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About Sandy, OR

About Sandy, OR

Nature and community in “Gateway to Mount Hood”

Sandy was originally settled as a stop along the last leg of the Oregon Trail, an alternative route to the Willamette Valley for pioneers who had historically been floating their wagons down the Columbia River—a risky and expensive option—to avoid traversing Mount Hood. Today, the city of roughly 13,000 is known as the “Gateway to Mount Hood” because of its location between Portland and the state’s tallest, most famous peak. Though it may be a pass-through point for many, Sandy is rich with outdoor recreation and community gatherings. “At the heart of it is community and showing off the tight network of people who are proud to live in Sandy and hold true to that small-community-way where everyone is helping each other out,” says John Wallace, the Recreation and Senior Services Manager for Sandy Parks and Recreation.

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The Sandy River runs along the eastern edge of Sandy.
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Tickle Creek meanders along the edge of Sandy.
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A man fishes along the Sandy river, just north east of Sandy.
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Mt Hood and the Sandy River Seen from the Jonsrud Viewpoint in Boring Oregon.
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Mount Hood and the wild and scenic Sandy River

Located at the foot of the Cascade Range along the Sandy River, the city is a mecca for outdoor recreation. Sandy’s namesake river originates from ice-capped Mount Hood and eventually flows into the rushing Columbia River. Between those two landmarks, paddlers can navigate 38 miles of the Sandy River Water Trail through basalt canyons and old-growth forests. The Sandy Ridge Trail System consists of more than 15 miles of mountain biking trails carved into the Cascade Range foothills between Mount Hood and Sandy. Regarded as one of the best mountain biking courses in the region, trails range from machine-built paths for beginners to black diamond terrain. Sandy enjoys a mild climate with rainy winters, and Mount Hood shelters the city from storms in the Columbia River Gorge. The Base Camp Action Sports Park in Cedar Park, which opened in November 2024, has the only combined pump track and skatepark in the Pacific Northwest. Closer to the center of the city, Meinig Memorial Park has a wooden fortress-inspired playground, a stage and concession stands for events like the Sandy Summer Sounds concert series and WinterFest, a month-long celebration of the holiday season. “What I really love about [WinterFest] is that it’s an all-inclusive event in the wintertime,” Wallace says. “In Oregon, a lot of parks go unused during the winter months because of how dark and rainy it can get. It gives access to individuals to use these parks at a time when they are not traditionally used.”

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A sign on Hwy 26 welcomes you to Sandy.
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Kids can play on the expansive playground at Meinig Memorial Park on Meinig Avenue in Sandy.
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Stretch your legs at the Tickle Creek Park and Trail on Dubarko Rd in Sandy.
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Children and adults enjoy the skate and bike park at Base Camp Skate Park.
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Sandy Mountain Festival in Meinig Memorial Park

The Sandy Mountain Festival is perhaps the city’s most prominent event and one of the state’s highest-caliber art shows. Started in 1972, the festival features over 100 artisans, as well as bands from across the Portland metro area, in Meinig Memorial Park. The Sandy Historical Society & Museum, founded in 1926, stands near the old Barlow Road, known as the last leg of the historic Oregon Trail. The museum documents and honors the pioneers who settled the area, while the gift shop sells jewelry, pottery and glassware crafted by local artisans.

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The Sandy Area Historical Museum welcomes visitors.
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Catch a performance at the amphitheater at Meinig Memorial Park on Meinig Ave in Sandy.
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Meinig Memorial Park has a wooden fortress-inspired playground.
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Barlow Road is known as the last leg of the historic Oregon Trail.
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Food cart pod and farmers market downtown Sandy

The bulk of shopping and dining in Sandy is concentrated between Proctor and Pioneer boulevards. “There’s a little bit of shopping and a lot of restaurants,” says Ken Funk, a docent at the Sandy Historical Society. “Just about anything you can think of is here.” Retail trade, accommodation and food service make up a large portion of the job market in Sandy; retail accounts for more than 25% of the city's jobs. Sandlandia World Cuisine, a food cart pod with more than five options, and the Mount Hood Farmers Market are also near downtown Sandy. Grocery shoppers will find a Fred Meyer, a Grocery Outlet and a Safeway along U.S. Route 26 farther west of downtown.

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Grocery shoppers will find a Fred Meyer along U.S. 26 father west of downtown.
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Grocery Outlet is a great spot for a deal in the city of Sany.
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Locals and visitors alike enjoy the diverse dining options of Sandlandia.
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Sandlandia World Cuisne offers several food trucks to choose from.
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New traditional homes and new constructions in Sandy

Suburban streets with comfortable, wide sidewalks in Sandy are mostly filled with New Traditional homes constructed between the 1990s and 2010s, as well as new constructions built in the 2020s. More recent homes tend to have heavier Craftsman influences, though older homes from the 1930s through the 1970s can be found closer to the center of the city. The median sales price of a single-family home in Sandy is just below $550,000, which is slightly lower than Portland’s median of $580,000. The median home sales price in Sandy is trending downward about 2% each year, and the average home spends about 10 days longer on the market than the average home nationwide.

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Contemporary homes pop with bright trees along Bluff Rd in Sandy.
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Homes with large lots back up into a park on Loundree Dr in Sandy.
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Townhomes along Bluff Rd provides space for multiple families in Sandy.
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A home is tucked away between large trees on Loundree Dr in Sandy.
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Robust career and technical education from middle school

The city of Sandy is served by the Oregon Trail School District, which educates more than 4,300 students across nine schools, earning an overall B-minus grade from Niche. Most public school students in Sandy will finish their secondary studies at Sandy High School, which also receives a B-minus. The high school offers a variety of Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, and both its Machining and its Welding and Fabrication curricula align well with employer expectations, a South Metro-Salem STEM Partnership assessment found. District students may take CTE-related courses, like food science, veterinary science and sports management, as early as middle school.

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Cedar Ridge Middle School serves grades 6-8 on Bluff Rd in Sandy.
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Naas Elementary School is a Public Elementary School in Boring, Boring OR.
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Sandy grade school serves elementary students in Sandy on Pleasant Street.
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Sandy High School serves grades 9-12 on Bluff Ave in Sandy.
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Highway connection to Mount Hood and Portland

Sandy is connected to both Mount Hood in the southeast and Portland—about 28 miles northwest—via U.S. Route 26, which passes through the center of the city. Oregon state Route 211 branches off U.S. Route 26 and leads to the nearby communities of Eagle Creek, Estacada and others. The Sandy Area Metro (SAM) transit system takes passengers to the Gresham Transit Center and the Clackamas Town Center, both of which are near TriMet MAX Light Rail stops. The Mt. Hood Express is a bus service operated by the surrounding county that runs from Sandy to mountain communities and ski lodges on Mount Hood.

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The Sandy Area Metro (SAM) transit system takes passengers to the Gresham Transit Center.
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Sandy is connected to both Mount Hood in the southeast and Portland.
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Route 26 leads to the nearby communities of Eagle Creek, Estacada and others.
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Oregon state Route 211 branches off U.S. Route 26.
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Violent, property crime rates lower than national average

According to FBI statistics, Sandy’s violent crime rate stayed significantly below that of both the state and the country between 2023 and 2024. The city’s property crime rate was still below state and national rates during the same time frame.

Julia Straka
Written By
Julia Straka
Photography Contributed By
Vanessa Weber
Michael Voyack
Video By
Michael Voyack

Neighborhood Map

Sandy by the Numbers

12,607
Population
$512K
Average Housing Value
61
Average Days on Market

Average Home Value



Source: Public Records

Top Schools in Sandy, OR

Source:

Best Public Elementary Schools

Kelso Elementary School
#1 Kelso Elementary School
B+
Niche
6
GreatSchools
Firwood Elementary School
#2 Firwood Elementary School
B-
Niche
7
GreatSchools
Naas Elementary School
#3 Naas Elementary School
B
Niche
6
GreatSchools
Sandy Grade School
#4 Sandy Grade School
C+
Niche
7
GreatSchools

Best Public Middle Schools

Boring Middle School
#1 Boring Middle School
B+
Niche
6
GreatSchools
Cedar Ridge Middle School
#2 Cedar Ridge Middle School
B+
Niche
4
GreatSchools

Best Public High School

Sandy High School
#1 Sandy High School
B-
Niche
5
GreatSchools

Best Private School

Wy'East Mountain Academy
#1 Wy'East Mountain Academy
A-
Niche

Agents Specializing in this Area

Agent Spotlight

Cindy Sehorn-Singh
(971) 351-1553
Service ~ Integrity ~ Experience
Helping Buyers and Sellers Since 1992
Luxury Home Specialist
Condo Specialist with over 120 sold in the last 10 years
Accredited Seller and Buyer Specialist
Experienced 1031 exchange Agent for investment properties
Knowledgeable about Land Acquisition
New construction Specialist
Diamond- Platinum Masters Circle Member
(Over 250 Million Sold Since 1992)

Cindy Sehorn-Singh, a professional, full-time realtor since 1992. Born and raised in Northern California, her father worked in the corporate grocery business and was transferred all over the state. "Moving was fun," Cindy said. "I enjoyed new people and living in different homes and cities." This lifestyle is what prompted Cindy to become a realtor. "I love looking at homes," she says.

Cindy is committed to helping buyers and sellers find the perfect home. As the Director of Internet Sales with a large real estate company for four years, she has developed a system of utilizing the Internet and email to make the buying and selling process fun, effective and easy. She is always looking for different and effective ways to market homes and is continually seeking continuing education, networking and training in her field. Cindy is a realtor experienced in selling condominiums, investment properties, new construction and luxury homes all over the Portland Metropolitan area.

Her professionalism and integrity shows through to her clients and which is why she receives continued referrals from past clients, friends and family. Her exceptional negotiating skills enable her to obtain the best results for her clients. She understands the importance of buying or selling a home and that it is one of the biggest investments made and treats each client with the respect and care needed to achieve your goals.

Current designations include the prestigious designation of Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI) a designation held by less than 4% of all sales associates and National Association of Realtors Senior Real Estate Specialists (SREC).
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.