Recent grad seeking neighborhood advice (compared to Atlanta and Pittsburgh) (Portland: 2014, apartment)

[sas513]

I am a 22 year old female graduating college in May 2014 and have gotten a job in Hillsboro, so I will be moving to the Portland area next summer! I have been researching neighborhoods and trying to figure out my best fit so I would appreciate any advice from you friendly people.

I am seeking a neighborhood that is a happy medium between urban and suburban. I am looking for something still in the "metro area" but not downtown. Probably a 1BR apartment with rent preferably around 1000-1200 but max of 1400. I want to be somewhere with character and where I can get to know Portland and be part of the city. Not a cookie cutter place and also not all families. However, safety is important- I would like to be able to go for a run without carrying mace. When I visited, I thought the Alphabet District was great but the commute may be terrible to Hillsboro. Comments on commute from certain neighborhoods would be appreciated. I know it won't be possible to satisfy all of my criteria but I accept any advice!

If you are familiar with Atlanta, I would like to live somewhere like Virginia Highland, Old Fourth Ward, or even Buckhead. If you are familiar with Pittsburgh, somewhere like Shadyside (ideally! I think it's the perfect neighborhood) or Squirrel Hill. The commonality between these places are that they have unique personality and are close but not too close to the city. They are also bustling with activity and all different kinds of people.

Thank so much!

[Rob Allen]

If you look around this forum, one piece of advice keeps coming up - live near your job. Rush hour traffic is bad and getting worse. Try going to padmapper, start at your workplace and work outward from there.

[bler144]

Agree with Rob.

I think it also matters specifically where in Hillsboro and what time of day (though these days 26 feels like it's just shy of congested at all hours). From alphabet district you could in theory sneak up one of the back ways (say over skyline-Thompson, or via Burnside) to avoid 26, but you're still probably looking at a long drive and one that can bog down pretty easily multiple times a week.

Hillsboro/Beaverton routes are often clogged in both directions. Personally I wouldn't commute out from 'the city' to Hillsboro, and the people I know who do generally loathe it, unless they can work atypical hours. Technically Rock Creek (which abuts Beaverton/Hillsboro) is still 'Portland' city proper and would make for much easier commutes. But they're in Washington County, and will feel much more like suburb than city. 10-20 years ago it was adjacent to farms, and you don't have to go far for evidence of that. But if you just want to be able to tell friends back home that you live in Pdx, Rock Creek would accomplish that.

Given your description, I'd probably look around downtown Beaverton, particularly if your job is proximate to the Max line. Much of Beaverton gets (fairly) written off as suburban, but the downtown itself does have some charm that, at least in my mind strikes an 'urban/suburban' balance, a variety of good dining, etc. And it will be very easy to go into the city almost anytime you desire (driving or Max) to do things actually in the city.

I actually like Hillsboro as well, but the downtown is definitely more 'town' and other areas like Orenco or Tanasbourne are definitely suburb.