7.5 out of 10

Hillsdale

45.4793844459688 -122.69755981272
Great for
  • Safe & Sound
  • Clean & Green
  • Parks & Recreation
  • Peace & Quiet
  • Lack of Traffic
Not great for
  • Gym & Fitness
  • Internet Access
  • Nightlife
  • Eating Out
  • Shopping Options
Who lives here?
  • Families with kids
  • Professionals
  • Retirees
  •  
  •  

Reviews

4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
2yrs+

"Popular, Family Friendly Neighborhood Southwest of Portland"

Hillsdale is an older community located southwest of downtown Portland. It has a reputation for being a very neighborhood friendly, close-knit suburb, popular with families and ideal for those that commute to the city yet want a traditional lifestyle. Hillsdale is home to a wide variety of residential neighborhoods. There are some gorgeous homes with amazing views and yet there are your typical homes built from the 1940’s on that create a wide mix of styles depending on your preference and income. This is one of the older areas outside of Portland, so you will find large, mature trees and nice sized lots, which real estate agents love to promote.

Because Hillsdale is a family friendly neighborhood, there are many nice parks (Hillsdale Park, is the largest with lots of room for sporting activities and includes an off leash dog run), year round farmer’s market (not many year-round in Portland, so this is a plus), the popular Hillsdale library as well as nice shopping and good restaurants. Hillsdale is not a walking friendly community due to the hilly terrain (it’s called Hillsdale for a reason), but if that is not important to you, then Hillsdale is a great community in which to reside.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 5/5
  • Peace & Quiet 4/5
  • Eating Out 5/5
  • Nightlife 2/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 5/5
  • Gym & Fitness 5/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 5/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 4/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 5/5
2yrs+

"Family-Friendly Suburban Neighborhood With Lots of Parks"

Hillsdale is a Southwest Portland neighborhood with a decidedly suburban feel. It feels quite far from downtown, though it's just a short drive away.

Hillsdale is home to a newer public library branch that is especially popular among families, along with Wilson High School. One of the community's landmarks is Baker and Spice, a local bakery that is a great place for meeting up with friends. Other stores include a Fred Meyer and a coop grocery store. For a fun night out, check out the McMenamins Hillsdale Brewery. During the summer months, the Hillsdale Farmers Market is a popular attraction.

The neighborhood can be walkable depending on where you live. Parts are too hilly to make walking convenient, and some streets lack highways. It's easiest to walk if you live near the commercial areas, which tend to be in strip malls concentrated along certain streets of Hillsdale, particularly on Capitol Highway.

The neighborhood offers plenty of parks. Runners and cyclists love George Himes park, while runners enjoy the trails stretched along SW Terwilliger Boulevard. Dog owners frequent Hillsdale Park, while parents prefer the playground at DeWitt Park. Just south of Hillsdale is the expansive Gabriel Park.

The winding, laid-back residential streets of Hillsdale give it a relaxed, suburban feeling. Established neighborhoods with older homes are occupied by retirees, professionals, and families who want a small-town suburban neighborhood with all of the amenities offered by big-city Portland. Many of the homes on top of the hill offer great views of Portland.
Pros
  • Family-friendly
  • Lots of stores and restaurants
  • Good variety of parks
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Quiet and laid-back
  • Not very walkable
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Pest Free 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 4/5
  • Shopping Options 3/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 4/5
  • Lack of Traffic 4/5
  • Parking 4/5
  • Cost of Living 4/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 3/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 4/5
2yrs+

"Small Town Feel, But Close to the City"

My parents live in Hillsdale and they love it for various reasons. First of all, their home has an amazing view of trees and mountains. Because Hillsdale is, yes, on a hill, you get the luxury of all the hills provide. Another great thing about this neighborhood is although the views are amazing and its a great part of the city, the prices tend to be more reasonable. Not all the homes are mansions! In this part of the city, you feel as though you are in a tucked away suburb. It is pretty amazing how convenient this part of town actually is.

Hillsdale is amazingly convenient. They can quickly get to Nob Hill and downtown, also Beaverton is very close if you are interested in doing strip mall type shopping. Right around the corner from them is the Multnomah County Library with Leed™ certification. The only issue in terms of location is that it is hard for them to walk anywhere. There aren't too many businesses right in Hillsdale. But even if there were, it would be hard to walk to them because of all the hills. If you are a biker, however, there is a path right from Hillsdale to downtown.
Pros
  • Very convenient
  • Views
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Not very walkable
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees

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