A growing small town within commuting distance to Portland
Cornelius, a small town in the Tualatin Valley, is an expanding suburb of Portland. “There’s a lot of new construction and a lot of development out there,” says Realtor Erick Flores, who works with All Professionals Real Estate and has about five years of experience in the area. Anchored by a quaint Main Street-style downtown, the city’s most recent addition is the Laurel Woods subdivision, which has brought many new neighbors. The population has increased in the last few years to approximately 15,000 people, many of whom commute throughout the Portland metro area. “It’s pretty close to major highways, so you’re kind of far from the city but close enough that it’s not that long of a drive. The scenery is a little more rural, so some people like that,” Flores says. Surrounded by berry farms and vineyards, the area’s roads lead to open fields, barnyards and evergreen thickets.
Cornelius is rapidly expanding and has grown to a population of 15,000 residents in just the past few years.
Residents love the rural scenery surrounding Cornelius and can enjoy visiting farms for seasonal harvests and u-pick experiences.
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Adair Street retail and more local shopping
Adair Street, the community’s Main Street-style retail hub, has a few walkable blocks of local businesses and restaurants in the middle of town. Cornelius has several authentic Mexican restaurants, as well as local mainstay Five Stars Family Burger. In 2023, Yelp said it was the best burger in Oregon. “They have that burger spot that was awarded the best burger," Flores says. "The wait time was two hours when the article came out." The district is also home to Centro Cultural, a community center with varied programming. For grocery shopping, there are supermarkets in eastern and western Cornelius. Multiple berry farms on the outskirts of the city have pick-your-own strawberries, blackberries and raspberries.
The Yim family fires up the hottest burger in town, that often sells out at Five Star Family Burger. The combination of their custom charcoal, local meets marinated to perfection and secret sauce makes their burgers truly unique.
Families love the u-pick seasons at The Gonzalez Family Berry Farm and can shop for the freshest, high quality pre-picked berries on the weekends.
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Craftsman homes, ranch-style homes and new contemporary houses in Cornelius
Centered around Adair Street, the middle of Cornelius has grid-style blocks of historic homes, including Craftsman houses and Colonial Revivals. The town then expands with streets of midcentury ranch-style designs. The city’s northern edge has a 55-plus community of manufactured homes, while the southern part of Cornelius is rapidly growing with contemporary homes and townhouses in Laurel Woods. The city's median sales price is $520,000. “I would say it's a fast market with all the new construction there — commercial and residential — but there’s still room for even more,” Flores says. The upcoming Calida mixed-use development will have apartment units, commercial space and a pool.
You'll find a variety of early 20th century and mid-century homes surrounding downtown Cornelius, like this quintessential Colonial Revival home.
The southern part of Cornelius is rapidly growing with contemporary homes and townhouses in the newly constructed Laurel Woods community.
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Harleman Park and more of the city's recreation
Harleman Park is one of the most beloved parks in Cornelius. Located in the southern half of town, it has a playground, a picnic pavilion and sports facilities, including ballfields where the local Little League plays. In southeast Cornelius, Mariposa Community Park offers walking paths and a playground. “Mariposa is very spacious and open. It’s a nice park for families, one of the newest and nicest,” Flores says. Forest Hills Golf Course has a public 18-hole course in a countryside setting in southern Cornelius.
Harleman Park is one of the most beloved parks in Cornelius. Residents enjoy attending local little league sports games, gathering in the covered picnic gazbos, and taking a relaxing afternoon stroll around the park.
Forest Hills Golf Course has a public 18-hole course with lush greenery and views of the beautiful farmland in southern Cornelius.
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Forest Grove public schools
On Niche, Forest Grove School District has a B-minus rating. Serving approximately 6,000 students, the district has a student-teacher ratio of 17-to-1. The city is only 3 miles away from the Pacific University Forest Grove Campus.
Forest Grove High School earns a B-minus and offers an array of career and technical education classes.
Cornelius is only 3 miles away from the Pacific University Forest Grove Campus.
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Events and attractions, including Adelante Farmers Market and Cornelius 10 Cinemas
From June through August, the Adelante Farmers Market kicks off the weekend every Friday evening. It offers a variety of vendors, plus there’s live music performed by local musicians. In the heart of town, the Cornelius Public Library hosts frequent activities, including weekly crafting sessions and story times. It also has larger events like the Lunar New Year Celebration, complete with Chinese food and traditional decor. Cornelius 10 Cinemas offers indoor theaters as well as an outdoor drive-in experience.
The Cornelius Public Library hosts frequent activities, including weekly crafting sessions and story times.
Cornelius 10 Cinemas plays the latest blockbusters and offers an outdoor drive-in experience.
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A 25-mile drive to downtown Portland
The community is about 25 miles away from Portland via U.S. Route 26. The TriMet bus system offers public transit in town. The closest hospital is the Hillsboro Medical Center, located about 5 miles east of Cornelius. Portland International Airport, the closest major airport, is about 35 miles away.
The police force and weather in Cornelius
The community is served by the Cornelius Police Department, but the city’s crime rate data isn’t available.
Cornelius has four distinct seasons, with mild temperatures overall. It has rainy weather from the autumn through spring, with the occasional snowfall during winter. The summers are warmer and dryer than the rest of the year. The area has severe air quality risk because it’s on the Tualatin Valley Highway, and there’s undeveloped land nearby, where wildfires can break out.
Written By
Anna Anderson
Photography Contributed By
Elizabeth James
Video By
Mallory Nolte
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