Neighborhoods Near Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center: A Guide for Physicians
(Updated August 31st, 2026)
If you're moving to Portland for a position at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center, you have an unusually wide range of housing options within a short commute.
Good Samaritan sits in Northwest Portland, putting physicians within walking distance of some of Portland's most urban neighborhoods while also being just minutes from quieter residential areas in the West Hills.
Depending on what you want, you can live in a modern condo and walk to the hospital, own a historic Portland home a few minutes away, or trade a slightly longer commute for more space and privacy.
The best choice ultimately comes down to how you balance commute, housing style, walkability, space and maintenance.
If you're still getting oriented to the city as a whole, start with my Choosing the Right Portland Neighborhood or Suburb guide.
Here are the neighborhoods I would consider first.
🚶 Nob Hill & the Alphabet District: The Best Choice for Walking to Good Sam
Typical commute: Walkable; generally 0–5 minutes by car
For physicians who want the shortest possible commute, it's hard to beat the Alphabet District and Nob Hill.
Good Samaritan is located directly within this part of Northwest Portland, so depending on your address, walking to work may be easier than driving.
NW 21st and NW 23rd provide restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques and everyday amenities, while the surrounding residential streets are filled with mature trees and some of Portland's classic architecture.
🏠 Housing
Expect a mixture of:
Historic condominiums
Vintage apartments
Victorian and Craftsman homes
Townhomes
Smaller infill developments
Single-family homes are relatively scarce compared with Portland's more residential neighborhoods, so buyers looking for substantial yards or newer houses may want to look farther west.
🩺 Why It Works for Physicians
The obvious advantage is the commute. If you're frequently on call or simply don't want to spend your limited free time driving, living within walking distance of the hospital can be incredibly convenient.
It's also one of the easiest Portland neighborhoods in which to live with relatively little dependence on a car.
Best for: Physicians prioritizing walkability, an extremely short commute and an urban lifestyle.
🏙️ Slabtown: Newer Housing Near the Hospital
Typical commute: Approximately 3–8 minutes
Just north of the Alphabet District, Slabtown offers a noticeably newer version of Northwest Portland living.
The neighborhood has undergone extensive redevelopment, resulting in modern apartment buildings, newer condominiums, restaurants, grocery options and other amenities within a compact area.
For someone relocating from another major city, Slabtown can feel more immediately familiar than Portland's predominantly single-family neighborhoods.
🏢 Housing
Housing is dominated by newer:
Condominiums
Apartments
Townhomes
Mixed-use developments
If you want newer construction, secure parking, elevators and fewer maintenance responsibilities while remaining very close to Good Samaritan, Slabtown deserves serious consideration.
Best for: Physicians wanting newer, low-maintenance housing without giving up proximity to the hospital.
🌆 Pearl District: Urban Condo Living
Typical commute: Approximately 5–10 minutes
The Pearl District is another strong choice for physicians who prefer condominium living.
Former warehouses, newer residential towers, parks, restaurants and galleries give the neighborhood a distinctly urban character. Depending on where you live in the Pearl, Good Samaritan is close enough for a short drive, bike ride, streetcar trip or even a longer walk.
🏢 Housing
The Pearl offers one of Portland's largest concentrations of condominiums, ranging from converted industrial lofts to newer luxury buildings.
For physicians relocating to Portland who don't want to immediately take on the maintenance of a single-family house, a Pearl District condo can provide an appealing lock-and-leave option.
If you're considering condominium living more broadly, you may also want to compare the Pearl with South Waterfront. My South Waterfront Condo Deep-Dive looks at individual buildings, amenities and HOA considerations.
Best for: Physicians wanting an urban lifestyle, condominium amenities and easy access to both Good Samaritan and downtown.
🌲 Willamette Heights: Residential Living Surprisingly Close to Good Sam
Typical commute: Approximately 5–10 minutes
Willamette Heights is one of the most interesting options for physicians who want a single-family home without giving up a very short commute.
Located above Northwest Portland near Forest Park, the neighborhood feels dramatically more residential than Nob Hill despite being only minutes away.
Tree-lined streets, hillside lots and access to nearby trails make this an especially appealing option for buyers who love Northwest Portland but don't necessarily want to live in its busiest commercial areas.
🏡 Housing
You'll find:
Historic Portland homes
Craftsman and traditional houses
Renovated older properties
Homes with territorial or city views
Inventory can be limited, so buyers targeting this neighborhood may need some flexibility.
Best for: Physicians who want a house, greenery and quiet while remaining exceptionally close to Good Samaritan.
🌳 Hillside: West Hills Privacy With a Short Commute
Typical commute: Approximately 5–12 minutes
Hillside sits above Northwest Portland and provides a very different living environment from the neighborhoods immediately surrounding the hospital.
Instead of dense commercial streets, you'll find winding roads, wooded properties and hillside homes—often with impressive views.
The tradeoff is walkability. Hillside is much more car-dependent than Nob Hill or the Pearl, and steep streets are part of everyday life.
For buyers drawn to Portland because of its access to nature, Hillside also provides convenient access to the extensive trail network around Forest Park.
Best for: Physicians prioritizing privacy, views and a residential environment over walkability.
🚋 Goose Hollow: Central and Convenient
Typical commute: Approximately 8–15 minutes
Goose Hollow sits between downtown and the West Hills, giving residents convenient access to several parts of central Portland.
Housing varies considerably, from condominiums and apartments to older single-family homes tucked against the hills.
It can be a useful compromise for physicians who want to remain central but don't necessarily want to live directly in Northwest Portland.
Best for: Buyers who want central-city convenience with a wider variety of housing types.
🌄 Southwest Hills & Council Crest: More Space Without Leaving Central Portland
Typical commute: Approximately 10–15 minutes, depending on location and traffic
For physicians looking for larger homes, privacy and views, the Southwest Hills and Council Crest area can offer substantially more residential space while keeping Good Samaritan reasonably accessible.
These neighborhoods feel much quieter than Northwest Portland. Lots tend to be larger, streets more residential and views can be spectacular.
The tradeoff is that you'll rely much more heavily on your car.
If you're considering this part of Portland, it's also worth comparing it with the neighborhoods convenient to OHSU, since many Southwest Portland neighborhoods work well for both hospital campuses. See my Top Portland Neighborhoods for Physicians Near OHSU guide.
Best for: Physicians wanting larger homes, privacy and a more traditional residential environment.
🌊 South Waterfront: Modern High-Rise Living
Typical commute: Approximately 10–15 minutes in favorable traffic
South Waterfront isn't the closest option to Good Samaritan, but it deserves consideration for physicians specifically seeking modern high-rise living.
The neighborhood sits along the Willamette River south of downtown and offers newer condominium towers, riverfront paths and easy access to OHSU's lower campus and the Portland Aerial Tram.
🏙️ Housing
South Waterfront is primarily known for:
Luxury condominiums
High-rise apartments
Secure parking
Building amenities
River and city views
For a broader look at the area, see my Physician's Guide to South Portland Neighborhoods.
And if you're seriously considering buying a condo there, my South Waterfront Condo Deep-Dive compares some of the individual buildings physicians commonly consider.
South Waterfront makes the most sense for someone who values modern construction and low-maintenance living enough to accept a somewhat longer Good Samaritan commute.
Best for: Physicians wanting modern high-rise living, river views and a lock-and-leave home.
🏘️ What About Portland's Suburbs?
If you're looking for a larger house, more land or a more suburban environment, you don't necessarily need to stay in central Portland.
However, Good Samaritan's location makes close-in Northwest and Southwest Portland particularly convenient. Moving farther into the suburbs can substantially change your commute, especially during peak traffic.
Physicians considering Lake Oswego, West Linn, Beaverton, Happy Valley or other suburban communities should weigh the additional space against commute reliability—particularly if frequent call is part of the job.
If outdoor access is especially important to you, my Best Portland Suburbs for Nature-Loving Physicians explores several suburban options in much greater detail.
🏢 Condo or 🏡 Single-Family Home Near Good Samaritan?
One of the advantages of working at Good Samaritan is that you don't have to choose between only one type of Portland lifestyle.
If you want maximum convenience and minimal maintenance, start with:
Nob Hill / Alphabet District
Slabtown
Pearl District
If you want a single-family home while preserving a short commute, look particularly closely at:
Willamette Heights
Hillside
Southwest Hills
And if you want modern high-rise living, compare the Pearl District with South Waterfront.
💰 A Few Things to Consider Before Choosing a Neighborhood
🕐 Your Call Schedule
A ten-minute difference in commute time may not sound significant until you're making the trip repeatedly or heading into the hospital at unusual hours.
For physicians with frequent call responsibilities, I would put more weight on commute reliability than simply looking at an average drive-time estimate.
🚗 Parking
Living within walking or biking distance of Good Samaritan can eliminate another piece of your daily routine and make unpredictable schedules considerably easier to manage.
🧾 Property Taxes
Oregon's property-tax system can surprise buyers coming from other states because a property's assessed value can differ substantially from its market value.
Before comparing homes based only on purchase price, read my How Oregon Property Taxes Really Work guide.
You may also want to review 5 Hidden Costs of Buying a Home in Portland when developing your overall purchase budget.
💻 Buying While Relocating
You may be trying to choose a neighborhood while finishing residency, fellowship or another position hundreds or thousands of miles away.
That's very common among physician buyers.
My Remote House-Hunting Guide for Relocating Physicians explains how to approach virtual showings, neighborhood evaluation, inspections and purchasing a Portland home when you can't be here for every step.
🏥 Comparing Portland's Major Hospital Areas
Still deciding where you want to live?
I've created individual neighborhood guides for physicians working at several of Portland's major medical centers, including:
OHSU
Legacy Emanuel Medical Center
Providence St. Vincent Medical Center
Providence Portland Medical Center
Adventist Health Portland
For example, you can compare Good Samaritan's Northwest Portland options with my OHSU neighborhood guide, Providence Portland neighborhood guide and Adventist Health Portland neighborhood guide.
📍 Moving to Portland for Legacy Good Samaritan?
Choosing where to live near Good Samaritan isn't simply about finding the neighborhood with the shortest drive.
A physician who wants to walk to work may love Nob Hill. Someone who wants a newer condo may prefer Slabtown or the Pearl. And someone looking for a larger home surrounded by trees may be much happier a few minutes away in Willamette Heights or the West Hills.
If you're still early in your relocation, start with my Complete Guide to Moving to Portland as a Physician and then read The Portland Home Buying Process: A Step-by-Step Guide for Physicians.
📅 Ready to start exploring your options?
If you'd like help comparing neighborhoods, evaluating commute tradeoffs or buying a home before your move to Portland, I'd be happy to help you build a search around your specific position and priorities.
Not quite ready for a consult? No worries, click here to request a buyers or sellers guide today.
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