I'm from Vancouver, that snazzy-looking (well, at some angles) city vertically pushing high-rises like mushrooms, linked by a high-speed rail system.
OK
Please excuse that preamble, and continue to say what I came here to say.
Metropolitan Portland and Metropolitan Vancouver have tightly close metro populations..
You may not have quite the same look as Vancouver, but you have a higher city GNP.
Somehow, that good ol' American 'know how' is there and "just do it" without massive overseas infusions.
And you do it unostationsiously, and with a charming cityscape with wonderful views.
Plus a charming mix of modern, but a lot of heritage buildings, a good tramway, and lastly, that magnificent fountain square.
So Vancouver can razzle-dazzle all it wants, but Portland makes more money.
Seattle, of course, is the "big boy on the block" and is the home of Microsoft,
and many affiliated "silicon valley" type industries, Boeing, (yes I know the hq is in Chicago, but still...)
(.........and it's gaining several major foreign airlines.)
But Portland and Vancouver somehow complement each other.
Thank you for your time and consideration, good neighbour!