Even though North Deering is within city lines, the neighborhood is synonymous with suburbia.

The city’s largest neighborhood with more than 10,000 residents, it generally surrounds outer Washington Avenue and Auburn Street, as it branches off and heads to Falmouth.

It encompasses two U.S. Census tracts, which are separated by Allen Avenue.

Aside from single-family homes on tree-lined streets, the neighborhood is home to Portland Arts and Technology and Casco Bay high schools, Lyseth Elementary School and Lyman Moore Middle School.

Near the Falmouth border is the Presumpscot River Preserve, a trail that connects the river and scenic Presumpscot Falls to the residential neighborhood.

Northwest of Allen Avenue, nearly three-quarters of the households own homes, while that number is about 60 percent in the southeastern half.

The average market-rate rent for a two-bedroom apartment is around $1,430, below the city’s average.

Within the neighborhood are several smaller communities, such as the apartment complex off Auburn Street called North Deering Gardens and the network of “state streets” off Maine Avenue, bearing names such as Florida and Vermont.

Commercial activity is centered around the intersection of Washington and Allen avenues, where Lib’s Dairy Treats offers up soft-serve ice cream seasonally and Portland House of Pizza is a favorite for take-out.