Woke Portland set to enter death spiral by 2031 as 40% of residents say they're considering leaving in next five years after enduring soaring crime and taxes

By LAUREN ACTON-TAYLOR, US NEWS REPORTER Published: 15:54, 14 May 2026 | Updated: 15:58, 14 May 2026 A staggering chunk of Portland's residents are considering abandoning the deep-blue state, as high crime and tax rates bring many Oregonians to their breaking point.   A new survey found that, of around 600 voters in the Portland tri-county metro area, 36 percent were considering moving out of the area within the next five years, Oregon Live reported.  Frustrations weren't strictly confined to the Democratic city either, as 58 percent of respondents in the metro area and 49 percent in Portland said they would leave the state of Oregon altogether.  Michelle Neiss, president of DHM Research which conducted the survey, told the outlet: 'It's not a small number of people who at at least toy with the idea [of moving].' Neiss added that the results lay bare a likely 'sense of frustration' with local government but noted that it's more than 'just being fed up with Portland,' the outlet reported.  The amount of people that are toying with the idea of leaving is a 'more sobering thing for Oregon to grapple with,' Neiss said.  For Dean Suhr, a 68-year-old Republican, retirement and looking to stretch his money further are large reasons for leaving and told the outlet: 'I've raised my kids here. I've had a good life up here, but as we're getting older and our income becomes more fixed, we need to look at how we can make what we've got stashed away last.' Suhr added that 'taxes and spending seem to be the standard solution to everything.' A new survey found that, of around 600 voters in the Portland tri-county metro area, 36 percent were considering moving out of the area within the next five years Frustrations weren't strictly confined to the Democratic city either, as 58 percent of respondents in the metro area and 49 percent in Portland said they would leave the state of Oregon altogether The metro area saw taxes as one of the top reasons for leaving among 62 percent of respondents, and in Portland 55 percent agreed that taxes were a major issue DHM Senior Vice President John Horvick agreed: 'Taxes are way above everything else.' Portland was recently ranked the second highest income taxes in the nation below New York City, according to the nonprofit organization Tax Foundation.  Among some of the areas highest taxes include state personal income tax with a top rate of 9.9 percent, state corporate income tax, a TriMet tax, a Multnomah County Preschool for All tax that begins at 1.5 percent on those who earn more than $125,000 per year as well as a tri-county homelessness tax, or the Metro Supportive Housing Services tax, of 1% on those earning over $125,000, according to Tax Foundation.  The metro area saw taxes as one of the top reasons for leaving among 62 percent of respondents, and in Portland 55 percent agreed that taxes were a major issue, the outlet reported.  From 2025, taxes as a top concern for residents rose in the metro area from 3 percent to 11 percent, according to Oregon Live.  The high percentage of people considering leaving the area, however, is not the full picture either, as Neiss cautioned against 'reading too much' into the data.  Oregon even boasted the highest percentage of people moving into the state in the country last year, according to an United Van Lines annual moving survey.  The year before, around 5,600 people moved to Oregon from other states, according to Census data.  Peggy Fisher, a vice president for a manufacturing company, told the outlet: 'It would be a really tough decision [to leave] because my kids and grandkids live here. But it's difficult to watch the state I love completely fall apart.' Fisher, who did not declare a political party, said that those high taxes haven't helped battle crime or improve schools, which has added to the feeling of frustration. Portland has been handling a years-long crime wave and quality of life issue since 2020, however it has managed to see violent offenses decrease from its record highs as of recently Among other reasons for locals looking to leave the area, lower housing costs were cited among 36 percent of people in the metro area and 40 percent of those in Portland Jenn Brucksh, a 32-year-old Democrat, furthered that rising costs, including energy bills, have 'been really tough.' 'I don't necessarily want to move because I love it here, especially the access to outdoor recreation,' she told the outlet.  Among other reasons for locals looking to leave the area, lower housing costs were cited among 36 percent of people in the metro area and 40 percent of those in Portland.  Keith Moore, 42, told Oregon Live that he felt that Oregon had 'not been a particularly business friendly state.'  'There is not as much future for me in Oregon,' Moore, a Republican working as an electrical systems blueprint and diagrams drafter, said.  'It has never been particularly easy to get to work.' Moore also noted that public safety was a concern of his and added: 'I have pretty distinct memories of what Portland used to be like. I remember in elementary class being able to go up and down the streets of Portland and it was this bright, clean, pretty, nice city. And now it's just not.' Portland has been handling a years-long crime wave and quality of life issue since 2020, however it has managed to see violent offenses decrease from its record highs as of recently.  Pictured: Elephants Delicatessen in Portland caught on fire after authorities say a woman accidentally lit garbage cans near the business. The resulting blaze spread to the roof and into the interior of the building  Last month, Elephants Delicatessen was set on fire after a woman using a torch to look inside nearby garbage cans accidentally ignited a piece of trash. The flames quickly spread to the deli’s roof and interior. The blaze left the deli's future uncertain, with its reopening in doubt. A nearby BottleDrop, where people can recycle cans and bottles for change, announced it would be closing due to the area becoming a magnet for drug dealers and users to gather. Neighboring businesses have said it is common to see 'canners' – those redeeming the bottle deposits – passed out in the parking lot or sidewalk outside.   In May 2025, reporters from The Oregonian observed people using drugs outside a BottleDrop site.  Several businesses that shared space with the troubled location, including a Dick’s Sporting Goods, chose not to renew their leases, with some citing the presence of homeless people as a factor in their decision.  In October, the Daily Mail observed a woman repeatedly bashing herself in the head and carrying out the act of self-harm while under the influence in downtown Portland.  Citizen journalist Kevin Dahlgren and other locals told the Daily Mail that the middle-aged woman is regularly accosted by a group of unknown men. In October, the Daily Mail observed a woman bashing herself in the head and carrying out the act of self-harm while under the influence The Daily Mail also observed a homeless man inhaling a bubbling substance from a scrap piece of aluminum They said she is usually taken to a nearby motel or apartment, where she is forced to shower, before being subjected to horrific sexual assaults. Portland residents, specifically those in the Old Town area of the city, who know the woman said the group attacks can go on for days before she is dumped back on the streets. Dahlgren said he fears the woman is also battling severe drug issues. The Daily Mail also observed a man inhaling a bubbling substance from a scrap piece of aluminum. He said he was homeless after losing his job.  Another person broke into a vehicle, smashing the window, before being arrested.   'Crime out here is just really common, this is extremely common – you can usually hear the smashes, the police don't care – they're not going to stop them', Dahlgren told the Daily Mail.  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. 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