Portland Neighborhoods and Suburbs

Out of Love for Portland

Portland, Oregon is an amazing place with distinct neighborhoods and suburbs, each with its own attractions and culture. We love our town! We enjoy writing about these unique spots, offering relocation tips and providing stats on Portland neighborhoods and suburb growth, development, schools, and more.

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Happy Valley, Oregon

January 15, 2021

When Shakespeare pondered, “What’s in a name?” … he probably wasn’t thinking about neighborhood incorporation and real estate. But the origin of Happy Valley’s name brings a little intrigue to the table. Local lore claims that the name originates from neighborhood youths who got into some hard cider before church services. Their boisterous singing dubbed them the “happy boys from the hollow,” and the name followed. However, even the city’s website acknowledges that this is most likely a tale spun for marketing purposes. Well, we can’t blame them, as the strategy has clearly worked. Happy Valley has been one of the fasted growing cities in Oregon for the past several years, and clinched the number one spot in 2020. PSU’s...

Gresham Real Estate Market: 2021 Update

January 1, 2021

Known for affordability, diversity and a welcoming attitude, the Gresham real estate market east of Portland is experiencing renewed interest after 2020 turned the real estate market on its head. Whether you’re considering getting out of the city and closer to the Columbia Gorge, or are looking for a starter home in an affordable neighborhood, Gresham and the neighboring cities of Troutdale, Fairview and Wood Village provide bountiful options. Plus, they are closer to the ever-gorgeous Mt. Hood and many of the homes come with spectacular views (article photo). Gresham vs. Troutdale/Fairview/Wood Village With a population of over 110,000, Gresham is the second biggest city in the Portland metro area after Vancouver, Washington, or the largest if you’re not counting...

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Fairview, Oregon

December 28, 2020

Northeast of Portland, along the I84 corridor, is a little town that can be easy to miss on the way to Gresham or Troutdale. However, Fairview deserves a detour. We named it one of 2020’s Most Affordable Portland Suburbs, and in 2019 it was on our short list of Best Cities to Live Near Portland. Let’s take a closer look at the city of Fairview.  Employment opportunities? Check. For a city of just under 10,000 residents, Fairview boasts a large number of small businesses – 675 according to the US Census. Soon, it will support one of the world’s biggest companies, too. Amazon is set to open a new distribution facility in Fairview in 2021, which Oregon Live reports will...

Beaverton, Oregon: Portland’s Top Suburb 2021

October 26, 2020

It would be difficult to name a more quintessentially Oregon suburb than Beaverton. Inspired by Oregon’s state mammal which also adorns our flag, the word “Beaverton” aptly describes the city next door to Portland, surrounded by nature and thriving with industry.  Beaverton Oregon Basics Beaverton is a popular suburb because of its proximity to Portland, its stand-alone qualities as Oregon’s sixth-largest city, as well as great schools, many acres of parks and natural areas, and a strong economy.  Beavertonians who commute to Portland travel an average of 7 miles, or 20 minutes by car. The area is also serviced by the MAX Blue Line (light rail), which carries over 55,000 people on an average weekday between downtown Portland and Beaverton,...

Portland’s MAX Light Rail: Where’s it going in 2020?

August 28, 2020

The MAX (short for Metropolitan Area Express) is the only light rail system in Oregon and the fourth-busiest in the country, after systems in LA, Boston and San Fransisco. The service, run by TriMet, hopes to gain funding to expand MAX service into Tigard and Tualatin in 2020. This year also brings fresh challenges in maintaining ridership and safety. We’ll look at some 2020 updates for the MAX, but first, a little background on the trains that are ubiquitous across Portland. MAX Quick Facts 60 miles of rails run the MAX light rail from Hillsboro to Gresham; Portland Airport to Milwaukie and just about everywhere in between. It has five color-coded lines (blue, green, orange, red, yellow) and 94 stations...

Top 5 Safest Portland Suburbs 2020

August 17, 2020

Despite Portland’s recent notoriety for localized conflicts, most people who live here can tell you that it’s overall a safe place to live.  Crime statistics can tell us some things about the safety of a given city or suburb, but there are other aspects of safety to consider: What’s the natural disaster risk? How prepared is the community to shelter in place in the wake of, say, an earthquake? Then there’s pedestrian and traffic safety, which is a special concern to home buyers with regular commutes or kids who walk to school.  Overall, the Portland suburbs have a reputation for increased safety, and many perform better than the city in terms of fewer crimes reported. However, when it comes to...

Oregon County Spotlight: Clackamas – Land of Rivers, Mountains, & Trees

August 10, 2020

The Portland metropolitan area (on the Oregon side) spans five counties: Multnomah County, Washington County, Columbia County, Yamhill County and Clackamas County (possibly Columbia as well). In this County Spotlight, we head to Clackamas, where forested wilderness meets picturesque suburbia, and rivers nurture outdoor recreation and fantastic farmland.  Geography of Clackamas, Oregon Clackamas County is a mostly rural county that begins where Southeast Portland leaves off. Generally speaking, Clackamas encompasses the area east of the I5, with its northern border running in a straight line from Milwaukie to Mt. Hood. Oregon City is the county seat of Clackamas, and its claim to fame is that it was the End of the Oregon Trail and the first incorporated city west of...

2020’s Top 5 Most Affordable Portland Suburbs

July 27, 2020

Despite the pandemic setback to the real estate market this spring, home prices in Portland are as strong as ever, especially at the low-to-mid range of the market. While this is great news for homeowners, those shopping for a home — especially a first home — can feel a bit daunted.  Fortunately, the Portland metro area, spanning three Oregon counties, offers plenty of options. And while the definition of “best suburb” can be difficult to pin down, “most affordable” is a little easier. These five Portland suburbs were selected for coming in with the lowest median sale price. But because things are changing so rapidly, we also included the July 2020 median home value for the area, as indexed by...

5 Things you Didn’t Know About Oregon City

June 15, 2020

If we had to make a list of Portland suburbs posed for growth, Oregon City would probably be at the top. With a population of 37,000 and big plans for the future, this city stands as a destination in its own right — not just for tourists but for home buyers as well. Read on for five things you didn’t know about the first incorporated city west of the Rockies.  1. The Clackamas River is Awesome Oregon City is defined by its location between two rivers: The Willamette, which flows up from the south and heads toward downtown Portland, and the Clackamas. With headwaters in the Cascade Range, the Clackamas River flows through the Mt. Hood National Forest before dropping...

Top 5 Portland Suburbs – Your 2020 Move Away Guide.

May 4, 2020

In the first part of 2020, social distancing has pushed working from home into the mainstream. For a large number of workers, the new standard could be to telecommute, driving to the office only occasionally.  Portland has long been ahead of the telecommuting curve, with nearly 8% of our workforce doing so last year. Now that 40% of the current work-from-home population is reporting that they could make the change permanently, Portland’s suburbs are looking even more appealing. Traditionally, business and urban centers have driven demand for real estate, and in 2020, home buyers still want to live near stores, amenities and things to do. But it’s no longer necessary to do all those things in an urban area, and Portland’s...