Top rated suburbs of Portland?

[texasdiver]

If I worked in a Salem I'd definitely live in Salem. South Salem and West Salem are both reputable high schools. For a smaller town life maybe live in Silverton and commute into Salem. But I for sure wouldnt be driving down I-5 every day from Wilsonville. Wilsonville or Tigard aren't that interesting.

[ryan_ninenine]

It would not be advisable to commute to Salem from Sherwood or Tualatin. The traffic gets really bad even out in the fields before you're even in Wilsonville, let alone further in like some of the places you mentioned. If you're adamant about not living in Salem, maybe look into McMinnville. It's a hip place off to the side between Salem and Portland metros, with a good reputation in regards to education. This would still give you a longer commute, about 30 mins probably, but it's on back roads and closer to where you'd work without being too far from Portland.

[sloyd]

My 12 mile commute has turned into a hour drive over the last few years, so live close to your work.

[CAjerseychick]

Just use common sense!
For example try not to have to commute accross bridges or have to rely on highways-
your quality of life skyrockets just utilizing those two factors-
I did and I have an 18 min commute.
And, you will more time to be an engaged parent to your kids.

[SumTingy]

Originally Posted by texasdiver

If I worked in a Salem I'd definitely live in Salem. South Salem and West Salem are both reputable high schools. For a smaller town life maybe live in Silverton and commute into Salem. But I for sure wouldnt be driving down I-5 every day from Wilsonville. Wilsonville or Tigard aren't that interesting.

Silverton would be a hoot to live in. A small town with some very nice housing near the Oregon Gardens. If I were working in Salem, Silverton would definitely be in consideration.

[gray horse]

Originally Posted by SumTingy

Silverton would be a hoot to live in. A small town with some very nice housing near the Oregon Gardens. If I were working in Salem, Silverton would definitely be in consideration.

Agreed. DO NOT try to commute from Wilsonville daily.

[pdxMIKEpdx]

Be prepared for high real estate prices in and around Silverton.

It's definitely not a "hidden gem" nor is it a "well kept secret"!

[oregon911]

House prices doubled in Silverton in the last few years.

I don't know if you could pay me enough to commute I-5 on daily basis either. It's a terrible, terrible commute.

[Squidlo]

I advocate to always manage the shortest commute possible.

The travel time now matter how pleasant is wasted time. 5 days a week it adds up. That is time away from family or potentially productive time at work/home. For busy people it means less rest while you cram your life into the time available. 30 minutes for me is reasonable. A 90 minute to 2 hours one way is insane. Salem is fine. Find acceptable schools and then the best home for your family. Use the time savings to benefit you and your family.

I like South Salem and West Salem. Stay away from crossing the river to get to work.

[The503Gal]

Hi Scarlesi!
I have lived in Sherwood for over 13 years (grew up in Keizer just outside of Salem) and you really can't go wrong with any of the areas you mentioned (Sherwood, Wilsonville & Tualatin).

I have two children who have both gone to school in the Sherwood district since kindergarten and are now both in middle school (6th & 8th grade this year). The schools in Sherwood are wonderful, and there is a great deal of parent involvement in the schools. We also have SEF (Sherwood Education Foundation) which fundraises & funds grants for the teachers at all of Sherwood's schools.

Outside of the academics, there are so many activities for kids of all ages. We have a Performing Arts Center which offers opportunities for theater, music and other creative arts. Voices for Performing Arts has many choir opportunities, as well as plays throughout the year. We also have strong sports teams if your children are more inclined to play a sport.

Sherwood is definitely growing, and we are getting a brand new high school, which is slated to open in fall of 2020. There is currently new construction being built on the West side of Sherwood (where I live, and also where the new high school is going to be built).

Old Town Sherwood is an adorable area, with many small restaurants ( such as Fat Milo's, Mason, The Hungry Hero), as well as a great wine bar (503 Uncorked) and Rallison Winery tasting room. The library & Performing Arts Center are also in Old Town Sherwood.

As far as location/commute, as other posters have said, it really depends on where you're driving to your job. Sherwood is roughly 4 miles off I-5, however traffic to & from the interstate can be terrible. Highway 99 can also be rough during commute times, but traffic really isn't great anywhere here. There are alternate routes (backroads) to get around some of the more commuted roads and a local can help you find these.

I hope this is helpful. Feel free to message me if you have any other questions about the area! We truly love Sherwood & are so glad we have chosen this community to raise our family in. Best of luck on your move!