Tualatin

Hugged by the Tualatin River to the north, Tualatin East is a densely populated Portland suburb. Though Tualatin East is full of compact housing developments, the neighborhood hasn’t lost touch with nature as parks and waterfront trails surround the community. “It’s a great community that stays connected,” says Cricket Forsey, real estate agent with Keller Williams. “You have developments like Fox Hills where people come together for the annual Fourth of July parade and an annual garage sale.” HOA and non-HOA developments throughout Tualatin East feature predominantly single-family Craftsman-style homes built between the 1990s and 2020, all featuring their own unique designs and layouts. Most houses come with an attached garage and offer 2,000 to 4,000 square feet of living space, ranging from $650,000 to $850,000, while some fetch up to $1 million. Homes are set a few feet apart on well-manicured lots of about a tenth acre with small front yards and fenced-in backyards. Tree-lined sidewalks wind through each development, where you’ll often find people going for strolls right from their homes. Some sidewalks lead to paved trails like the Saum Creek Greenway, which runs through a canopy of trees behind the backyards of several homes. Other homes are just steps from the Tualatin River Greenway, which runs through Browns Ferry Park. The park is a popular spot for folks to bring their kayaks and canoes to float down the river. And if you don’t have your own, you can rent one from Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe right there in the park. “You’ll see people out and about all the time walking trails and taking kayaks out on the water,” says Forsey. For more fun outdoor activities, head to Atfalati Park, which offers paved walkways that meander through open grassy fields. Stop by for a relaxing stroll or play a pickup basketball or futsal game with friends. Kids can also have fun on the two playgrounds, with one geared toward preschool children. Kids receive a quality education, as each school is ranked in the top 50 in the state by Niche. Students attend Bridgeport Elementary School, ranked the 48th-best elementary school in Oregon with a B+ grade. They go on to A-minus-rated Hazelbrook Middle School, ranked the 21st-best middle school in the state. Students then finish their degrees at Tualatin High School, which boasts an A grade and is ranked the state’s 14th-best high school. According to GreatSchools, the high school is ranked far above the state average regarding college readiness with a 9 out of 10 score. Tualatin High is also known to compete at the highest level in sports, winning more than 50 state championships since 1996. The most recent victories include the boys’ basketball team, which won states in 2022 and 2023. The cheerleading team went even further than states, taking home the USA Spirit Nationals title in 2023. You don’t have to go far to shop and dine out thanks to Nyber Woods, a large strip mall with famous brands and big box stores like Best Buy, Old Navy and Ulta Beauty. The shopping center features mostly national chain restaurants like Famous Dave’s, a popular spot for barbecue. You’ll find a few local establishments, such as Sunny’s Diner, known for its extensive breakfast menu. Just down the street in Tualatin’s main town center are even more retailers and restaurants to choose from. Locals have easy access to health care at Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center, the 2nd largest employer in Tualatin. It features a 24/7 emergency room and several other medical facilities. Interstate 5 runs right by the neighborhood. You can hop on the interstate for a 12-mile drive to Portland, making Tualatin East a convenient place to live for city commuters who want to settle down in the suburbs.