Metrofactual

You know greater Portland is a cool place to live and do business. But to really know how cool, you’ve got to know the competition.

Here’s a test of your awareness of greater Portland’s competiveness.

1. In the next five years, greater Portland’s population is projected to grow by:
a) 2% b) 4% c) 6% d) 8%

2. In the company of Seattle, Denver, Austin, San Francisco and L.A., greater Portland ranks No. 1 on which of these metrics? (Hint: there’s more than one.)

a. Lowest cost of living
b. Most public wi-fi spaces
c. Lowest one-bedroom apartment rent
d. Least hours of traffic delay
e. Most brewpubs (duh!)

3. San Francisco has the greatest concentration of same-sex couples, compared with the metros listed below. Which metro ranks second?
a. Los Angeles
b. Portland
c. Denver
d. San Diego
e. Seattle

4. Which metro’s gross regional product is projected to grow faster than that of greater Portland in the next five years?
a. L.A.
b. Seattle
c. Denver
d. San Francisco
e. none of the above

5. Greater Portland had more inventor patents in 2007 than all but which metro:
a. San Francisco
b. Seattle
c. Los Angeles
d. Austin
e. Denver

6. The median housing price in greater Portland is:
a. about one-third that of San Jose’s
b. nearly $100,000 less than Seattle’s
c. half as much as L.A.’s
d. all of the above

7. Greater Portland’s Class A office space is (choose one):
a. more expensive than Denver’s.
b. two-thirds the cost of Seattle’s.
c. least expensive of the competitors (Denver, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin).

Quiz answers
1. d. The region is projected to have 2.4 million residents by 2013.
2. d, e. Compare greater Portland’s annual traffic delay of 38 hours with Austin’s 49, San Jose’s 54 or L.A.’s 72.
3. b
4. e
5. d. Greater Portland had 2,987; Austin had 7,540.
6. d
7. b. At $25.30 per square foot, it’s a bargain. Only Austin’s is cheaper.