The median family income in Portland (the city proper, not the metro area) was $77k in 2015 according to http://www.deptofnumbers.com/income/oregon/portland/ ht

The median family income in Portland (the city proper, not the metro area) was $77k in 2015 according to http://www.deptofnumbers.com/income/oregon/portland/ http://www.deptofnumbers.com/income/oregon/portland/. $1500/month is totally within the bounds of the typical 40:1 income to rent ratio, so it's unsurprising that available rents tend to be in that range. If you want something cheaper than that, then yes, it's going to be low-end. I'm not really sure what you're hoping for. Rents were creeping further upwards until building started to catch up with people moving in, and now they're coming down. Are you really trying to argue that the best move, in light of this evidence, is to build less?