Where to Live in
Hillsboro

Hillsboro 2026 Neighborhood Shortlist

Summary Table

The 2026 Vibe Check

Hillsboro is splitting into two distinct cities, and the dividing line is NE 48th Avenue. To the east, you have the "Silicon Forest" proper—Intel’s massive Ronler Acres campus is a self-contained city now, and the new Light Rail extension to Portland State University has turned Orenco Station from a novelty into the densest walkable hub west of the Willamette. Gentrification here isn't a wave; it's a dam breaking. Rents on the west side of Cornelius Pass Road are catching up to Beaverton, forcing families into South Hillsboro, a sea of identical beige siding and packed school gyms.

The big shift is the "Hillsboro 2035" plan finally bearing fruit. The old industrial lots near NE 10th & Adams are turning into micro-breweries and adaptive-reuse apartments. But the real tension is on the NE 53rd Avenue corridor. You’ve got 1970s ramblers next to $1M townhomes. It’s a battleground for the soul of the city. If you’re looking for quiet, head east toward Brookwood. If you want to feel the pulse of the tech influx, you live within walking distance of Baseline Road. The suburbs are getting denser, and the "downtown" is trying desperately to keep its brick-and-mortar feel while rent strips the soul out of it.

The Shortlist

Orenco Station

• The Vibe: Urbanist Utopia
• Rent Check: +15% ($2050+)
• The Good: This is the only neighborhood in Hillsboro where you can live without a car and not hate it. The Hillsboro Farmers Market (Saturdays) is a legitimate scene, not a parking lot stall. Tuality Health is a 5-minute walk, and the MAX Blue Line drops you at Intel or downtown Portland in 30 minutes flat. Walkability is a 9/10; Cornelius Pass Road has everything from Koya Sushi to New Seasons.
• The Bad: You are living in a fishbowl. The sound of the MAX train brakes screeching at 5:45 AM is your alarm clock. Parking for guests is a nightmare; street spots are gold dust. The "community" feel can feel forced—think HOA vibes without the HOA.
• Best For: Tech workers at Intel or Jabil who want to bike to work and hit Stein Haus for a beer without moving their car.
• Insider Tip: Walk the path behind NE 61st & Birch. It cuts through to the Jackson Bottom Wetlands and is the best sunset spot in the city, away from the main drag.

Northeast Hillsboro (Brookwood/Butternut Creek)

• The Vibe: Established Suburbia
• Rent Check: +4% ($1850)
• The Good: This is where you move when you need a yard for a Golden Retriever. Brookwood Elementary and Glencoe High School are the academic heavyweights. You get square footage here—1980s split-levels with actual storage. Butternut Creek Park is the hub; on weekends, it’s packed with youth soccer and families walking the loop. The Hillsboro Library (Brookwood branch) is quiet and actually has parking.
• The Bad: You are driving everywhere. NE 48th is a parking lot during rush hour. The food scene is chain-heavy (Applebee’s, Taco Bell). If you want a craft cocktail or a dive bar, you are driving to Downtown or Beaverton. Crime is low, but car break-ins near the trailheads are creeping up.
• Best For: Families with school-aged kids who prioritize square footage and school ratings over nightlife.
• Insider Tip: The Brookwood Farmers Market (Thursdays in summer) is where the locals actually shop. It’s quieter than the downtown one, and the produce is fresher.

Downtown Hillsboro

• The Vibe: Historic Core
• Rent Check: At Average ($1750)
• The Good: You have the Hillsboro Stadium (Hops games), the Witch Hazel House history, and the Washington County Fairgrounds. The MAX Blue Line stops at NE 1st Avenue, making the commute to Beaverton or PDX seamless. Baggins is the local institution for sandwiches, and Walter’s Cultural Arts Center actually books decent indie acts. It’s the only place with real density and older brick architecture.
• The Bad: The "Old Town" strip is fragile. One bad lease turnover and you have a vacant storefront. Noise from the Fairgrounds during rodeo week is deafening. Parking is atrocious during Hops games—you will get towed if you park in a stadium lot by mistake.
• Best For: Renters who want a walkable "city" feel without the Orenco price tag and tech bro density.
• Insider Tip: The dive bar Cheaters is the last true holdout. It’s sticky, loud, and plays 90s rock. It’s the best place to hear what locals actually complain about.

South Hillsboro (Sector 4)

• The Vibe: New Build Sprawl
• Rent Check: -7% ($1650)
• The Good: If you want a brand new apartment with quartz countertops and in-unit laundry for under $1700, this is it. It’s the "affordable" option for new construction. The Streets of Hillsboro shopping center is a massive draw, anchored by Cinemark and Grocery Outlet. You are close to Highway 26 if you need to escape to the coast.
• The Bad: It has zero soul. It’s a maze of cul-de-sacs that look identical. The walls in these new builds are paper thin; you will hear your neighbor sneeze. Commute times are creeping up as NE 40th Avenue is gridlocked with construction vehicles. No shade, no maturity.
• Best For: Newcomers to the area who need maximum square footage for the lowest rent and don't mind a commute.
• Insider Tip: The secret shortcut to avoid the NE 40th & Cornelius Pass nightmare is SW Rood Bridge Road. Use it to hit Highway 26 westbound without sitting in the gridlock.

Strategic Recommendations

For Families: Northeast Hillsboro (Brookwood) is the winner. The schools (specifically Brookwood Elementary) are consistently top-rated, and the lot sizes allow for trampolines and gardens. The crime rate here is statistically the lowest in the metro area, and the lack of nightlife means the streets are quiet after 9 PM.

For Wall St / Tech: Orenco Station. The commute to the Intel Ronler Acres campus is a 5-minute bike ride or a 10-minute walk. The MAX Light Rail connects you to the Portland State University campus in 25 minutes. You pay a premium for the convenience, but you save hours of your life not sitting in traffic on Cornelius Pass Road.

The Value Play (Buy Before It Explodes): Downtown Hillsboro (specifically the blocks NE of NE 1st Avenue towards NE 5th Avenue). The city is pouring money into the "Cultural District" around Walter’s Cultural Arts Center. The older bungalows here are being snatched up by developers for adaptive reuse. Rents are currently suppressed compared to Orenco, but the walkability and transit access are nearly identical. Buy a fixer-upper now; sell to the Intel overflow in 2028.