & Drinks
Parks & Rec
Local Retail
Education
Commute Snapshot
| Destination | Distance | Drive Time (Rush) |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Portland | 5.5 Miles | 18-28 Minutes |
| Portland Int'l Airport (PDX) | 4.2 Miles | 10-14 Minutes |
| Hollywood Transit Center | 1.8 Miles | 6 Minutes |
| Moda Center / Lloyd District | 4.0 Miles | 12-18 Minutes |
Roseway Deep Dive
Joe Saling
joe@sellingpdxhomes.com