After years of population loss, Portland’s population has finally crept upward — but the numbers tell a story more sobering than celebratory. According to new U.S. Census data released this May, Portland gained roughly 1,400 new residents in 2024, a modest 0.2% bump that brings the city’s population to 635,749. That’s the first increase since 2020 — the year the city hit its peak of 653,166 before spiraling into a four-year decline. Despite the recent uptick, Portland remains more than 17,000...