Is Hillsboro the best place to raise a family? (Oregon City: mattress, house)
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I stand corrected Pathrunner!
So is the commute any easier from NE?
Do you mean Hillsboro to NE? I would have to say no, unless like I said you leave at 6 or 6:30 a.m. You'd be trying to get clear across almost the entire Metro area twice a day. That's almost as bad as people commuting from Hesperia, CA to downtown L.A. - at least those people have vanpool vans they can relax in!
If your employer will allow you to work 7-3, or 6-2 or something like that, it wouldn't be out of the question as long as you don't mind the gas expense (it just went up), the wear and tear, and the time spent in the car (2+ hours per day).
Yeah-no. Hillboro to SE Portland is like travelling with Frodo Baggins. Bring a granola bar with you, maybe two.
Actually, most of Portland metro area is family-friendly. But you're right, Hillsboro-Aloha-Beaverton has the all the facilities & activities set up for young families. Portland has it too, but you have to really search & dig around. Other areas to consider is Bethany-Beaverton and Forest Hills/Sylvan-Portland, which are NW of Hillsboro, and better situated for an East-West commute. Older little neighborhoods on the west side are actually best locations for routes going into SE Portland, not the new suburbs.
I agree about commuting being the pits. I dont do it so I cant say for sure.
In Beaverton check out Oak Hills its an older neighborhood with large lots, not cookie cutter and right off 26. You would be close to the Tualatin Hills Rec Center. I would avoid Bethany if you dont want hills and cookie cutters.
Also, Cedar Hills is a great older neighborhood and the shopping (although strip mall-ish) has been rebuilt recently. It is really close in to PDX and near 26 & 217. Nearby Commonwealth Lake is a great place for kids.
Rock Creek, which has a Portland address but is Hillsboro schools/taxes/Park&Rec is another good area. You can find homes from 70's&80's, large lots. There is a golf course in the neighborhood plus Lenox Elementary and some parks. Shopping and restaurants are just across 26 in Tanasboune.
When we were looking in Hillsboro, one of our favorite areas was the Sunset Downs/Hawthorne Farms/Dawson Creek neighborhoods. These feed into desirable West Union Elementary. We loved Orenco but not the "newness" of it, however these are older areas with custom homes on big lots but also some new mixed in. There is something for every need & budget. Its just such an attractive area with nice wide, tree lined avenues and bike lines. These have all the advantages of the Orenco area - walking distance to MAX, New Seasons Market, coffee, plus other shops and restaurants. Within blocks are the Main Library, a massive newer Costco and the Dawson Creek Park (lakes, fountains, trails) On Sundays in summer there is a Farmers Market next to New Seasons. You see lots of families riding bikes, towing wagons full of purchases. Its also close to Noble Woods (trails, creek, deer) and 53rd Ave Park which has sports courts, new turf, an excellent play structure and a water spray feature for kids.
Commuting from here would be from the Helvetia Exit which is not too far. And in the fall you would be close to all the great pumpkin patches that have entertainment like Roloff Farms, Lakeview. It's great fun for kids. Being close to the country has advantages, pick your own berries & flowers, vineyards, golf courses and dont forget Helvetia Tavern.
Last edited by BirdInHand; 06-29-2010 at 01:32 PM..
These are all good suggestions for someone who works on the westside, although I still wouldn't drive even to downtown if I lived in Hillsboro.
Driving to NE Portland from Hillsboro is just asking for stress and higher expense, and time lost with the family unless you work off hours.
During the Arctic Blast 18 months ago all the news all the time was 26/Vista Ridge 26/Vista Ridge 26/Vista Ridge 26/Vista Ridge 26/Vista Ridge 26/Vista Ridge 26/Vista Ridge 26/Vista Ridge 26/Vista Ridge 26/Vista Ridge 26/Vista Ridge 26/Vista Ridge 26/Vista Ridge 26/Vista Ridge 26/Vista Ridge.....
.....while the rest of the Portland Metro area was left wondering why they couldn't get a freaking update on the conditions in their area. My area was completely ignored, and there are many commuters who take Hwy 212 in to Portland and other areas. I UNDERSTAND that most of the commuters in Portland are on the freaking 26 Vista Ridge Tunnel road, but acknowledge our existence OK??
So the issue becomes move to Hillsboro or Beaverton and fight the traffic/roads and winter weather or find a reasonable alternative on the east side. If you're conservative, you might not want your kids going to school with the liberals' kids, or live next to them, but there are areas of Portland that are conservative. Don't ask me where, I'm not up on that.
Do you mean Hillsboro to NE? I would have to say no, unless like I said you leave at 6 or 6:30 a.m. You'd be trying to get clear across almost the entire Metro area twice a day. That's almost as bad as people commuting from Hesperia, CA to downtown L.A. - at least those people have vanpool vans they can relax in!
If your employer will allow you to work 7-3, or 6-2 or something like that, it wouldn't be out of the question as long as you don't mind the gas expense (it just went up), the wear and tear, and the time spent in the car (2+ hours per day).
No it will be 8am to 5pm, so will leave at 7am. Do you think Cedar Hills would be work out a little better. I really want to be nearest to Beaverton or Hillsboro as I can without grid lock.
Once you get into downtown you'll be going the opposite direction. 7am will work as long as there are no accidents or construction delays, or snow/ice (usually about 5 days a year). That's the rub: you can't count on that ever. My feeling is that at least twice a week if not more there are delays. I will bet you'll find yourself leaving at 6:45 or even earlier on some days. The radio report will become your friend.
You just need to understand that 26/Vista Ridge is the 1st worst bottlenecks with delays in the entire Portland Metro area. The 2nd one is the entire 217 freeway. I lived out there the first year I was in Portland.
These are all good suggestions for someone who works on the westside, although I still wouldn't drive even to downtown if I lived in Hillsboro.
Driving to NE Portland from Hillsboro is just asking for stress and higher expense, and time lost with the family unless you work off hours.
During the Arctic Blast 18 months ago all the news all the time was 26/Vista Ridge 26/Vista Ridge 26/Vista Ridge 26/Vista Ridge 26/Vista Ridge 26/Vista Ridge 26/Vista Ridge 26/Vista Ridge 26/Vista Ridge 26/Vista Ridge 26/Vista Ridge 26/Vista Ridge 26/Vista Ridge 26/Vista Ridge 26/Vista Ridge.....
.....while the rest of the Portland Metro area was left wondering why they couldn't get a freaking update on the conditions in their area. My area was completely ignored, and there are many commuters who take Hwy 212 in to Portland and other areas. I UNDERSTAND that most of the commuters in Portland are on the freaking 26 Vista Ridge Tunnel road, but acknowledge our existence OK??
So the issue becomes move to Hillsboro or Beaverton and fight the traffic/roads and winter weather or find a reasonable alternative on the east side. If you're conservative, you might not want your kids going to school with the liberals' kids, or live next to them, but there are areas of Portland that are conservative. Don't ask me where, I'm not up on that.
That is an interesting take on liberal schools vs conservative. Most schools are liberal especially in the Portland are in general. I honestly think Liberal schools don't view both sides as conservatives tend to be fair and balanced. Wonder Where I could find that information.
Thanks again Pathrunner!
What about Milwaukie, Oregon City, West Linn, or Wilsonville for commuting into NE Portland.
It appears that Beaverton/Hillsboro are a bit too far of a commute. I don't rule out Cedar Hills,
it is basically the same area and distance/route...
Map of Portland Oregon and Suburbs
This will tell the distances, probably measured from the city centers. Individual neighborhoods, especially along the freeways would be better. I would have never guessed that Hillsboro was 18 miles from PDX, this has to be from downtown Hillsboro which is several miles from 26. It shows Beaverton and Hillsboro to be 10 miles away from each other, which they are not, they border each other
Wilsonville will not give you the escape from cookie cutter houses and strip malls. West Linn seems to be popular with alot of people.
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