Moving can be a stressful and overwhelming transition, and finding the perfect suburb for your career and family with great schools can almost feel impossible–but it’s easier than it might seem. Portland, Oregon, is known for being an expensive place, and the cost of living is 32.4% higher than the national average. And when it comes to purchasing a house, the median home sale price is 84.1% higher than the national average. With this in mind, we want to share some of the top-rated affordable suburbs in Portland that are also safe–giving you peace of mind.
Choosing cheap Portland suburbs allows you to enjoy having more open space and lower crime rates, ultimately giving you more bang for your buck!
Neighborhoods give you a residential area, while a suburb gives you a mixture of commercial businesses, residential homes, and located in a metro area. Moving to Portland is an exciting time. Here’s the list of the most affordable Portland suburbs!
Table of Contents
Hillsboro, OR | Affordable Yet Luxurious Portland Suburb
- Population: 106,651
- Square Miles: 25.8
- People Per Square Mile: 4,141.5
- Distance to Portland: 20 miles
- Median Age: 35 years old
- Median household income: $97,436, which is higher than the state average of $70,084
- Homes for sale in Hillsboro, OR
- Median home price: $502,500
- Median rent: $2,057
- Crime rate: The total crime rate in Hillsboro is 2,163 per 100k people, which is 7.8% lower than the national average. The violent crime rate is 231 per 100k people, which is 40.4% lower than the national average. And the property crime rate is 1,932 per 100k people, which is 1.3% lower than the national average.
Hillsboro, Oregon, is known for being “The Hub City” and is a luxurious suburb at an affordable price. With the total crime rate being lower than the national average, Hillsboro is a great place to live for families. A few of the most popular restaurants in Hillsboro include R&K Cafe II, Elmer’s Restaurant, Syun Izakaya, Frenkie’s Pasta & Pizza, and Copper River Restaurant & Bar.
Orenco Woods Nature Park, Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks & Minerals, and Rood Bridge Park are just a few local landmarks.
With the median household income being higher than the state average, Hillsboro is an affordable place to settle down in Oregon.
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Lake Oswego, OR | Affordable Suburb For Young Professionals With The Top Portland Schools
- Population: 40,390
- Square Miles: 10.8
- People Per Square Mile: 3,734.6
- Distance to Portland: 8 miles
- Median Age: 46 years old
- Median household income: $120,585 which is higher than the state average of $70,084
- Homes for sale in Lake Oswego
- Median home price: $770,000
- Median rent: $2,138
- Crime rate: The total crime rate in Lake Oswego is 1,708 per 100k people, which is 27.2% lower than the national average. The violent crime rate is 67 per 100k people, which is 82.7% lower than the national average. And the property crime rate is 1,640 per 100k people, which is 16.3% lower than the national average.
Lake Oswego is known for being a great place for starting a business, having some top schools, and being a safe yet affordable community. Lake Oswego has so many beautiful outdoor places to explore, like Millennium Plaza Park, Portland Oregon Temple, Foothills Park, and George Rogers Park.
If you’re looking for the best restaurants in Lake Oswego, make sure to check out Oswego Grill, Babica Hen Cafe, TUCCI Restaurant, and Nicoletta’s Table & Marketplace.
Lake Oswego is an affordable and safe place to call home. While the median household sale price and the rent might be on the higher end, with the median household income being almost twice the state average, Lake Oswego is still affordable.
If you have kids or are planning on starting a family, consider settling down in the suburb of Lake Oswego because it has some of the best schools in the city of Portland.
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Oregon City, OR | Historical & Affordable Portland Suburb
- Population: 37,160
- Square Miles: 10
- People Per Square Mile: 3,698.4
- Distance to Portland: 13 miles
- Median Age: 37 years old
- Median household income: $85,193 which is higher than the state average of $70,084
- Homes for sale in Oregon City
- Median home price: $580,000
- Median rent: $1,773
- Crime rate: The total crime rate in Oregon City is 1,866 per 100k people, which is 20.5% lower than the national average. The violent crime rate is 301 per 100k people, which is 22.4% lower than the national average. And the property crime rate is 1,565 per 100k people, which is 20.1% lower than the national average.
Oregon City is known for being the “end of the Oregon Trail” and the “First and Mothertown of our state.” Oregon City was the end of the trail that families traveled on looking for a new life during the 1800s.
A few of the most popular landmarks in Oregon City include: The End Of The Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, Oregon City Municipal Elevator, the McLoughlin House, Canemah Bluff Nature Park, and Clackamette Park.
The rent in Oregon City is less than the average rent in Portland. While the house sale price might be a little higher than the city average, with the income being higher than the state average, it balances it out–making Oregon City an affordable place to call home.
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Sherwood, OR | High-End Homes At An Affordable Price
- Population: 20,281
- Square Miles: 4.9
- People Per Square Mile: 4,126.3
- Distance to Portland: 17 miles
- Median Age: 36 years old
- Median household income: $104,651 which is higher than the state average of $70,084
- Homes for sale in Sherwood
- Median home price: $592,250
- Median rent: $1,938
- Crime rate: The total crime rate in Sherwood is 1,356 per 100k people, which is 42.2% lower than the national average. The violent crime rate is 55 per 100k people, which is 85.8% lower than the national average. And the property crime rate is 1,302 per 100k people, which is 33.5% lower than the national average.
Sherwood has beautiful, luxurious homes that don’t break the bank. And if you still need additional help with housing (renting an apartment), Sherwood has created an affordable housing option to help those in need.
This Portland suburb was incorporated in 1893 and has a motto of “Home of the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge.” To this day, there’s a debate about where the name of this neighborhood came from because the founder, Robert Alexander, was from Sherwood, Michigan, but he always said this gorgeous suburb reminded him of the Sherwood Forest in England.
In addition to being affordable, Sherwood is a family-friendly community that has something fun for everyone, like the Langer’s Entertainment Center, Snyder Park, and Hawks View Winery.
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McMinnville, OR | Low Cost Portland Suburb With Napa Vibes
- Population: 34,224
- Square Miles: 10.6
- People Per Square Mile: 3,235.1
- Distance to Portland: 38 miles
- Median Age: 37 years old
- Median household income: $58,692 which is lower than the state average of $70,084
- Homes for sale in McMinnville
- Median home price: $507,500
- Median rent: $1,350
- Crime rate: The total crime rate in McMinnville is 2,503 per 100k people, which is 6.7% higher than the national average. The violent crime rate is 271 per 100k people, which is 30.1% lower than the national average. And the property crime rate is 2,232 per 100k people, which is 14% higher than the national average.
One of the things that McMinnville is known for in Oregon is the willingness to help its community. With its affordable housing committee, McMinnville is on a mission to help the residents of this beautiful Portland suburb. In addition, if you love wine, then McMinnville is the place for you! They are home to some of the most famous wineries in Oregon, like The Eyrie Vineyards, known for its Pinot noir and Pinot gris.
If you have kids, don’t worry, though, because McMinnville is said to be a family-friendly and kid-friendly suburb –perfect for settling down and calling home. Some of the highly-recommended attractions throughout McMinnville include: Discovery Meadows Community Park, Walnut City Lanes, the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, and the Wings & Waves Waterpark.
While the median household income is lower than the state average, this Portland suburb has low rent, and the median home sale price is on the more affordable side when compared to other parts of Portland and the state of Oregon. When you look at these factors, it helps to balance the scales and allows McMinnville to be considered an affordable place to live.
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Gladstone, OR | Top Affordable Portland Suburb For Families With Small Town Vibes
- Population: 12,017
- Square Miles: 2.4
- People Per Square Mile: 5,011.2
- Distance to Portland: 12 miles
- Median Age: 40 years old
- Median household income: $83,214 which is higher than the state average of $70,084
- Homes for sale in Gladstone
- Median home price: $439,500
- Median rent: $1,727
- Crime rate: The total crime rate in Gladstone is 2,070 per 100k people, which is 11.8% lower than the national average. The violent crime rate is 225 per 100k people, which is 42% lower than the national average. And the property crime rate is 1,844 per 100k people, which is 5.8% lower than the national average.
With the crime rate being 11.8% lower than the national average, the median home sale price is below $450,000, and the population mimicking small towns, Gladstone, Oregon, is a great family-friendly suburb in the beautiful city of Portland that’s affordable. As one of the most affordable places to purchase a home, Gladstone is a great option if it’s your dream to own a house. It’s home to the historic Pow Wow Tree that got dedicated in 1979 as a Bicentennial Tree. And Gladstone has so many beautiful mountains and nearby forest areas to explore, like High Rocks Park, Gladstone Nature Park, and Dahl Beach City Park!
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Cornelius, OR | Low Cost Agricultural Hub
- Population: 12,893
- Square Miles: 2.3
- People Per Square Mile: 5,512.2
- Distance to Portland: 24 miles
- Median Age: 37 years old
- Median household income: $72,917 which is higher than the state average of $70,084
- Homes for sale in Cornelius
- Median home price: $437,062
- Median rent: $1,268
- Crime rate: The total crime rate in Cornelius is 2,515 per 100k people, which is 7.2% higher than the national average. The violent crime rate is 410 per 100k people, which is 5.7% lower than the national average. And the property crime rate is 2,104 per 100k people, which is 7.4% lower than the national average.
Cornelius is known for being one of the best agricultural hubs for the city of Portland–making it a great place for farms and vineyards. While Cornelius might be small and have fewer modern attractions, this Portland suburb is not considered a rural area. Most residents own a house because the median home sale prices are affordable compared to other major areas of Portland.
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Map of Portland Suburbs
For additional attractions, fun places to explore, restaurants, affordable Portland Suburbs, and things to do, check out this map!
Are you ready to make one of these beautiful and affordable Portland Suburbs your home? PDX Movers is here to help YOU! With our trustworthy, honest, reliable, and detailed oriented crew members, you can rest assured knowing that we will make this transition as seamless as possible! Call us at (503) 746-8795 for a free estimate!
