How's Hillsboro?

[scoobygold]

any city has gangs... stick around the the patterson or jackson elementary school and you will be more than fine. these neighborhoods are all business professionals...intel. i work downtown portland and the commute is easy. really pretty actually. all the farming in hillsboro makes the drive easy. you can get really large homes in hillsboro for really cheap per sq ft. lots come w surround sounds and all the new upgrades.

[scone]

Hillsboro is a wholly owned subsidiary of Intel. The tech people really dominate the local middle-class culture. There is also a strong hispanic element that was originally connected to agriculture and horticulture. many of these people have lived here for generations, and have started many small businesses in the area. Unfortunately the two cultures live parallel existences, and don't seem to mix much, IMO. It's essentially a growing, busy suburban city with all the problems and opportunities related to growth. There is a local newspaper online, IIWY I'd read that, to get some idea of the atmosphere.

[davefr]

Yes, there's a fairly large hispanic population in Hillsboro but it's not an issue. Hillsboro has a low crime rate. Hillsboro and Wash. County has had a vibrant economy which has been fueled by Intel, the Silicon Forest and county government which is based in Hillsboro.

Hillsboro has a nice little downtown and like most cities there's a wide span of properties. (from low end to Street of Dreams). The rural areas between Hillsboro and Newberg offer some of the nicest acreage lots in the area and commuting is still possible.

[scone]

Originally Posted by davefr

The rural areas between Hillsboro and Newberg offer some of the nicest acreage lots in the area and commuting is still possible.

True, but I want to add these properties tend to be at least $300k and up, not counting what I call 'extreme fixer-uppers.' Housing is not cheap here, except when compared to placed like San Francisco or NYC. Anyway, if you google the local chain agencies, you'll see a sample of the listings.

[Smiled]

Yes it DOES rain from October to April. At the beginning of October, there's a 20% chance of rain on a given day. By the end of October, that number is 80%.

[The Cactus Leaguer]

I have lived in various locations in the Portland area and Hillsboro is definitely my favorite (although I might prefer being in or near downtown if I were single). It has a great combination of amenities, transit access, jobs, safety, and schools (before you listen to people slamming the schools, check the ratings and you will see many Hillsboro schools rated at or near the top in the area). Here are the worst things I can think of about Hillsboro:

1. Access to Vancouver/Clark County Washington is difficult because there is no direct route (Westside Bypass) between Hillsboro and Vancouver;
2. If you love to ski, it's an extra 20-30 minute drive to Mount Hood (but an extra 20-30 minutes closer to the beach);
3. It is not very culturally diverse compared to the city (especially considering the large Intel contingent).

It is unique in that it is an employment hub with Intel/hi tech/lots of corporate parks, so there can be as much traffic in the morning coming in as going.

Although there are nice neighborhoods all over, there are more nicer and newer areas in Northeast Hillsboro.

I really appreciate what the city government has been doing here. Services are great, and they are committed to developing smartly as well (check the city's website for their "Hillsboro Vision 2020" plan if you are curious).

The immediate area by Orenco Station is great but you have to be committed to the concept of transit oriented development to fully appreciate it.

The weather is similar to the rest of the area, a few degrees warmer than Portland in the summer, and a few degrees cooler in the winter; I assume this is because the West Hills are a moderating influence within the city of Portland. At the risk of repeating myself, here is my guide to Portland weather:

October 15th - June 10th (or whenever the Rose Festival Parade happens): Bring a thin, hooded Columbia jacket with you at all times. Be thankful that the weather is perfect for running, hiking, soccer, and lots of other outdoor heart-healthy activities. Be thankful that you don't have to shovel snow or freeze to death (unless you go up to ski nearby Mt. Hood or Mt. Bachelor). Try to get a little light exposure (natural or otherwise) during the day. Take a trip to someplace warm and sunny in the early spring. Smile and learn to enjoy stretches of light rain and grey sky that keep the climate cool to moderate, green, and clean.

June 10th - October 15th: Put away the jacket and enjoy four months of 70-80 degree weather, sunny skies, no humidity, and perfect scenery. Seriously. This place has the best the summer weather in the country, hands down.

[ryan.!2!]

Sureno is southern mexicans and Norteno is northern mexican not california.