Sherwood vs. Lake Oswego - Main Differences? (Portland, Tigard: middle-class, low crime)

[aggie-o]

I'm curious as to how you'd characterize the main differences between these two areas [not taking into account traffic/commute times, etc.] I get that homes are more adfordable in Sherwood, but is Sherwood at all similar to LO in terms of the people, schools, daily life or is it quite different? To put it another way, if you worked from home and location didn't matter for a job and your objective was to find the nicest, safest, small-ish town with families, great schools, cute shops and an upscale feel, would the cost of LO be worth it or would it be close to "just as good" in Sherwood? Any insight you have to offer is appreciated--thanks!

[rosecitywanderer]

Personally...they don't compare. Lake Oswego has money and they show it; the downtown is undergoing a huge transformation into a shopping mecca for those with high or no-limit credit cards. Sherwood is a smaller place with a blue-collar, old-West kind of feel.

This is the way I see it. Your opinion may differ.

[malone7384]

I live in Sherwood and I think that rosecitywanderer hit the nail on the head.

Sherwood is a much smaller place with a very down to earth feel. I think that it is going through some growing pains because a lot of people are moving in.

I will say that Sherwood does have a good school district too!

[Brandon26pdx]

Old Sherwood has quaint, nice little little quiet town feel. L.O. I would also describe as quaint feeling as well, but a bit bigger, with more of a country club type feel to it. Sherwood is maybe a touch more blue collar, but there are still some very nice houses and neigborhoods surrounding old town.

[mdvaden]

Originally Posted by rosecitywanderer

Personally...they don't compare. Lake Oswego has money and they show it; the downtown is undergoing a huge transformation into a shopping mecca for those with high or no-limit credit cards. Sherwood is a smaller place with a blue-collar, old-West kind of feel.

This is the way I see it. Your opinion may differ.

How about the huge neighborhood with techies and white collar folks near Sunset?

You must mean rural Sherwood - not just Sherwood proper.

I'm not even sure if I'd call Dundee farther west "old-west".

Try Jacksonville, Oregon on the historic list.

As far as Lake Oswego and Sherwood, I find a big gap of comparison between them.

[Jillaceae]

I would agree, Sherwood and Lake Oswego are two totally different environments.

Lake Oswego is old money. The area has fancier shops/buildings, and is really geared toward a wealthier clientele. I attended K-12 in the Tigard-Tualatin School district, and the people in the Lake Oswego school district where stereortyped as a bunch of snooty rich kids.

Sherwood, is a much "newer" town. Shewood has always been there, but it was small and people who didn't actually live there didn't pay much attention to it outside of the fact that it had a DMV and a good Japanese resaurant until about 10 years ago when they really stated to expand the city. There are still some cool old houses, but now when I think of Sherwood, I think of new development. It is geared toward a more middle-class, younger crowd.

If someone where going to move to one of these two cities, I would probably recommond Sherwood's environment over Lake Oswego unless you have some serious cash. Sherwood certainly feels smaller as well becuase, well, aside from the fact that is it, it is also further from Portland proper. (The edge of the metro area, as opposed to in the middle of it.) Also, if you have kids, there is probably more to do in Sherwood in terms of entertainment. And you're that much closer to the beach.

[Mclaurin]

[SIZE=2]Lake Oswego and Sherwood are 2 different demographics. You might look at the census data and you will see. I think either town could be great for kids...if the culture fits. They are both nice for families. Neither of these are really "small town" they are in the metro area. [SIZE=3]Suburban communities in Portland are all recent developments in terms of their size and so they are more bedroom communities than towns. [/SIZE][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][SIZE=3]If upscale shops are your criteria, Lake Oswego has it hands down no question. They both have somewhat of a downtown. Both towns have low crime, good police and good emergency services. [/SIZE][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][/SIZE][SIZE=2] Lake Oswego is an established suburb with a small older "village" downtown. It borders the city limits of Portland....a part that is low density and high income. The population has a metropolitan professional feel. Many people moved from suburban California... I wouldn't describe it as completely sophisticated...can be a bit excessively serene and predictable. Yet it would be more sophisticated than Sherwood. The look is heavily treed....well manicured mostly....nothing out of place, very pretty surrounding a private Lake. You won't have access to most of it unless it comes in your deed. Lake Oswego has many good classes for kids through the city and schools. Your kids will receive a strong college prep education. Don't go to Lake Oswego though unless they are prepared for a highly competitive atmosphere....I am talking parents here. Whew! I would choose it again only if this would work for you personally. The parents tend to be older in LO.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]You will find a bit younger parents in Sherwood than LO. Sherwood was a small country town closer to a hamlet 30 years ago. In recent years it has developed enormously. There is more affordable nice housing....although tract style and high density. If you want more of a "small town" feel this might be closer. I am not positive what you mean, but I think this comes closer. Sherwood has nice community recreation programs...YMCA. People love it. It's downside it is a suburban sprawl look. Tract houses next to fields and nearby strip malls. The nearby hills are absolutely gorgeous. The schools are considered to be good. You would be further from Portland if you like adult cultural activities.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+0][SIZE=2][/SIZE][/SIZE][SIZE=+0][SIZE=2][/SIZE][/SIZE][SIZE=2] Many people go to Portland for, because the burbs are limiting in that way, but are nice safe places for families.[/SIZE] Hope that helps.

[student2010]

i have attended both Sherwood and Lake Oswego high school and if you have kids you should send them to Lake Oswego. the difference in education is amazing, you would think that to public schools so close would be them same but they are not similar at all.

[doggiemama]

Looking at your "cute shops" requirement, I'd say Lake O. Traffic gets very bunched up at one big intersection in Sherwood, but if you work from home you may not mind that. If cute shops aren't that important to you then I'd say save money and live in Sherwood, and shop in Lake O when you want that cute downtown / high end shop experience.

[Random_Walk]

I used to hang out with a group of folks in Sherwood, and I gotta say that what folks have said about it is spot-on. It's a very friendly, small-town kind of place. They even open up one of the historical society houses for a Halloween haunted house each year, and the volunteers stage these neat events that highlight the town's history. The historical society is a solid bunch of stand-up people, and even if you never move there, it's worth stopping by.