Tucked into the foothills of the Cascade Range, Molalla is a small but slowly growing town in the countryside with a population of approximately 10,000. “Molalla is a really cool area — it’s a quiet area but still close to city for jobs. It’s about a 45-minute trip to Portland or maybe an hour with traffic,” says Ryan Brooks, a real estate agent with Premiere Property Group, LLC and former resident. “It’s definitely grown a ton over the past ten years, but it’s still a multigenerational town for sure.”
Before the city was officially incorporated in 1913, the area was inhabited by the Molala, a Native American tribe of which the regional Molalla River and the town were named after. It wasn’t until the beginning of the 21st century that Molalla saw a drastic influx of residents, businesses and national franchise developments. In 2002, the town’s first stoplight was installed. Up until the 1980s, timber and logging were the primary industries driving the local economy; although these industries still play an influential role in the community today — RSG Forest Products remains one the area’s biggest employers — Molalla has also seen a rise in residents who commute out to urban centers for work.
Molalla is about a 45-minute trip to Portland or maybe an hour with traffic,
RSG Forest Products remains one the Molalla area’s biggest employers.
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New subdivisions meet midcentury homes
The housing options in Molalla include midcentury dwellings, tract homes in newly built subdivisions, historic farmhouses and Craftsman-style properties from the early 1900s. The median home price in Molalla is just over $480,000, with listings spending an average of 51 days on the market before selling. Most single-family homes range from about $300,000 to $590,000. “When it comes to home prices here, you might get a little more bang for your buck,” Brooks says. He also notes that Molalla’s growth has prompted new residential developments like the Bear Creek subdivision, which was established in 2018.
The median home price in Molalla is just over $480,000.
Most single-family homes in Molalla range from about $300,000 to $590,000.
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Exploring city parks and the Molalla River Recreation Corridor
Because of its location in the countryside, Molalla is a hotspot for outdoor recreation and scenic beauty. “If you like the outdoors and things like hiking or mountain biking, it’s a great place to be in the countryside,” Brooks says. The city has eight parks; Ivor Davies Nature Park is the largest of the eight and has a fishing pond and a 9-hole disc golf course. Billy Sheets Field and Leonard Long Park have athletic facilities where recreational sports teams can host practice or play games. Bordering the city is the Molalla River Recreation Corridor, a natural area filled with trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. East of Molalla is Mount Hood, an iconic mountain and ski resort surrounded by a national forest covering more than 1 million acres of land. In true country fashion, the city also has the Molalla Buckeroo; since its establishment in 1913, this 8,800-seat arena has drawn in thousands for its annual July rodeo and the Molalla Apple Festival.
The Molalla River Recreation Corridor provides many hiking, fishing and mountain biking opportunities just outside of Molalla.
Ivor Davies Nature Park is the largest of the eight city parks in Molalla.
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Students attend Molalla River School District
Students in kindergarten through 12th grade are served by the Molalla River School District, which receives an overall C rating from Niche. The district includes four elementary schools, Molalla River Middle School and Molalla High School, which has a nearly 90% graduation rate.
The Molalla River School District receives am overall C rating from Niche.
The Molalla River School District serves students from K-12.
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Downtown Molalla is home to local businesses
Molalla has a sparsely developed downtown area along Main Street near the center of the city. Local businesses, boutiques and a smattering of restaurants populate the downtown corridor. The city also has three main shopping plazas: Molalla Market Center, Cascade Center and Molalla Square. Between these, residents can find grocery stores, chain eateries and national retailers like Home Depot and Ace Hardware. Brooks says that the town has also welcomed many new establishments in recent years. One such establishment is the Molalla River Brewing Company, a popular family-owned business that frequently hosts live music, food trucks and community events.
Local businesses, boutiques and a smattering of restaurants populate the Main St in Molalla.
Molalla Market Center is one of three large shopping plazas in Molalla.
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Commuting by car in Clackamas County
Molalla borders the intersection of state highways 211 and 213, the former of which runs through the entire town. Commuters can take Route 211 and drive 14 miles west to get to Woodburn for access to Interstate 5, a major north-south thoroughfare that travels 35 miles up to Portland. Molalla is a car-dependent community, so public transit options are limited to a few local bus routes operated by the South Clackamas Transportation District. Commercial flights are available at Portland International Airport, approximately 33 miles north.
Written By
Hayley Simms
Photography Contributed By
Brian Lee
Video By
Taylor Gilbert
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
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an experienced agent in this area.
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