Portland's Under-5 Population Drops by a Third

Portland Public Schools proposes closing at least 11 schools as young children make up a shrinking share of the city's residents.

Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Child Care

Portland's Under-5 Population Drops by a Third

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The number of children under 5 in Portland, Oregon has fallen by more than a third since 2010, now making up 3.9% of the population compared with 6.4% then. Portland Public Schools has proposed closing at least 11 schools, mostly elementaries, in response.

Why it matters

The decline reflects a pattern seen in large cities where rising housing prices and stagnant wages lead families to have fewer children. For Portland residents, it signals pressure on the school system and the broader tax base that depends on residents.

Children under 5 now make up 3.9% of Portland's population, down from 6.4% in 2010, according to new census data. Portland school enrollment is about 42,000, down 15% from 2018, and elementary enrollment has fallen by a third since its 2016 peak.

The players

Portland Public Schools

The district that serves Portland's students and has proposed closing at least 11 schools, mostly elementaries, as enrollment declines.

The details

Excluding Portland, the metro area's under-5 population has dropped by a little more than 10% over the past five years. Portland's decline matches Austin, Minneapolis, Denver and Seattle, where young children also make up between 4% and 5% of residents. The district projects further enrollment declines in the years ahead.

2010: Baseline year when children under 5 were 6.4% of Portland's population
2016: Elementary school enrollment reached its most recent peak
2018: Portland school enrollment was higher before a 15% decline
Last week: New census data on the under-5 population was released

Season Trajectory

Portland's decline in young children tracks closely with Austin, Minneapolis, Denver and Seattle, where under-5 residents make up between 4% and 5% of the population. The pattern suggests a broader shift in big-city family size rather than a local anomaly.

Families with young children in Portland may see fewer neighborhood schools if the proposed closures move forward. The shrinking school-age population could also affect the local services and programs tied to enrollment.

The takeaway

Families weighing where to raise children in Portland should watch the district's final decisions on school closures, since enrollment trends point to continued change.