Beaverton

Beaverton is the second largest city in Washington County and the sixth largest city in the state. Located just west of Portland, Beaverton combines the best of a big city with a suburban environment. With 11 well-planned distinct neighborhoods, Beaverton offers unlimited housing options to a diverse population. On the northern edge of Beaverton, is Murrayhill, a planned community constructed in the early 1990s on rolling hills with an eye to preserving the natural landscape. Two homeowners’ associations are tasked with preserving the appearance of the neighborhood with large homes on expansive lots and tree-lined sidewalks as well as maintaining the facilities. These private amenities for the sole use of residents include three private swimming pools, jacuzzi, tennis courts, basketball courts, play structure and miles of trails.

At the opposite, southern edge of the city, is Cedar Hills, an area containing primarily older single-story homes on wide streets. Cedar Hills and the surrounding neighborhoods, such as Commonwealth Park with its own 20-acre park and man-made lake, have a variety of home styles on large lots. These areas evoke quiet environments with walking paths and trails, but they are within minutes of an abundance of local amenities including public recreation centers and Cedar Hills Crossing, an outdoor shopping complex with a movie theater, bowling alley, grocery, specialty boutiques and the latest eating establishments. This northern part of Beaverton offers a suburban feel with urban luxuries.

Each of Beaverton’s neighborhoods are unique in character, but all have open spaces trails, parks, and community shopping centers nearby. Beaverton has an eclectic mix of commercial districts from a historic downtown to small neighborhood malls and is home to some of the largest employers in the US, including Nike. With Hillsboro located just west of Beaverton, it is also part of the Silicon Forest and home to many tech companies like Digimarc, Autodesk, Tektronix, and Apple. The proximity to Portland is a plus for those who like a taste of the big city, but this expansive city has great schools, offers quality of life and diverse offerings to appeal to everyone.