From December 12 to December 20, 2024, DHM Research conducted a hybrid survey of 700 registered voters in the tri-county area. The purpose of the survey was to track opinions about the economy, jobs, and community issues over time, assess voters’ top priorities, and measure voters’ attitudes about multiple tax problems. Thank you to Kinder Morgan for sponsoring this year’s report.
Survey Data
Each year, the Portland Metro Chamber contracts with DHM Research to survey voters and better understand the shared experience of those who live here.
This hybrid (phone and text-to-online) survey included 300 voters from the City of Portland and 400 voters from Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties outside the Portland boundary. The sample size allows for a comprehensive assessment of voter opinions overall and across subgroups, including age, gender, region, and political party registration. Statistical weighting by age, gender, region, education (based on Census data), and party affiliation ensures the results are representative of registered voters. The margin of error for the full tri-county sample is ±3.7%. Due to rounding, some totals may differ by ±1 from the sum of separate responses.
Key Findings
- Notable improvement of voter sentiment with 38% of voters believe their county is on the wrong track, compared to 51% in 2023.
- Majority of voters express very high concern about homelessness (65%), cost of living (59%), and affordable housing (57%).
- Four in ten voters (45%) feel worse off economically compared to two years ago.
- 46% of voters gauge their economic opportunities as poor, whereas 42% of voters see positive economic opportunities.
- Nearly two-thirds of voters visited downtown Portland in the last month, suburban visitors have increased.
- 63% of voters feel safe during the day in downtown Portland, nearly 20-point improvement from last year.
- Multnomah County voters are particularly dissatisfied (79%) about county’s management of homeless funds from Metro’s regional tax, strong disapproval notable in all three counties.
Voter Sentiment
Voter sentiment regarding the overall direction of their county and their quality of life show notable improvements.
We see clear shifts away from the negativity that has marked voter sentiment in recent years. In the Portland region, 38% of voters believe their county of residence is on the wrong track compared to 51% a year ago. Declines in negativity were seen in each county but were most marked in Multnomah County (47% wrong track this year vs 69% last year). Similarly, after three years where around eight in ten (78%–88%) said quality of life was getting worse in the Portland region, fewer (59%) this year say quality of life is getting worse. The attenuation in negativity is accompanied more by an increase in neutral feelings rather than clear positivity but nonetheless reflects a distinct change in how the residents feel about the region.
Top Issues
Homelessness and the affordability of housing are the top issues in the region.
When asked to identify the biggest issue facing the region, homelessness and affordable housing are prominent concerns for tri-county voters. The number of people mentioning homelessness decreased from 40% in 2023 to 35% this year, while mentions of affordable housing increased from 10% in 2023 to 18% this year. Mentions of public safety dropped from 19% in 2023 to 12% this year.
When asked to rate level of concern for specific issues, a majority of voters express very high concern about homelessness (65%), cost of living (59%), and affordable housing (57%). Concern about affordable housing overtook concern about crime as a top issue (38% identified crime as a top issue this year compared to 50% last year).
Economic Outlook
In contrast to their improved outlook on the quality of life in the region, voters continue to harbor pessimistic views regarding their economic opportunities.
The economic outlook of Portland region voters has shown little movement in the last year. Just over four in ten voters (45%) feel worse off compared to two years ago, with 37% maintaining and another 18% improving their economic position. As has been true in the past, those outside of Portland (48%) are more likely to perceive their household as worse off financially compared to two years ago than those living in Portland (40% worse off). Last year, negative perceptions of economic opportunities surpassed positive ones, and that was again true this year: 46% of voters view their economic opportunities as poor, whereas 42% see positive economic opportunities. These views most likely reflect the impact of day-to-day household expenses: 59% are concerned about the cost of living, 57% are concerned about affordable housing, but fewer (19%) are concerned about jobs.
Downtown Portland
Voters feel safer in downtown Portland during the day and are visiting downtown more.
Tri-County voters are divided on whether downtown Portland has improved, with 29% saying conditions have gotten better, 31% noting no change, and 33% feeling conditions have worsened. Nonetheless, a few key indicators show clear improvement. Residents feel notably safer downtown during the day: we see nearly a 20-point increase in feelings of safety, from 44% in 2023 to 63% in 2024. Three-quarters of voters continue to feel unsafe at night downtown, but this is still an improvement from 81% who said they felt unsafe at night last year.
Overall visitation has increased compared to last year, with two-thirds of voters visiting downtown at least once in the past month, up from half in 2023. This increase is seen across both Portland voters (76% in 2024 vs. 69% in 2023) and suburban voters (57% in 2024 vs. 45% in 2023). Most visitors come downtown for work, dining, and cultural events, with a strong interest in dining out and attending live music and cultural activities.
Taxes
Even though voter sentiment may be more positive overall, there are signs they may be cautious when it comes to potential tax increases. In addition to concerns over cost of living, voters feel their level of taxes are too high given the level of services they receive and are unhappy with how their county is managing homelessness funds.
Seven in ten voters feel taxes are too high for the services they receive (68%), with voters in Multnomah (70%) and Clackamas (73%) counties more likely to feel this way compared to those in Washington County (59%). In Portland, most voters oppose raising local taxes even if it means reduced city services (54% oppose vs. 29% support), even when informed that budget cuts are likely.
When it comes to their top issue – homelessness – voters disapprove of their home county’s management of funds from Metro’s regional tax. Multnomah County voters are particularly dissatisfied with how the county is managing these funds to address homelessness, with half strongly disapproving (79% total job disapproval). Strong disapproval is notable in Clackamas (29%) and Washington (32%) counties as well.
Voters show modest support for the main policy reform being considered by Metro to the supportive homeless services tax: 55% support using a portion of the unanticipated revenue from the Metro regional government’s income tax on higher-earning households to build affordable housing.
About DHM Research:
DHM Research is an independent research firm that specializes in measuring the values and priorities that drive public opinion. Our research provides high-quality, objective information to help organizations and leaders make informed decisions about complex issues. We have decades of experience in polling, public policy research, and how it can help shape communities. DHM is proud to be recognized as a B Corp-certified company that meets rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.
About the Portland Metro Chamber:
The Portland Metro Chamber was founded in 1870 and represents the largest, most diverse business network in the region. The Chamber brings together more than 2,300 members represented by dynamic and varied employers from around the Portland region, and offers a strong source of support, information, advocacy, engagement, and professional development opportunities. Grounded in its mission to create opportunity and advance well-being for all who live and work in the Greater Portland and SW Washington region, the Chamber envisions a healthy and resilient business ecosystem where we work together to increase collaboration in governance; engage community; increase civic leadership; and advocate for a vibrant, livable region for all.