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Living in Portland, TN

Living in Portland, TN means a small Sumner County city (with a part in Robertson County) about 40 miles north of downtown Nashville and a few miles below the Kentucky line. It is known for the Middle Tennessee Strawberry Festival each May, a railroad-side downtown, city parks and a large manufacturing base. Prices generally run below the closer-in Sumner County suburbs.

By Trevor Barber, Realtor, Benchmark Realty · Updated October 2026

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At a glance

Portland, TN real estate at a glance.

The basics on where it is, what homes are selling for and what you'll pay in property tax. Market numbers move every month, so ask me for this week's.

  • CountyMostly Sumner, part in Robertson
  • Population13,658 (2025 est.)
  • To downtown NashvilleAbout 40 miles, around an hour
  • Median sale price$340,000 (ZIP 37148, Jun 2026, Redfin)
  • Median days on market64 (ZIP 37148, Jun 2026, Redfin)
  • Property taxabout $2.32 per $100 (city + Sumner County)

Daily life

What it's like living in Portland, TN.

Downtown Portland and the railroadThe center grew up along the old Louisville & Nashville rail line, and CSX freight trains still run through town. The city keeps a downtown bandstand, and the Chamber of Commerce is on North Broadway. The town was founded as Richland in 1859 and renamed Portland in 1888.
Richland Park, Meadowbrook Park and trailsRichland Park has sports fields, disc golf, lighted paved trails, picnic shelters and the Wanda Collins Amphitheatre, with a gym under construction. Meadowbrook Park has a dog park, walking trail, skate park and sand volleyball. The city also runs Dogwood Hills golf course, pickleball courts and a mountain-bike pump track.
Middle Tennessee Strawberry Festival and eventsThe festival runs each May around Mother's Day weekend, with a Friday concert and fireworks, then a Saturday parade, 250+ vendors and a carnival at Richland Park. The chamber reported more than 40,000 visitors in 2024. The 2026 festival was May 8–9, and 2027 is set for May 7–8. The Harvest Craft Show in November and a December Christmas parade round out the calendar.
Getting around: SR 109, I-65 and work nearbySR 109 runs south to Gallatin and I-40, SR 52 and SR 76 cross town, and I-65 is reachable at Exits 117 and 121. Census data puts the mean commute at 28.9 minutes. Employers include Peyton Mid-South, Unipres, Kirby Building Systems, ABB and Daido America, which has its US headquarters here.

The honest version

Pros and cons of living in Portland, TN.

What residents like
  • More house for the money than closer-in Sumner County towns, per local agents and WKRN.
  • A small downtown with a bandstand, on the railroad line near North Broadway.
  • Richland Park's lighted trails, disc golf and amphitheatre, plus Meadowbrook's skate park and dog park.
  • The Strawberry Festival each May, with 250+ vendors and 40,000+ visitors in 2024.
  • Local manufacturing jobs, and Cumberland Connect fiber internet where available by address.
What to know
  • Limited dining and shopping, so many drive to Gallatin, Hendersonville or White House.
  • SR 109 and TGT Road carry trucks and commuters, and the bypass is targeted for spring 2028.
  • Residents voiced concern about growth outpacing roads, with rezonings drawing objections in April 2025.
  • Water system neared capacity in 2022, and residents cited water bill increases in 2025.
  • About 40 miles to downtown Nashville, roughly 45–50 minutes off-peak and longer at rush hour.

Based on resident reviews, local news coverage and city meetings.

Schools

Portland, TN schools.

Most of Portland is served by Sumner County Schools, with elementary, middle and high schools located in town. Homes in the Robertson County part of the area may be zoned to Robertson County Schools instead. Zones follow property lines, not mailing addresses or city limits, so confirm any address with the district's zone finder and review the Tennessee State Report Card.

Zoning can change. Always confirm the schools for a specific address with the district.

What's changing

Is Portland, TN growing?

  • TDOT is building the Portland Bypass, a 7.2-mile four-lane route west of downtown. Phase 1 broke ground in November 2025, with completion targeted for spring 2028.
  • Phase 2 of the bypass, south of SR 52, is in right-of-way acquisition, with construction scheduled for fiscal year 2028.
  • The city's first comprehensive land-use plan, "Preserving Portland," grew out of public workshops in 2024. Residents asked mostly for more restaurants and retail.
  • Industrial growth continues, and a new gym is under construction at Richland Park. Some rezoning requests in 2025 drew resident concerns about traffic and water.

Is it a fit?

Portland might be for you if…

  • You want more square footage or land for your budget and accept a longer drive to Nashville.
  • You commute locally, along the I-65 corridor, or north toward Kentucky.
  • You like a small downtown, hometown festivals and parks over a big shopping district.

Quick answers

Portland, TN: frequently asked questions.

Is Portland, TN a good place to live?

It depends on what you want: Portland, TN offers lower prices than closer-in Sumner County suburbs, city parks, a small downtown and a large local manufacturing base. The trade-offs are limited dining and shopping, traffic on SR 109, and about 40 miles to Nashville. Median home price is near $340,000 per Redfin, June 2026.

How far is Portland, TN from Nashville?

Portland, TN is about 40 miles from downtown Nashville, per the Middle Tennessee Industrial Development Association (MTIDA). Nashville International Airport is about 44 miles away. A typical drive runs roughly 45–50 minutes off-peak and longer at rush hour. I-65 is reachable at Exits 117 and 121, and the Census mean commute is 28.9 minutes.

What is the median home price in Portland, TN?

The median sale price in Portland, TN (ZIP 37148) was about $340,000 for the three months ending June 2026, up 3.0% from a year earlier, per Redfin. Redfin reported 132 sales in June and a 64-day median time on market. Other sources differ: MLS data shows a $322,450 median over 180 days.

What are property taxes in Portland, TN?

For 2025, the City of Portland rate is $0.90 per $100 of assessed value and the Sumner County rate is $1.421, per MTIDA, or $2.321 combined. Tennessee assesses homes at 25% of appraised value, so a $400,000 home pays about $2,321 a year. Robertson County's rate is $1.80. Confirm rates with the county trustee.

What school district serves Portland, TN?

Most of Portland, TN is served by Sumner County Schools, which has Portland elementary, middle and high schools located in town, including Portland High School. Homes on the Robertson County side may be zoned to Robertson County Schools instead. Zoning follows the property address, so confirm with the district's zone finder and review the Tennessee State Report Card.

Is Portland, TN growing?

Yes, Portland, TN is growing at a steady pace: the Census estimate is 13,658 residents as of July 2025, up 4.1% from 13,156 in April 2020. WKRN reported 56% growth since 2000 in August 2024. MTIDA projects about 0.5% a year from 2025 to 2030. TDOT is building a 7.2-mile bypass, with Phase 1 due spring 2028.

What is Portland, TN known for?

Portland, TN is best known for strawberries and the Middle Tennessee Strawberry Festival, held each May around Mother's Day weekend. The 2025 event was the 84th, and the chamber reported more than 40,000 visitors in 2024. The city is also known for manufacturing, including Daido America's US headquarters, and as the northern end of U.S. Bicycle Route 23.

Keep exploring

Compare nearby towns.

All communities →
The White House GreenwaySumner & RobertsonWhite House →Sunrise on Old Hickory Lake in HendersonvilleSumner CountyHendersonville →The historic square in downtown GallatinSumner County seatGallatin →GoodlettsvilleDavidson & SumnerGoodlettsville →Liberty Square park in GreenbrierRobertson CountyGreenbrier →The Robertson County Courthouse in SpringfieldRobertson County seatSpringfield →Rolling hills in MillersvilleSumner & RobertsonMillersville →

Thinking about Portland?

Book a 30-minute call and I'll tell you which parts of Portland fit what you want, and which don't. Not ready to talk yet? Start with the free 2-minute Buyer Assessment.

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Sources and notes · Last updated October 2026

Figures are estimates from the public sources above and change over time. Confirm taxes, schools and utilities for a specific address. Photo: Downtown Portland by Ichabod, CC BY-SA 3.0.