Affordable Portland Storage Units

Moving and storage go hand in hand. Whether traveling across town or the country, moving is an exciting and fresh start. While Storage Rentals of America is here to help you with all your storage needs, we also want to help you get familiar with the area. That's why we put together this resource guide for Portland.

A charming town in Connecticut's Middlesex County, Portland is considered by some to be a suburb of Hartford. Even so, it's a community that has its own identity and atmosphere, with a vibrant main street and quiet, family-friendly residential areas.

Portland, CT, was settled as early as the 1690s, and by the 19th century, the town had grown prosperous thanks to the quarry industry. Today, Portland is home to about 9,500 people and is a hub for outdoor recreation. A short drive from both Hartford and New Haven, Portland is popular among young families and retirees alike.

Things to do in Portland, CT

Rich in history and natural resources, Portland is best known for its quarrying past and beautiful scenery. The town is just 30 minutes from the beaches of Long Island Sound and is a stone's throw from several state parks. Some of the most popular attractions and activities in the immediate Portland area include:

• Brownstone Adventure Park - One of the best places in Portland to experience outdoor adventure at its finest, Brownstone Adventure Park provides a family-friendly experience packed with excitement. The park overlooks the Connecticut River and offers zip lining, cliff jumping, swimming, rock climbing, rope swings, kayaking, wakeboarding, and more.
• Kidcity Children's Museum - Located just across the river in Middletown, [Kidcity Children's Museum](http://exploration areas) is an inventive indoor space with three floors of themed exploration areas where kids can learn and play at the same time in a safe environment. It's open to children ages 1-7 (and their accompanying grown-ups).
• River Highlands State Park - The Portland area includes several great parks and forests, but River Highlands State Park is definitely near the top of the list. This park offers hiking trails, campgrounds, and beautiful cliffs overlooking the river. Be sure to also check out the nearby Wadsworth Falls State Park, known for its picturesque waterfall.
• Quarry View - An abandoned brownstone quarry that has been reclaimed and turned into a privately-owned park, Quarry View offers camping and picnic areas in a unique space, perched atop the walls of the former quarry.

Working in Portland, CT

Once, brownstone from Portland quarries was shipped all over the U.S. and Canada and even to Europe. Shipbuilding was another major industry here, but both saw a major decline in the early 20th century. Today, Portland is home to a diverse job market with many opportunities.

Overall, Portland is neither predominately white-collar nor blue-collar but offers a balanced mix of both. Sales occupations, management, and administrative support are some of the most common jobs here, and a higher-than-average percentage of the population telecommutes or works from home.

Portland, CT Neighborhoods

Portland is a small town, but it still offers many opportunities. If you're considering a move to Portland, then it's important to choose an area that best serves your needs. Some of the most popular neighborhoods in Portland and the surrounding communities are:

• Portland Town Center - Spanning Portland's downtown business district as well as surrounding residential areas, the Portland Town Center has a median real estate value of $262,200. Most residences here are medium single-family homes built in the early 20th century or older, along with a few small apartment buildings.
• Fogelmarks Corners/Riverdale - There's a lot of desirable real estate in the Fogelmarks/Riverdale area, which has a median real estate value of $353,700. This neighborhood has a suburban feel, and many homes here are larger and newer than those in the Town Center. Most of the homes are owner-occupied.
• Cromwell - The community of Cromwell is located across the Connecticut River from Portland. It offers a suburban atmosphere with a fairly even mix of owner-occupied homes and rentals. The median real estate value is $297,000, and the properties here are a mix of medium-sized single-family homes and apartment complexes, most built from the 1950s to the present.

Portland, CT School District

Schools in Portland, CT are part of the Portland Public Schools district. The district serves about 1,300 students from Pre-K to 12th grade across three elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. Portland Public Schools are well-rated in academics and college preparation and have a student-teacher ratio of 12-1.

Although there are no colleges or universities in Portland, the town is very close to several institutions of higher learning in the immediate area. Weslyan University and Middlesex Community College are each about 10 minutes away in Middletown, CT. Portland is also roughly 20 minutes from several colleges and universities in the Hartford area.

Moving to Portland, CT Resource Guide

If you're new to Portland, you'll find a lot of helpful resources on the official Town of Portland website, which includes contact info for the local police and fire departments, as well as the department of public works, which provides water and sewer services.

Gas and electricity in Portland are provided by Eversource (formerly Connecticut Light & Power). Portland Parks & Recreation is another great resource for anyone looking for places to hike, bike, and enjoy the outdoors in the Portland area.

Portland, CT Housing

The median home cost in Portland is $273,700, slightly lower than the U.S. average. That being said, Portland is significantly more affordable than Connecticut as a whole, which has the 9th highest cost of living of any state. The median rent in the Portland area is about $1,060 for a one-bedroom apartment, $1,320 for a two-bedroom apartment, and $1,670 for a three-bedroom apartment.