7 Best Neighborhoods in Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro, Oregon, has been quietly becoming one of the Pacific Northwest’s best-kept secrets — and lately, not so secret anymore. As the largest city in Washington County and the fifth-largest city in the state, Hillsboro sits right at the center of the “Silicon Forest,” home to Intel, OHSU, and a growing constellation of tech and biotech employers. Livability.com has ranked it among the best places to live in the West multiple years running, and U.S. New & World Report ranked it #1 in Oregon. And the people moving here? They’re not just coming for the jobs.
From a walkable, transit-connected urban core to brand-new master-planned communities with miles of trails, Hillsboro offers a neighborhood for just about every kind of lifestyle. Whether you’re a young tech professional hopping off the MAX Blue Line, a family looking for great schools and green space, or someone who just wants a charming small-town vibe within easy reach of Portland, there’s a spot here with your name on it.
Here’s a look at seven of the best neighborhoods in Hillsboro, Oregon, and what makes each one worth a closer look.
Orenco Station Neighborhood
If you want a neighborhood that feels like it was designed by someone who actually thought about how people live, Orenco Station is it. This master-planned, pedestrian-first community has earned national attention for getting the “walkable suburban” formula right — and it’s been doing it since the late 1990s.
Location and Boundaries
Orenco Station is located in the east-central area of Hillsboro. It is centered near the intersection of NE Century Boulevard (formerly NW 231st/NW 229th Avenues) and Cornell Road. The neighborhood’s pedestrian-friendly commercial and residential core was intentionally designed to radiate outward from the Orenco MAX Station.
Historical Background
The neighborhood takes its name from the Oregon Nursery Company, which operated a company town — Orenco — on this land at the turn of the 20th century. When TriMet’s Westside light rail expanded in the 1990s, developers seized the opportunity to build something intentional around the new station: a transit-oriented community that put homes, shops, and green space within comfortable walking distance of each other. It’s now studied as a textbook example of New Urbanist design in a suburban setting.
Real Estate Overview
Orenco Station offers a genuine mix of housing options — Craftsman-style single-family homes, townhouses, condos, and newer 5-over-1 apartment buildings along the commercial corridor. Homes were built closer to the street than in traditional subdivisions, giving the neighborhood a more connected, small-town feel. All were originally wired with Category 5 cable, which tells you something about how forward-thinking the development was from day one. The median single-family home price runs around $575,000, making it one of Hillsboro’s higher-end neighborhoods, though the variety of housing types means there are options across a range of budgets.
Educational Institutions
Families here are served by the Hillsboro School District. The younger kids attend Orenco Elementary or Quatama Elementary (the latter even has a student vegetable garden), then move on to Poynter Middle School — ranked among Oregon’s top public middle schools by Niche — and Liberty High School. Both the middle and high school have solid academic reputations and active communities.
Parks and Recreation
Outdoor options are woven right into the neighborhood’s fabric. Cornell Park offers open fields and an off-leash dog area — a regular hit with the four-legged residents. Orenco Woods Nature Park spans 42 acres with trails, picnic spots, and playground equipment. And Hidden Creek Park West is a local favorite, home to the beloved “Oro the Friendly Forest Giant” sculpture, plus pickleball courts and an indoor community center with basketball facilities.
Shopping and Dining
The stretch of shops and restaurants between the MAX station and Cornell Road is the neighborhood’s beating heart. Boutiques, cafes, and eateries line the walkable town center, and a farmers market runs through the spring and summer months. Salam Restaurant brings Lebanese and Persian cuisine to the mix. It’s the kind of setup where you can grab groceries, meet a friend for coffee, and pick up a birthday card all without moving your car — which is kind of the whole point.
Community and Lifestyle
Orenco Station draws a heavy contingent of Intel employees (the campus is practically next door), young professionals, and families who want suburban comfort without suburban isolation. The neighborhood hosts OrenKoFest each fall — a harvest festival in Jerry Willey Plaza with live music and a distinctly Pacific Northwest energy. Tree-lined streets, protected bike lanes, and reliable MAX service to Portland make this one of the most convenient and livable spots in the entire metro area.
Downtown Hillsboro Neighborhood
Downtown Hillsboro doesn’t get as much attention as Portland’s neighborhoods, and that’s honestly part of its charm. This is a real, functioning small-city downtown — brick buildings, independent shops, live music on summer nights — and it’s been steadily leveling up thanks to a growing Cultural Arts District and a community that’s clearly invested in making it thrive.
Location and Boundaries
Downtown Hillsboro (Central Hillsboro) represents the historic city center. While the residential fringes can be somewhat fluid depending on historic zoning, the core downtown district is anchored along Main Street. It is generally bounded by the MAX rail line and Baseline Road to the north, 10th Avenue to the east, Oak Street to the south, and 1st Avenue (Dennis Avenue) to the west.
Historical Background
Hillsboro has been Washington County’s seat since 1850, and Downtown reflects that long history. The historic Venetian Theatre, a lovingly restored 1920s movie palace, still anchors Main Street as a cultural hub — now hosting concerts and community events rather than silent films. In 2019, Hillsboro designated the area as Washington County’s first Cultural Arts District, doubling down on the neighborhood’s role as a creative and economic center.
Real Estate Overview
Housing Downtown runs the gamut from historic single-family homes and bungalows to modern apartment complexes built to serve the growing demand for urban living. Luxury apartment options like 206 Apartments and a href=”https://4thmain.tokolaproperties.com/” title=”4th Main Apartments” target=”_blank”>4th Main Apartments cater to residents who want to be right in the middle of the action. It’s one of the more affordable entry points into Hillsboro’s housing market compared to neighborhoods like Orenco Station, which makes it particularly attractive for young professionals and first-time renters.
Educational Institutions
Families in the Downtown area are served by the Hillsboro School District. The district operates multiple elementary schools throughout the city, along with several well-regarded middle and high schools. Pacific University, a private liberal arts university, is also located in the broader Hillsboro community, adding a higher-education presence to the mix.
Parks and Recreation
Shute Park is the neighborhood’s green anchor — a large community park that includes the Shute Park Aquatic and Recreation Center, playgrounds, and open lawn areas. The park also serves as one of the Cultural Arts District’s gathering points for events and community programming. For sports fans, Ron Tonkin Field — home of the Hillsboro Hops, the city’s Minor League Baseball team — is nearby and a genuinely fun place to spend a summer evening.
Educational Institutions
Families in the Downtown area are served by the Hillsboro School District. The district operates multiple elementary schools throughout the city, along with several well-regarded middle and high schools. Pacific University, a private liberal arts university, is also located in the broader Hillsboro community, adding a higher-education presence to the mix.
Shopping and Dining
Main Street and the surrounding blocks offer a mix of independent boutiques, specialty shops, and restaurants. The Glenn and Viola Walters Cultural Arts Center hosts performances and exhibitions, and the seasonal Saturday Farmers’ Market draws residents from all over the city. Tuesday Night Market in the summer is a community staple — live music acts spill out of doorways up and down the street, and the vibe is somewhere between neighborhood block party and small arts festival. New dining destinations in the Cultural Arts District include a craft taphouse with 24 rotating taps, a European-inspired small-plates spot with rooftop views, and a welcoming local winery.
Community and Lifestyle
Downtown Hillsboro has a genuine creative energy that’s been building for years. The First Tuesday Art Walk — held on the first Tuesday of every month — brings local galleries, live music, and foot traffic to Main Street in a way that feels organic rather than forced. Bag & Baggage Productions and the Hillsboro Artists’ Regional Theatre (HART) both call this neighborhood home, giving it a performing arts scene that punches well above the city’s weight class. If you want walkability, culture, and a sense that something interesting is always happening nearby, Downtown is hard to beat.
Tanasbourne Neighborhood
If Orenco Station is Hillsboro’s walkable, transit-first neighborhood and Downtown is its cultural core, Tanasbourne is its commercial engine — and a very livable one at that. This bustling northwest corner of Hillsboro blends suburban convenience with a surprisingly active community calendar.
Location and Boundaries
Tanasbourne is situated in the northeast corner of Hillsboro, with portions of the neighborhood extending across the border into Beaverton. Geographically, the area is generally defined as being south of U.S. Highway 26, north of Walker Road, west of 158th Avenue, and east of Cornelius Pass Road. The intersection of NW 185th Avenue and the Sunset Highway (U.S. 26) acts as a major commercial and transit hub for the area. The Streets of Tanasbourne outdoor shopping center serves as both the neighborhood’s retail hub and its de facto town square.
Real Estate Overview
Housing in Tanasbourne skews toward rentals — apartment complexes and townhomes make up a significant portion of the neighborhood’s residential stock, with many built between 1970 and 2000 and a number of newer developments added since. Colonnade Luxury Townhome Apartments and Greenbrier at Tanasbourne are among the larger rental communities in the area. For buyers, modern contemporary townhouses and single-family homes round out the options. The median home price sits around $653,000, though rental options are plentiful for those not quite ready to buy. Average rents run higher than most Oregon neighborhoods, reflecting the area’s strong demand.
Educational Institutions
Tanasbourne is served by the Beaverton School District, which includes McKinley Elementary, Five Oaks Middle School, and Westview High School. The nearby Beaverton Academy of Science and Engineering — a specialized magnet program — adds another strong option for families with academically motivated students.
Parks and Recreation
Magnolia Park, a 3-acre community park tucked between Walker and Cornell Roads near The Streets of Tanasbourne, offers basketball and tennis courts, a children’s play area, and a splash pad for hot summer days. The Rock Creek Trail provides paved walking and biking paths through the neighborhood, and the Gordon Faber Recreation Complex nearby adds sports fields, an aquatic center, and event space. Evergreen Park rounds out the outdoor options with additional green space close to home.
Shopping and Dining
Tanasbourne is the place to go when you need everything and you need it now. The Streets of Tanasbourne, Tanasbourne Village, and Tanasbourne Town Center together form one of the largest retail concentrations in Washington County — think major grocery anchors, national retailers, restaurants, and entertainment options all in close proximity. Whole Foods and Walmart Neighborhood Market are both nearby, covering the full spectrum of grocery shopping. The Thirsty Lion Gastropub is a neighborhood staple, and every March it transforms into a legitimate Irish pub experience with authentic dancers and bagpipe players to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
Community and Lifestyle
Tanasbourne has an energy that’s hard to replicate — it’s always busy, always something going on, and incredibly convenient for just about anything you might need. The neighborhood draws a diverse mix of residents, from Intel and tech employees who want a short commute to families who appreciate the schools and parks. Community events tie the neighborhood together throughout the year, including the Lightopia holiday light display at Gordon Faber Recreation Complex each winter, and Pride Month festivities at Jerry Willey Plaza each June. US-26 puts downtown Portland about 11 miles away, and TriMet bus connections and the MAX Blue Line offer transit alternatives for commuters.
AmberGlen Neighborhood
AmberGlen sits at an interesting intersection — literally and figuratively. Bordered by Intel’s massive Ronler Acres campus and OHSU’s West Campus, this neighborhood has evolved into a dense, convenient hub for tech and healthcare workers who want to live close to where they work. It’s still growing into its full potential, but what’s there already is quite good.
Location and Boundaries
AmberGlen is located on the east side of Hillsboro, sitting just south of the Tanasbourne area. It is generally bounded by NW Cornell Road to the north, the Tri-Met Max Blue Line to the south, NW 185th Avenue to the east, and SW 205th Ave to the west. This positioning provides residents with close, convenient access to the Blue MAX light rail line.
Historical Background
The City of Hillsboro adopted the AmberGlen Community Plan in 2010, envisioning the area as a denser, more urban, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood that would capitalize on its proximity to major employers and light rail. That vision has been steadily materializing over the past decade-plus, with new mixed-use buildings, protected bike lanes, and a growing retail base filling in around the existing residential stock.
Real Estate Overview
AmberGlen is primarily a renter’s market. Hundreds of townhouses, condos, and apartment complexes make up the bulk of the neighborhood’s housing, and detached single-family homes are relatively scarce. For newcomers to the Portland metro — especially those relocating for work at Intel or OHSU — AmberGlen often serves as a first stop while they get their bearings. Housing styles range from Craftsman-influenced townhomes to contemporary apartment buildings, most built in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Educational Institutions
Students in AmberGlen are generally served by the Beaverton School District, with strong options including Five Oaks Middle School and Westview High School. The Beaverton Academy of Science and Engineering is also nearby, offering a specialized STEM-focused curriculum for students who qualify.
Parks and Recreation
AmberGlen Park is one of the neighborhood’s real gems — a large open park tucked among hotels and business centers, with more than half a mile of paved paths looping around ponds with fountains, a terraced picnic area, and even an all-season ping pong table. The park also features “Elemental Sequence,” a public art piece inspired by the area’s natural landscape. Orchard Park adds a disc golf course and playground to the mix. Protected bike lanes and separated sidewalks make getting around on foot or two wheels genuinely pleasant.
Shopping and Dining
Whole Foods and Walmart Neighborhood Market cover the grocery bases, and the nearby Tanasbourne Town Center puts a full array of retail and dining within easy reach. Locally, Copper River Restaurant & Bar and Gyro House Mediterranean Grill are neighborhood favorites for casual meals, while the neighborhood’s proximity to Tanasbourne means residents rarely want for options.
Community and Lifestyle
AmberGlen attracts a young, diverse, professional crowd — it’s a neighborhood that values convenience, and it delivers. If you’re starting a new job at Intel or OHSU and want to be close to work without jumping straight into homeownership, AmberGlen is a smart landing spot. As the AmberGlen Community Plan continues to take shape, the neighborhood is gradually adding more of the urban amenities that will make it feel even more complete over time.
Reedville Neighborhood
Reedville is the kind of established, family-first neighborhood that tends to quietly fly under the radar while neighborhoods like Orenco Station get all the press. But ask any longtime Hillsboro resident where the solid, dependable, great-schools-and-good-parks part of the city is, and Reedville is going to come up pretty fast.
Location and Boundaries
Reedville is located in the southeastern portion of Hillsboro. The neighborhood is bounded by E Main Street to the north, Highway 8 (SW Tualatin Valley Hwy) to the south, SE Cornelius Pass Road to the east, and SE Brookwood Avenue to the west. It’s also where you’ll find West Coast Self-Storage Hillsboro, located at 2650 SE Imlay Ave — right off the Tualatin Valley Highway.
Historical Background
Reedville takes its name from Simeon Gannett Reed, a prominent Oregon entrepreneur who operated a sprawling 8,000-acre farm and livestock operation in the area in the 1800s. Reed’s legacy lives on in a more famous form today — after the death of his wife Amanda Reed, the property became the endowment for Reed College in Portland. Reedville post office was established in 1877, and by 2004 much of the community had been formally annexed into the City of Hillsboro.
Real Estate Overview
Reedville’s housing stock leans heavily toward owner-occupied, medium to large single-family homes, with a mix of established residences built between 1970 and 1999 and a solid contingent of newer construction. Townhomes also appear throughout the neighborhood. Vacancy rates here are among the lowest in the country for similarly sized communities — a sign that demand is consistently strong and residents tend to stay put once they find a home. It’s a neighborhood people move into and don’t leave in a hurry.
Educational Institutions
Reedville is served by the Hillsboro School District, which includes well-regarded elementary schools throughout the area along with Brown Middle School, conveniently located right across Frances Street from Reedville Creek Park. The district’s overall reputation for academic programs and community involvement makes this a consistently popular choice for families relocating to the region.
Parks and Recreation
Reedville Creek Park is one of the neighborhood’s biggest draws — a nearly 10-acre active park with a skate park (the first in Hillsboro), softball field, basketball courts, tennis courts, a playground, water feature, and picnic shelter. It’s the kind of park that gives kids something to do on a Saturday regardless of what sport or hobby they’re into. Rood Bridge Park, not far from the Reedville area, is a 58-acre community favorite with a stunning Rhododendron Garden, watercraft launch on the Tualatin River, paved paths, tennis courts, and multiple picnic shelters — the perfect place to spend a spring afternoon.
Shopping and Dining
The Tualatin Valley Highway corridor puts a wide range of shopping and dining within easy driving distance, including grocery anchors, pharmacies, restaurants, and specialty retailers. The neighborhood has a practical, no-fuss feel when it comes to everyday errands — everything you need is close by without requiring a trip across town.
Community and Lifestyle
Reedville has the settled, friendly character of a neighborhood where people know their neighbors and actually use their parks. It’s family-oriented without feeling exclusionary, and the mix of established long-term residents and newer arrivals gives it a community feel that takes decades to build. Its southern location also puts residents within easy reach of the Tualatin River Trail system and the broader natural amenities of the area. For families who want a real neighborhood in the traditional sense of the word, Reedville is one of Hillsboro’s most reliable choices.
South Hillsboro / Reed's Crossing Neighborhood
If you want to watch a neighborhood being built from the ground up — in the best possible way — South Hillsboro is your front-row seat. Reed’s Crossing, Oregon’s largest mixed-use master-planned community, is the centerpiece of Hillsboro’s ambitious growth on its southern edge, and what’s taking shape there is genuinely impressive.
Location and Boundaries
South Hillsboro is a massive, 1,400-acre master-planned expansion area located on the city’s southern edge. The district’s boundaries are strictly defined: it is bordered by SW Tualatin Valley Highway (TV Highway) and the adjacent freight rail corridor to the north, SW Rosedale Road to the south, SW 209th Avenue to the east, and SE 67th Avenue to the west. Reed’s Crossing, the neighborhood’s 474-acre residential centerpiece, is situated right in the heart of this footprint, accessible via SE Cornelius Pass Road and SE Blanton Street, and is designed to balance this new development with the natural amenities of the nearby Tualatin River watershed.
Historical Background
Ground broke on Reed’s Crossing in 2018 on a 474-acre parcel in South Hillsboro. At full buildout, it’s approved for approximately 2,800 single-family homes and over 1,000 multifamily units, along with a Town Center, schools, parks, and community amenities. It’s the largest community of its kind in Oregon, and in 2023 alone — when rising interest rates were cooling housing markets across the country — home sales in Reed’s Crossing nearly doubled the developer’s expectations.
Real Estate Overview
South Hillsboro / Reed’s Crossing offers a range of home styles from five regional builders, including classic single-family homes, contemporary small-footprint designs, and townhouses. Prices span a wide range, from around $400,000 on the lower end to over $1 million for larger or premium homes. That breadth makes it one of the more accessible entry points into Hillsboro homeownership for first-time buyers, while still offering options for move-up buyers looking for something newer and larger.
Educational Institutions
South Hillsboro / Reed’s Crossing is served by the Hillsboro School District, and the neighborhood’s growth has already prompted the opening of a new elementary school (which opened for the 2023-24 school year). Additional schools are planned as the community continues to grow, keeping pace with the thousands of families moving in.
Parks and Recreation
This is where South Hillsboro and Reed’s Crossing really shines. The community is wrapped around more than 80 acres of parks, greenways, and open spaces interconnected by miles of paved paths — and the ambitious design ensures that every home is within a quarter mile of outdoor recreation. The 23-acre central Greenway is the backbone of the trail system, featuring outdoor classrooms and a park designed around STEAM education themes. Reed’s Crossing Park, which celebrated its grand opening in Spring 2024, features a playground with a synthetic turf slide mound and tunnels. Shared community spaces include fire pits, community gardens, and gathering areas designed to make neighbors out of strangers.
Shopping and Dining
The Reed’s Crossing Town Center is now open and already bringing everyday conveniences into the heart of the community. Providence Health Center serves as a major medical anchor, while The Ackerly adds senior living options nearby. Residents also have access to a growing mix of dining, shopping, and services, including Market of Choice, Insomnia Coffee, Nikki Sushi, Spitz, Shake Shack, Jamba, Club Pilates, OnPoint Community Credit Union, and Dental Care at Reed’s Crossing. With more businesses continuing to fill in, the Town Center is becoming exactly what South Hillsboro was designed around: a walkable hub where daily errands, meals, appointments, and neighborhood life can happen close to home.
Community and Lifestyle
South Hillsboro and Reed’s Crossing are, by design, communities built around connection. The shared green spaces, trail systems, and future town center are all oriented around getting neighbors outside and interacting. It’s already attracting a mix of young families, first-time buyers, and move-up buyers who want the newness and intentionality of a master-planned development without sacrificing access to nature. If you’re someone who wants to put down roots in a neighborhood that’s still writing its story, this is a pretty exciting place to do it.
Jackson School Neighborhood
Tucked just north of Downtown Hillsboro, the Jackson School neighborhood offers the kind of well-established, family-friendly residential feel that’s increasingly hard to find in fast-growing cities. It’s not flashy, but it’s consistently rated among the best neighborhoods in Hillsboro for families — and the numbers back that up.
Location and Boundaries
The Jackson School neighborhood sits in the north-central portion of Hillsboro. Its borders are heavily defined by the area’s natural features and community pathways: the neighborhood is bordered on the north and west by Glencoe Creek, on the east by NE Jackson School Road, and on the south by the Jackson School Woods Trail. The neighborhood puts residents within a short drive of both Downtown Hillsboro and the tech corridor along US-26, making it a practical choice for commuters who work anywhere across the metro.
Real Estate Overview
The neighborhood is dominated by owner-occupied single-family homes, primarily in the medium to large range — three to five bedrooms is the norm — with many built between 1970 and 1999. Lot sizes are generous by Portland-area standards, and mature trees and well-maintained landscaping give the streets a settled, comfortable look. It consistently ranks as one of Hillsboro’s top family-friendly neighborhoods, with a high rate of owner-occupancy and a strong sense of residential stability. Intel’s main campus is just a few minutes away, making this a popular choice for employees looking for a quiet home base.
Educational Institutions
Jackson School is named for Jackson Elementary School, a well-regarded school within the Hillsboro School District that serves as the neighborhood’s educational anchor. NeighborhoodScout rates this neighborhood among the top 11% of family-friendly neighborhoods in Oregon, citing the quality of public schools and above-average safety as key factors. Students move through the Hillsboro School District system for middle and high school, with several strong options depending on exact location.
Parks and Recreation
Hamby Park serves as the neighborhood’s primary green space, offering the kind of relaxed, family-friendly outdoor setting that makes living in the suburbs feel worthwhile. The nearby Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve — a 635-acre wildlife sanctuary right within city limits — is one of Hillsboro’s most remarkable natural assets. It’s home to over 150 bird species including herons and bald eagles, and 4.5 miles of trails wind through wetlands and upland habitats. The Nature Center features interactive exhibits and the only authentic bald eagle nest exhibit in the continental US. It’s the kind of place that makes you feel like you’re miles from a city, even though you’re firmly inside one.
Shopping and Dining
Baseline Road and the surrounding commercial corridors put groceries, restaurants, and everyday retail within easy reach. The proximity to both Downtown Hillsboro and the Tanasbourne shopping district means residents have access to a wide range of options without a long drive in either direction. The area around the neighborhood is also home to a growing food scene, with standouts like Syun Izakaya — a modern Japanese gastropub known for its sushi and sake flights — drawing residents from across the city.
Community and Lifestyle
Jackson School has the feel of a neighborhood where people know each other and look out for each other. The combination of good schools, well-kept public spaces, and quiet residential streets creates an environment that’s consistently top-rated for families, and the active community of homeowners reflects that. Its location — close to downtown, close to the tech corridor, close to nature — gives it a practical versatility that’s hard to argue with.
Finding Your Home in Hillsboro
Hillsboro isn’t just growing — it’s growing thoughtfully. From the transit-connected design of Orenco Station to the brand-new trails and parks of Reed’s Crossing, from the cultural buzz of Downtown to the settled, family-centered warmth of Reedville and Jackson School, each neighborhood brings something distinct to the table.
And as all of that growth brings new residents and new chapters of life — moves, downsizing, renovations, garage cleanouts — storage needs tend to grow right along with it. West Coast Self-Storage Hillsboro, located at 2650 SE Imlay Ave in the Reedville neighborhood, is here to help. With heated storage units, advanced security, flexible month-to-month leasing, and a full range of unit sizes, we’re ready to make room for whatever life brings your way in this great city.
