Thinking about living in Portland? This Oregon city is considered one of the best places to live on the West Coast and one of the best big cities to live in. Rose City has exceptional suburbs that attract new residents each year because of their eccentric character, natural beauty, and affordable housing. Check out the five best suburbs of Portland!

Hillsboro

  • Home Price: $255,700 median purchase price; $1,176 median monthly rent
  • Crime Rate: Safer than 57% of Oregon cities
  • Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families, retirees

Hillsboro is highlighted by its rolling hills, prime location, and pedestrian-friendly streets. In addition to being one of the best Portland suburbs to call home, Hillsboro is a major part of Portland’s Silicon Forest. This booming area employs thousands of people in leading tech companies like Intel, Radisys, and Anitian, while Nike World Headquarters and Tektronix employ nearby residents of Beaverton. In Hillsboro, residents can find the perfect balance between urban and suburban living. For quick access to Downtown Portland, the Max Light Rail weaves through Craftsman-style houses, affordable ranches, exceptional shopping districts, and fine dining options.

Things to Do in Hillsboro

Learn about local plants and natural history at the weekly Nature at Noon program at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve. View the original Naught dairy farmhouse while practicing your swing at McKay Creek Golf Course & Driving Range. Catch a show from Hillsboro’s professional theatre company, Bag & Baggage Productions, at The Vault Theater. Explore the jungle maze or take a swing in the batting cages at Park Lanes Family Entertainment Center. Cheer on the Hillsboro Hops (MiLB) at Gordon Faber Recreation Complex or holler at a Portland State University football game. Order a Bacon Biscuit Sando and a Matcha Latte for breakfast from Decadent Creations Bakery. Chow down pies like the Garden State, White Rose, and BBQ Chicken pizza at Jersey Girl Pizza. Or grab dinner and a drink at Mazama Brewing at Orenco Station, which serves up fare like Fish & Chips and Mazama Mac ‘N Cheese and pours like the Mazamanator, Dubbel, and Juicy IPA.

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Lake Oswego

Exterior View of American Four Square Home, Painted Blue, with Light Trim Finishings.

Photo via @realtormom_pdx

  • Home Price: $508,500 median purchase price; $1,371 median monthly rent
  • Crime Rate: Safer than 81% of Oregon cities
  • Perfect For: Families, retirees

Once an iron town filled with wild swans, Lake Oswego, OR is now a charming commuter town with Oswego Lake attracting families and retirees alike. Often referred to as the City of Lake Oswego, this Portland suburb is one of the best places to raise a family in Oregon. The cozy community boasts exceptional schools like Lakeridge High School and Lake Oswego Senior High School, two of the best high schools in Oregon, along with Lake Grove Elementary School. And while housing is a bit more expensive here, you just can’t beat Lake Oswego’s housing options, which range from Mid-Century Modern to Neocolonial-style houses and quaint townhomes.

Things to Do in Lake Oswego

Join the Oswego Lake Country Club and enjoy perks like professional golf lessons, a pool facility, and holiday parties. Step into Oregon’s only metropolitan state park and experience 658 acres of lush forests, flora, and fauna at Tryon Creek State Natural Area. Stop by expansive Oswego Town Square to support businesses like Elements Massage, Kwench Juice Cafe, and New Seasons Market. Admire the work of local artists or feature your own masterpiece at the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts, an annual community celebration for 50 years! Shop local meats, nuts, cheeses, baked goods, produce, and seafood at the Lake Oswego Farmers’ Market. Start your morning with bites like Almond Berry Cream Waffles, a Caramel Apple Sticky Bun, or a Tinga Chicken Tostada at Babica Hen Cafe. Savor the flavors of a great lunch sandwich like the Roast Beef Club or Honey Mesquite at Monkey’s Subs. Get your fill of Thai foods like the Pepper Corn Crunchy Chicken, Dancing String Bean, or Sizzling Prawn from Malee’s Thai Kitchen. Or relax with a remarkable glass of wine from Monte Ferro Winery, which produces less than 500 cases each year!

Milwaukie

Exterior View of Tan Tudor Styled Home with a Red Door.

Photo via @pdxhousegeeks

  • Home Price: $245,000 median purchase price; $972 median monthly rent
  • Crime Rate: Safer than 78% of Oregon cities
  • Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families, retirees

Milwaukie is the perfect place for you to settle down if you’re an outdoorsy person looking for a suburb with a blend of old and new architecture! Offering quick mountain and park access without compromising on big-city amenities, Milwaukie residents are able to enjoy Pacific Northwest weather by hiking, camping, fishing, or participating in other outdoor activities at places like the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. With picturesque views of Mount Hood and Mount St. Helens, residents can choose from contemporary condos, custom homes, and Craftsman houses dot the landscape of this Portland suburb.

Things to Do in Milwaukie

Pick up a gift, bouquet, or local produce at the Milwaukie Farmers Market. Cross over a 40-million-year-old land bridge to explore seven different habitats and 50 rare plant species on Elk Rock Island. Sign up for swim lessons, get your blood pumping with an aquatic exercise class, climb the 29-foot rock wall, or wade into the wave pool during the Big Surf Recreation Swim at North Clackamas Aquatic Park. Register your kids for classes that build skills in the fine arts like stagecraft, digital photography, or ceramics at the Milwaukie Academy of the Arts. Get into the spooky spirit at the Davis Graveyard, a free Halloween light show where ghosts, fog, and other special effects haunt viewers. Choose from breakfast and brunch fares like Homemade Biscuits and Polenta Bowls at Milwaukie Cafe and Bottle Shop. Order comfort foods like Grilled Cheese, a Patty Melt, and Chicken Fried Steak at Libbie’s Restaurant. Check out Parker’s Hideout for great dinner options like the Jalapeno Cheddar Burger, Gyro, or Bavarian Pretzel. Or end the night with one of Breakside Brewery & Tasting Room‘s 24 rotating taps of beer like True Gold, Stay West, or Wanderlust IPA.

Oregon City

Exterior View of Blue House with a Porch and White Trim.

Photo via @lee.and.james

  • Home Price: $269,200 median purchase price; $1,053 median monthly rent
  • Crime Rate: Safer than 53% of Oregon cities
  • Perfect For: Singles, young professionals, families, retirees

American emigration history and modern conveniences meet at the End of the Oregon Trail, better known as Oregon City. Mcloughlin Conservation District and Downtown Oregon City elevate this suburb’s historic architectural marvels and the natural beauty of Willamette Falls. Where the Willamette River and Clackamas River meet, residents of this Portland suburb can hike, fish, or bike whenever they please. This family-friendly suburb provides families with quality educational institutes like Oregon City High School and Alliance Charter Academy. Students looking to stay close to home can attend Clackamas Community College, which offers a focused, welcoming community with beautiful grounds surrounded by pine trees.

Things to Do in Oregon City

Listen to daily history talks, participate in pioneer games and crafts, or follow the self-guided nature trail at the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. Introduce your kids to Oregon’s natural beauty at the park’s gateway, Canemah Neighborhood Children’s Park. Take a ride on the only “vertical street” in North America on the Municipal Elevator, also known as “Elevator Street.” Golf year-round and join a Ladies or Mens Club, or participate in league play at Oregon City Golf Club. Visit the suburb’s home of tabletop gaming, Geeks and Games, where you can purchase games or join a community gaming event. Hit up Pure Bliss Bakery & Cafe for mouthwatering sweets like the Maple Roll, Marionberry Scone, and Chocolate Twist. Order the Everything Everything Bagel, Crispy Pork Belly & Corn Waffle, or Spiced Creme Brûlée French Toast at The Hive Social. Or devour classic favorites with a twist like an Eggnog and Oregon Raspberry milkshake or fried pickles at Mike’s Drive-In, an Oregon City restaurant serving up some of the best burgers in the U.S.

West Linn

  • Home Price: $397,500 median purchase price; $1,315 median monthly rent
  • Crime Rate: Safer than 95% of Oregon cities
  • Perfect For: Families, retirees

For those wanting to plant roots in one of the best places to live in Oregon, West Linn is a great option! Small to mid-sized Craftsman and Colonial townhomes make up a majority of the West Linn real estate inventory, and are great for families. The clean, tree-lined streets are some of the safest in Oregon, and perfect for exercising with your dog or letting your kids walk home from school. Blue Ribbon Schools like West Linn High School and Bolton Primary School offer excellent public education options in the West Linn, OR area. More outdoor recreation can be found in the nature trails and wildlife parks that surround the suburb, as well as the nearby Tualatin River, which provides access to fishing and kayaking.

Things to Do in West Linn

Visit the Camassia Nature Preserve and hike along trails sculpted by prehistoric floods to find unique wildlife. Test out your boarding skills at West Linn Skate Park, one of the highest-rated West Linn parks, or compete in world-class skating events at Tanner Creek Park. Get in some retail therapy at West Linn Central Village, an open-air shopping center with businesses like the Backyard Bird Shop, Wishing Well Flowers and Gift, and Fit For Life. Set aside a couple of hours for a wine tasting at Oswego Hills Vineyard and Winery. Stop by the farm stand, pumpkin patch, or flower gardens at Fiala Farms. Reserve a table at Biscuits Cafe for breakfast favorites like Blueberry Pancakes, BLT Avocado Toast, or Chicken & Waffles. Order lunch and sample the Volcano Roll, Green Dragon Roll, or Lion King Roll at Sushi Hurray. Chow down on fares like Lemongrass Beef, Coconut Curry, and Peppered Calamari at La Sen Vietnamese Grill. Or sip on Queen Orchard Original ciders like the Lime Drop, Spicy Pineapple, and Blueberry Pie at the Ale & Cider House!

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Moving to Portland? With storage facilities located throughout Rose City—including in Hillsboro and Oregon City—Extra Space Storage can help with your transition. Find self storage near you!

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