Though widely considered a college town because of Pacific University, Forest Grove has evolved into a city of about 26,000 with a growing downtown and a happening schedule of community events. “It’s still pretty vibrant [during school breaks] because of all of the families,” says Nicole Ellis, a real estate agent with John L. Scott Market Center who has lived in Forest Grove for almost three decades. “We do feel graduation because all of the students’ families come in, which brings in a ton of business for the weekend.”
Industries with the highest employment include healthcare and social assistance, educational services and manufacturing. Pacific University makes up a significant portion of the job market, and TTM Technologies, which produces high technology printed circuit boards (PCBs), is one of the city’s largest manufacturers.
Forest Grove is widely known for Pacific University and has a growing downtown shopping and dining scene.
Pacific University makes up a significant portion of the job market in Forest Grove.
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Pacific University began as a school for orphans
The Forest Grove School District earns an overall B-minus grade from Niche and serves about 5,700 students across 12 schools. Forest Grove High School, also maintaining a B-minus, offers an array of career and technical education classes, including construction tech and cabinetry, mechatronics engineering and visual arts. Advanced construction students can apply for the annual Viking House project, in which they will build a single-family home with the help of a professional crew. Professionals like electricians and plumbers perform more specialized tasks, while 16 high school students complete most of the framing, flooring and cabinetry.
Pacific University is the top private research school in the Pacific Northwest, with origins as a school for orphans of Oregon Trail pioneers. The university’s Forest Grove location is its main residential campus, offering undergraduate degrees, as well as Master’s- and doctorate-level education in optometry, business and education.
Forest Grove High School earns a B-minus and offers an array of career and technical education classes.
Pacific University is the top private research school in the Pacific Northwest.
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One of few premier vintage car shows
Pacific University is also the setting of one of the city’s best-known events: the Concours d’Elegance—one of four premier vintage car shows in the country. Classic pre- and post-World War II automobiles have been the event's highlight since its beginnings in 1973.
The Annual Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival and Corn Roast are the city’s signature September celebrations. Originally organized to introduce new educators to the community and celebrate the harvest season, these events feature fire-roasted corn and rentable sidewalk squares with chalk masterpieces.
Downtown improvement initiative launched in 2024
Downtown Forest Grove has a collection of restaurants, coffee shops, antique and specialty stores, spas and galleries. Black Dog Bar and Grill specializes in slow-smoked barbecue dishes, and Cornerstone Pub and Grill has one of the largest beer selections in the area. The David Hill Vineyards and Winery offers tastings of its signature Pinot Noir paired with charcuterie boards. The Forest Grove Farmers Market coincides with the city’s monthly First Wednesday market, where shoppers can browse fresh produce, prepared foods and artisan goods on Wednesday evenings from May through October. “Those months are very vibrant and busy,” Ellis says.
The Forest Grove Glow Up initiative, funded by Main Street America and began in 2024, aims to improve downtown. “We’re taking the initial steps to make our downtown more walkable, more park-able and more city-friendly so people want to spend their time and money there,” Ellis says, who is also on the city’s planning commission and part of the City Club of Forest Grove Board of Directors.
Valley Art houses art classes and has showecased local artists for 56 years in Forest Grove.
Black Dog Bar and Grill specializes in slow-smoked barbecue dishes.
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Community parks equipped for various sports
The Fernhill Wetlands are a serene respite from the steady rhythm of suburban Forest Grove. Additionally, the natural area functions as a cutting-edge wastewater treatment center, filtering water to nearby farms for irrigation. Designated as an Important Bird Area, the wetlands are home to swallows, Canada geese, bald eagles and herons, beavers, coyotes and other water-loving wildlife.
Four community parks are scattered throughout the city. Thatcher Park is equipped with baseball fields, a soccer field, picnic tables and a playground, as well as an off-leash area for dogs. Lincoln Park is designed for athletes, with a soccer field, track, BMX course, skatepark and baseball fields.
Spot a Great Blue Heron at the Fernhill Wetlands in Forest Grove.
Athletes enjoy the many sports facilities at Lincoln Park, namely its large skatepark and dirt bike course.
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Original Craftsman homes and new traditional renditions
New traditional homes—many with Craftsman touches—sit behind well-maintained sidewalks and neatly manicured lawns. Original Craftsman homes built before 1930 are concentrated closer to the gridded streets of downtown Forest Grove, while split-level and ranch-style homes from the 1960s and 1970s are sprinkled throughout the city. The median single-family home sales price in the city hovers at $570,000, comparable to Portland’s median of $580,000. Home prices are dropping at a yearly rate of 3% in the city, spending seven days longer on the market than the national average.
Forest Grove is bursting at its edges with new build communities that feature new traditional Craftsman styles.
Original Craftsman homes built before 1930 are concentrated around downtown Forest Grove.
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Local and regional public transportation from Ride Connection
Oregon state Route 26 leads to downtown Portland, about 27 miles—or 35 minutes, depending on traffic—away. It also connects to Oregon state Route 47, which skirts around the city of Forest Grove. Pacific Avenue, the city’s main thoroughfare, is lined with restaurants and retail. As it continues east, it serves as a main thoroughfare in both neighboring Cornelius and downtown Hillsboro.
Ride Connection provides several public transportation options throughout Forest Grove. The GroveLink West and East loops offer hourly service throughout respective sides of the city, while the WestLink is a free route to the communities of Banks, North Plains and Hillsboro.
Forest Grove’s falling violent and property crime rates
Crime rates in Forest Grove have fallen since 2020, and the city’s property crime rates have largely stayed below the state average. Theft reports decreased by about 15% from 2019 to 2023—falling from 469 cases reported to 398—while reports of assault trended down by almost 29%.
Forest Grove residents enjoy a temperate climate with four seasons, though fall and winter tend to be rainy.
Written By
Julia Straka
Photography Contributed By
Elizabeth James
Video By
Peter Medawar
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Summer Browner,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Forest Grove, OR sell after 75 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Forest Grove, OR over the last 12 months is $524,900, down 10% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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