Cedar Hills, OR

Established in the late 1940s as one of the area's first planned suburbs, Cedar Hills offers a classic mid-century neighborhood feel just minutes outside Portland. Most homes here are single-story ranches and ramblers sitting on spacious lots with mature evergreen trees, wide picture windows, and quiet, gently curving streets. Much of the community belongs to the Homes Association of Cedar Hills, one of the oldest active homeowners associations in Oregon. The HOA maintains the neighborhood's tidy look through modest annual dues and architectural guidelines, so you will want to check their rules on exterior paint, fences, and outbuildings if you plan on doing major renovations.

ATTRKingofthedead / CC BY-SA 3.0

Cedar Hills sits right near the junction of Highway 26 and Highway 217, giving residents one of the most convenient commute locations in the west metro. You can head east into downtown Portland in about fifteen minutes or west toward the tech campuses in Hillsboro and Nike's world headquarters nearby. While homes carry Beaverton or Portland mailing addresses, the area is actually unincorporated Washington County land. Everyday shopping is right down Cedar Hills Boulevard at Cedar Hills Crossing, an open-air center with grocery stores, a local branch of Powell's Books, casual restaurants, and a multiplex theater.

ATTRSteve Morgan / CC BY-SA 4.0

Day-to-day life here revolves around great parks and accessible transit options. Cedar Hills Park serves as a primary outdoor hub with sports fields, a splash pad, walking trails, and a community garden, while the nearby Cedar Hills Recreation Center hosts everything from fitness classes to preschool programs. Commuters can catch the MAX light rail at the Sunset Transit Center or Beaverton Transit Center to skip highway traffic altogether. Families are served by the Beaverton School District, though you will want to double-check specific school boundaries and HOA coverage for any individual property you tour.