5 Things You Didn’t Know About Hillsboro, Oregon

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Want to live in Portland, but find real estate prices too high for your budget? Or maybe you already live in Portland and are considering a move to the suburbs like so many others have done in the past two years for a quieter, more affordable lifestyle.

Each of Portland’s suburbs has its own personality, features, and amenities, so if you’re thinking of a move, it’s important to get familiar with the vibe of each one. Doing a thorough survey can take time, though, so we’re here to help.

We took a close look at Hillsboro, one of the top 5 safest Portland suburbs, and found five things you might not know about this thriving community.

1. First Class Transportation + 1,600 Acres of Parks

If you’re from around here, you already know about Hillsboro’s close and convenient proximity to Portland. But it’s worth mentioning how easy it is to traverse between the two cities. Hillsboro is 19-mile drive from Portland and Trimet, Portland’s mass transit system, makes commuting for work very doable. Busses offer 24-hour service, and the MAX light rail line runs back and forth daily from about 4am-midnight.

Pair Hillsboro’s easy access to city culture and amenities with its 30 parks across 1,600 acres of land, including Hondo Dog Park, Orenco Woods Nature Park, Noble Woods Park, Rood Bridge Park, and Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve, and you can begin to see why so many are moving to this desirable locale.

2. A City-Owned Broadband Internet Service

After a false start a few years ago to create and offer a city-owned, high-speed internet service, Hillsboro made it happen. HiLight serves Hillsboro residents and businesses with internet and phone services at affordable rates without all the hidden fees we see in some of the bigger providers. Committed to leave no one behind, Hillsboro also offers sizable discounts for its low-income residents.

Creating this service was a bold move, one that no other Oregon city of Hillsboro’s size has attempted. But it makes sense that it would. Hillsboro is home to technology giant, Intel, with several other technology companies nearby, all of which make up Silicon Forest.

3. Steadily Growing Diversity

As of April 1, 2020, Hillsboro’s population had grown to 106,447. A more recent report by World Population Review shows the suburb’s population coming in at 110,982 and annual population growth increase at .84%.

Graph from worldpopulationreview.com

The face of Hillsboro’s population is also changing year by year. As of the 2020 U.S. Census report, the racial make up the city’s population was as follows: 55.5% white, 20.22% Hispanic, 12.3% Asian, 9.08% mixed, 2.15% African American, .47% Pacific Islander, and .28% American Indian.

Hillsboro’s diversity also shows up in its police force. More and more, Hillsboro is employing officers of color, some of which speak up to five languages.

4. Commitment to Sustainability

As of September 1, 2021, Hillsboro joined Portland in its commitment to sustainability—in this case, in the world of real estate. Now, any home owner wishing to list their home for sale is required to have a Home Energy Score assessment completed by a professional.

The implementation of this program offers sellers, buyers, and the community benefits. Sellers will be able to get a professional report about how to increase energy efficiency in their homes, which can lead to efficiencies and updates, followed by higher home values and a stronger market. Buyers can enjoy the transparency of knowing what they’re getting when they buy. And the community will see a smaller carbon footprint and reduced emissions, not to mention the domino effect this program will have on the evolution of the effects of climate change.

5. Limited Growth, Opportunity for Stable Investment

Considering the fact that Hillsboro’s real estate market is landlocked, there isn’t much room for growth in the form of new construction. Once the Reed’s Crossing project is finished, there will be very little developable land left in the city limits. Hillsboro is also completely surrounded by other suburbs. All this together means means buying a home in Hillsboro is likely to be a stable, long-term investment.

Here’s how Hillsboro’s average real estate price stacks up against other Portland suburbs and where it fits into the mix.

  • Gresham – $468,200
  • Beaverton – $498.200
  • Hillsboro – $502,900
  • Milwaukee – $550,300
  • Oregon City – $560,800
  • Tigard – $591,200
  • Lake Oswego – $934,500

According to RMLS, the year-to-date average sale price for homes in Hillsboro (also includes Forest Grove) was $502,900, as of December 2021. That’s a 15.5% increase from last year at this time.

Thinking of Buying in Hillsboro?

See the full map of all Hillsboro homes for sale. Our top 1% Portland buyers agents have been selling in Hillsboro for a long time, over seventeen years licensed. We’d love to help answer your Hillsboro questions today. Give us a call or chat with our bot on this site!

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