What is the most quiet, affordable, rural area near Portland, OR? (Beaverton: house, buy)

[saam]

What is the most quiet, affordable, rural area near Portland, OR?

[Triana]

I'd like to know this, too, because I'm hoping my parents will relocate after I do. They've asked me this same question, but I won't really know till I get out there, I suppose.

[Squidlo]

Im guessing here a little but, look into the St Helens and Scapoose areas. Both are reasonable compared to Portland. The money you save might end up being spent in a commute into town. Across the river there are communities north of Vancouver Wa. The bottleneck at the I-5 river crossing makes this a test of endurance. Out south and west there are communities beyond Hillsboro, and Oregon City. The first two I mentioned are far closer and easier to get into Portland and seem to have the least amount of traffic to do so. Highway 30 is under construction in places but is being improved to handle the flow from the communities further out. Other possible communities beyond St Helen's/Scapoose are Deer island and Goble. If you are retired or retiring, the further out small pockets around these places are nice. I became fond of a place called Birkenfield but its way out in the sticks. Vernonia is quite aways out as well. Vernonia gets a bonus for being closer to the coast.


Squidlo

[5chevin5]

If you like farming and/or wine country...Thats what I think whan I hear "rural"
Check out Newburg, Dundee, McMinnville....about the same (give or take 10 minutes) travel time as Scapoose and St Helens to Portland, but Beaverton and Tigard are closer and you can get what you need there. Also the weather seems better...slightly more southern and in a valley as oppsed to a river gorge-ish area. Oregon is famous for micro climate pockets, which makes for the vast agricultural range.

I didnt care for Scapoose area when I traveled out there for work for about 3 months...
Just not my cup-o-green tea. I prefer the above areas based on the services, restaurants, schools and its prettier (again to me) lots of info on Willamette Valley wineries on the web...most likely some info on Dundee.

A humble opinion
5

[Squidlo]

I liked Dundee, Newburg, Forrest Grove and McMinnville as well. Along Highway 26 there is also North Plains home of the Elephant Garlic Festival. What I have never liked is the traffic on the south side of I-5 coming into Portland, nor did I care for coming into Portland on Highway 26. At some point you have to come to town heh.

I think Portland would benefit from another bypass or loop maybe Cornelius Pass from Highway 30 to Newberg open that side up and take some pressure off of Highway 26. I've driven the route and it wouldnt be impossible. Off topic and just a thought


Squidlo

[luv the outdoors]

We just got back from a quick trip to Portland and liked the Damascus area east of the 205 and the 212. There were some really nice large lots 1-5 acres and the traffic did not seem too bad compared to the nightmare I expericenced on the 99W which I checked out Tigard and Tualitin. We had considered Newburg but being over there we will consider the Oregon City/Damascus side of town instead.

[MJD503]

Canby is a town 25 minutes from Portland (off I-5), about 10,000 people, has a lot to offer nearby, relatively quiet and certain parts are VERY rural (cows, only residential, horses, real farmers, grass growers..etc) if you go a few miles outside the city's main street (highway 99E). I highly recommend it. You can still buy a decent house for a decent price (under 300K).

[saam]

right now I focus on Tigard, Tualatin and Oregon City because the weather seems better. Can sombody tell me this is the right choice?

All opinions/comments are appreciated.

Thank you.

[oldtintype]

Those areas aren't particularly rural. Are you looking for RURAL or just a quiet suburb?

[luv the outdoors]

I didn't find Tualitin or Tigard rural at all and as I said the traffic was terrible. Oregon City has some rural areas on the outskirts. I don't believe the weather is any different.