Portland TN Home Tour - A Lot That Runs 478 Feet Deep - Where to Live In Nashville
Aug 30, 2026
Sumner / Robertson County
Guide updated August 2026
Moving to
Portland, TN
“The Strawberry Capital of Tennessee”
$220K – $600K
Price Range
45-60 minutes
To Nashville
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The quick answer
Portland is a roughly 13,000-person town at the northern tip of Sumner County near the Kentucky line, about 45-60 minutes from downtown Nashville via I-65, with for-sale inventory spanning roughly $220K to $600K. Most of the city sits in Sumner County, but its incorporated limits reach across the county line at the northwest corner of town into Robertson County, so the county of record is worth confirming by address. Known as the 'Strawberry Capital of Tennessee,' it trades proximity for affordability versus Hendersonville and Gallatin, with new-construction activity and employers including Shoals Technologies.
Complete Guide to Portland, Tennessee
Portland is a town of roughly 13,000 in the northern tip of Sumner County, sitting right along I-65 near the Kentucky state line. Portland is a two-county town: most of the incorporated city is in Sumner County, but the city limits cross the line at the northwest corner of town into Robertson County (U.S. Census Bureau place and county boundaries, checked 2026-08-23), so confirm the county of record for any specific address — it determines where the property is assessed and taxed. It's best known as the "Strawberry Capital of Tennessee," home to the Middle Tennessee Strawberry Festival, which held its 85th annual celebration on May 8-9, 2026. Compared with the more developed southern Sumner County cities like Hendersonville and Gallatin, Portland trades proximity for affordability, with median home prices that run well below the Nashville-metro average and steady new-construction activity as buyers look farther out for value. The drive to downtown Nashville is about 39-40 miles and runs roughly 45 minutes off-peak via I-65, though rush-hour traffic can stretch that meaningfully. Public schools are part of Sumner County Schools (Portland High School, Portland East and Portland West Middle Schools, and Watt Hardison Elementary, among others); Highland Academy is a private Seventh-day Adventist school in the area. Major area employers include a Macy's Logistics & Operations distribution center on Vaughn Parkway, and in May 2026 hometown company Shoals Technologies Group opened a 638,000-square-foot manufacturing campus, adding to Portland's industrial base.
The practical facts
Portland: county line, taxes, utilities & commute
Portland is a Sumner County city whose incorporated limits cross into Robertson County — the Tennessee Comptroller's certified tax table lists the city in both counties. Which side a specific parcel sits on is a deed-and-tax-bill fact, not a mailing-address fact, and it decides which county's taxes apply and which county school district (Sumner County Schools or Robertson County Schools) serves the address.
Portland's 2025 certified city rate is $0.90 per $100 of assessed value on both sides of the line. Sumner County adds $1.421 for a $2.321 combined rate; Robertson County adds $1.80 for $2.70 combined. At Tennessee's 25% residential assessment, a $400,000 home runs roughly $2,320 a year on the Sumner side versus roughly $2,700 on the Robertson side. Rates change with reappraisals; confirm current figures with the county trustee.
Portland runs its own municipal utilities for water, sewer, and natural gas — the city's water department serves about 8,350 customers and its gas department about 4,425. Electric service comes from Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation, which keeps a district office on South Broadway in Portland. At the edges of town, White House Utility District also serves parts of the surrounding area, so we confirm the water provider for any specific address.
- Counties
- Sumner (city limits reach into Robertson)
- 2025 tax, Sumner side
- $2.321 / $100 assessed
- 2025 tax, Robertson side
- $2.70 / $100 assessed
- Electric
- Cumberland Electric (CEMC)
- Water
- City of Portland (WHUD at the edges)
Verified August 2026against primary sources — the town's and county's own sites, the Tennessee Comptroller's 2025 certified property-tax rates, and the utility providers themselves. Tax rates change with reappraisals; confirm current figures with the county trustee before you rely on them.
What's changing in Portland
Updated June 2026Shoals Technologies' New Solar-Tech Mega-Campus Anchors Portland's Industrial Base
The marquee development reshaping Portland, TN is the new 638,000-square-foot Shoals Technologies Group manufacturing campus at 1500 Shoals Way, which opened with a ribbon-cutting on May 18, 2026. The hometown solar- and energy-infrastructure company (NASDAQ: SHLS) consolidated three existing Tennessee facilities into one centralized 'mega facility,' backed by a $30 million initial investment and a commitment of up to $80 million over five years, reinforcing Portland's role as a Middle Tennessee advanced-manufacturing hub.
MARQUEE PROJECT — SHOALS TECHNOLOGIES MEGA-CAMPUS: The single biggest project physically in Portland (Sumner County) is the new Shoals Technologies Group manufacturing campus. Shoals is headquartered in Portland and is the city's anchor public company (NASDAQ: SHLS), making this both an expansion and a consolidation of its hometown footprint.
SIZE & ADDRESS: A 638,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art manufacturing campus at 1500 Shoals Way, Portland, TN, on the Sumner County side of the city. It consolidates the company's three existing Tennessee facilities into one centralized location.
INVESTMENT: A $30 million initial investment, with a total commitment of up to $80 million over five years, per the company's announcement and the May 2026 opening release.
JOBS: The expansion is reported to add roughly 550 jobs over five years. The facility was reported as operational but still ramping toward full capacity in 2026.
TIMELINE & STATUS: A grand-opening ribbon-cutting was held May 18, 2026, with the public announcement May 19, 2026 (the event also marked the company's 30th anniversary). Status: OPEN and ramping to full capacity.
WHAT IT MAKES: Electrical 'balance of systems' (EBOS) and critical power infrastructure for utility-scale solar, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and data-center power — Shoals' core product lines.
HONESTY NOTE ON A COMPETING HEADLINE: A larger-sounding project — Create Energy's expansion announced in 2026 — is frequently associated with 'Portland,' but the bulk of that investment and jobs is actually at an Orlinda facility in ROBERTSON County, not Portland/Sumner. For Sumner-County Portland specifically, Shoals is the true marquee project.
RESIDENTIAL CONTEXT: Portland's affordable new-construction growth continues alongside the job base, with the Planning Commission processing new single-family subdivisions, though no single residential project rivals Shoals in scale.
SOURCING NOTE: The $30M figure reflects the May 2026 opening release's 'initial investment'; the broader commitment is framed as up to $80M over five years. Job figures (~550) are drawn from coverage of the expansion and may be revised as the facility ramps.
- Marquee project
- Shoals Technologies Group manufacturing mega-campus
- Developer / company
- Shoals Technologies Group (NASDAQ: SHLS), Portland-HQ'd
- Location
- 1500 Shoals Way, Portland, TN (Sumner County)
- Investment
- $30M initial; up to $80M over five years
- Size
- 638,000 sq ft (consolidates 3 TN facilities)
- Jobs
- ~550 new jobs (over five years)
- Status / timeline
- Ribbon-cutting May 18, 2026; OPEN and ramping to full capacity
- Product
- Solar EBOS, battery energy storage (BESS), data-center power infrastructure
- Honesty caveat
- Create Energy's larger expansion is mostly in Orlinda, ROBERTSON County — not Portland/Sumner
What's New to Eat, Drink & Shop in Portland
Updated August 2026Portland sits at the northern edge of Sumner County on the Kentucky line, and most of its recent food, coffee, and retail activity has landed either downtown along Main Street or on the Highway 52 commercial corridor near Interstate 65. The items below are located within Portland itself (37148) and are verified through Main Street Media of Tennessee (the Portland Sun), the Portland Chamber of Commerce directory, and Portland Sun reporting on City Council and Planning Commission meetings; recent ribbon-cuttings in neighboring Bethpage, White House, Gallatin, and Westmoreland were excluded because they sit outside Portland.
Scooter's CoffeeOpen
A drive-thru location of the specialty-coffee chain at 413 Highway 52 in Portland, serving espresso drinks, blended beverages, and pastries. The Portland Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting for the store in spring 2026.
Coffee · opened 2026 (Portland Chamber ribbon cutting spring 2026)
Susie's StrawberriesOpen
A seasonal strawberry stand and market at 9118 Highway 52 in Portland, selling locally grown strawberries by the gallon along with branded t-shirts. Hours run seasonally, and a ribbon-cutting was held May 4, 2026.
Grocery / Food hall · opened spring 2026 (ribbon cutting May 4, 2026)
Blonde & Noir Co.Open
A hair salon at 118A Main Street in downtown Portland, owned by Monica Garcia Gregory and Caitlin Dowlen. The salon has operated at the Main Street address since Dec. 1, 2025 and held its Portland Chamber ribbon-cutting on April 21, 2026.
Fitness / Wellness · opened December 2025 (ribbon cutting April 21, 2026)
Tri-Star CoffeeOpen
A locally owned coffee shop at 6009 Highway 31W, owned by Tasha Graham. The menu covers drip coffee, americanos, cappuccinos, cold coffees, specialty lattes, dirty sodas, hot chocolate, and energy drinks, plus seasonal drinks. It officially opened Oct. 1, 2025, with a Portland Chamber ribbon-cutting on Jan. 13, 2026.
Coffee · opened October 2025 (ribbon cutting Jan 13, 2026)
The Chew at Bottom View FarmOpen
A Southern comfort-food eatery on the grounds of Bottom View Farm at 185 Wilkerson Lane, run by chef-owners Kelley Cassetty and Don Ostrander. It serves buffet-style Southern plates on Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays and also handles catering.
Restaurant · opened May 2025
Waffle HouseOpen
A location of the 24-hour diner chain on the Highway 52 commercial corridor in Portland, serving breakfast plates, hashbrowns, and sandwiches. Mayor Mike Callis reported the restaurant was open during his remarks at the Nov. 3, 2025 City Council meeting.
Restaurant · opened 2025 (reported open at the Nov. 3, 2025 City Council meeting)
Dash of Dez 615 BoutiqueOpen
A downtown clothing-and-gift boutique run by Dezaree Henson at 104 E. McGlothlin Street, carrying merchandise for all ages across several rooms, including baby items, apparel, and accessories. The Portland Chamber held a ribbon-cutting on Oct. 20, 2023.
Retail · opened 2023 (ribbon cutting Oct 20, 2023)
Zaxby'sComing soon
A chicken-fingers and wings restaurant planned for the Highway 52 corridor in Portland, on a site near the Waffle House and Scooter's Coffee locations. The Portland Planning Commission approved the site plan on Jan. 13, 2026, and City Planner Nate Heisler noted that meetings with the Tennessee Department of Transportation had been held. No opening date has been announced.
Restaurant · site plan approved January 2026; opening date not announced
Why People Love Portland
Middle Tennessee Strawberry Festival (85th annual, May 2026)
Richland Park, with a loop trail and mountain-biking trails
Meadowbrook Park
Macy's Logistics & Operations distribution hub (major area employer)
Shoals Technologies Group manufacturing campus (opened May 2026)
Direct I-65 access near the Kentucky state line
Portland Chamber of Commerce and a historic downtown core
New-construction communities in Portland
We document 9 new-construction communities in Portland — builders, floor plans, amenities, and what each one is actually like on the ground. Buyer representation on new construction comes at little or no cost to you.
Neighborhoods & areas in Portland
Downtown Portland / Historic coreWind Wood EstatesRichland Park areaHighland Circle areaSouth Broadway corridorVaughn Parkway / north-side new construction
Choosing an agent in Portland
Best Real Estate Agent in Portland, TN (2026): How to Choose the Right One
We do not publish a Portland median or days-on-market figure — the public sources disagree with each other for the same month, and on whether prices rose or fell year over year. Here's how to evaluate a real estate agent in Portland — what to ask, what to look for, and why The Will Johnson Team's veteran and clinical background plus Middle Tennessee new-construction focus make them a strong fit.
Portland Quick Facts
CountySumner / Robertson County
Price Range$220K – $600K
Drive to Nashville45-60 minutes
Figures reviewed July 2026. We pull current, address-level comparables before any offer.
Ask Will About Portland Free Home ValuationHomes for Sale in Portland
Browse Portland ListingsReal Listings · Real Walk-Throughs
Home Tours Filmed in Portland
Every home tour we've filmed in Portland. Watch the ones that catch your eye and use them to calibrate what your budget actually buys.
Portland TN Home Tour - What $15,000 More Buys on the Same Street - Where to Live In Nashville
Aug 28, 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the median home price in Portland?
We don't publish a single median for Portland right now — the public aggregators disagree widely for the same month, and some report list prices rather than closed sales. Homes here range from $220K – $600K. Call 615-265-1000 and we'll pull current closed comparable sales for the neighborhood and price point you're considering.
How far is Portland from Nashville?
Portland is approximately 45-60 minutes from downtown Nashville. Exact commute time depends on traffic and your specific destination.
Which county is Portland, TN in?
Primarily Sumner County, but the city limits cross into Robertson County — the TN Comptroller's certified tax table lists Portland in both. The parcel's county of record (deed and tax bill) decides which county's taxes apply and whether Sumner County Schools or Robertson County Schools serves the address.
What are property taxes in Portland, TN?
For 2025, the certified city rate is $0.90 per $100 of assessed value, plus $1.421 for Sumner County ($2.321 combined) or $1.80 for Robertson County ($2.70 combined). At Tennessee's 25% residential assessment, a $400,000 home runs roughly $2,320/year on the Sumner side vs. roughly $2,700 on the Robertson side. Source: TN Comptroller 2025 certified tax rates; confirm current figures with the county trustee.
Who provides utilities in Portland, TN?
The City of Portland runs its own water, sewer, and natural gas utilities. Electric service is Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation, which has a district office in Portland. White House Utility District serves parts of the surrounding area, so we confirm the water provider for a specific address.
What's it like living in Portland, TN?
Portland is a small, affordable town at the northern edge of the Nashville metro near the Kentucky line, straddling the Sumner–Robertson county line, ... It's commonly a fit for Value-focused buyers and New-construction shoppers.
What are the popular neighborhoods or areas in Portland?
Areas commonly searched in Portland include Downtown Portland / Historic core, Wind Wood Estates, Richland Park area, Highland Circle area, South Broadway corridor, Vaughn Parkway / north-side new construction. Each offers a different balance of price, amenities, and lifestyle, and we can pull recent comparable sales so you decide what fits.
Who handles real estate in Portland, TN?
The Will Johnson Team (eXp Realty) works Portland regularly — a 5.0-rated team on Google and Zillow, RealTrends Verified 2026, licensed in Tennessee since 2013, and quoted as an expert source by CBS MoneyWatch and Bottom Line Personal. Call 615-265-1000 — the first conversation carries no commitment.
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Portland compared with nearby areas
Side-by-side pages — price (a median where we can source one, a range where the public aggregators disagree), drive time, character, and the trade-offs a single town page can't show you. Each one is a dated snapshot, not a prediction.
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About the authors
By Will Johnson & The Will Johnson Team
Will Johnson leads The Will Johnson Team at eXp Realty, serving buyers and sellers across Middle Tennessee — Portland, Nashville, Hendersonville, Gallatin, Sumner County, Brentwood, Franklin, Mount Juliet, Murfreesboro and the surrounding communities. A U.S. Army veteran who served 14 years and rose to the rank of Major, and a former ICU nurse and nurse anesthetist (CRNA) who graduated with a 4.0 from MTSA, he has been licensed in Tennessee since 2013 (license #330494); as of 2026 the team has closed $27.7 million in volume across 64 transactions. The team holds a 5.0 rating on Google and Zillow, is RealTrends Verified 2026, has been featured as an expert source by CBS MoneyWatch and Bottom Line Personal, and can be reached at 615-265-1000.
Equal Housing Opportunity · Licensed in Tennessee and regulated by the Tennessee Real Estate Commission (TN #330494) · The Will Johnson Team is affiliated with eXp Realty · This page is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice.