If you’re thinking about spending your golden years in
Portland, Oregon, but you aren’t so sure about the rapid city growth or high housing prices, these peaceful Portland suburbs should be on your list.
We looked at a whole bunch of data to figure out the best Portland suburbs to retire and found close-knit communities, great senior amenities, and beautiful housing options.
Let’s take a look at the 5 suburbs that made the cut.
1. Newberg, OR
Key Stats:
- Cost of living: 112, compared to the Portland average of 119
- Median home price: $221,400
- Number of doctors: 91
Newberg kicks off our list of the best Portland suburbs for retirees with a low cost of living. Rolling hills, farmland, and spacious craftsman and ranch style homes give residents plenty of space to spread out.
Golf enthusiasts can hit the links at the Chehalem Glenn Golf Course, while arts and culture enthusiasts will flock to events and exhibits at the Chehalem Cultural Center. The Newberg Public Library is also the perfect place to beat the summer heat and check out a new book.
2. Vancouver, WA
Key Stats:
- Cost of living: 111, compared to the Portland average of 119
- Median home price: $215,500
The small city of Vancouver, Washington earns the second place spot on our list with a low cost of living and plenty of amenities for retirees to enjoy. Home buyers will find modern townhouses, bungalows, ranch style houses, and craftsman homes.
Enjoy public art and events at Esther Short Park, picnics along the Columbia River, or golf at the Royal Oaks Country Club. Community organizations like the 50+ Forever Young Hikers club are a great way to meet new neighbors. Residents also have access to convenient shopping from brand name retailers at the Westfield Vancouver mall.
3. Beaverton, OR
Key Stats:
- Number of doctors: 128
- Total senior amenities: 476
The growing suburb of Beaverton earns the third place spot on our list of the best Portland suburbs for retirees with plenty of modern townhomes and sprawling craftsman style homes.
Hit the links at the Redtail Golf Center, grab fresh local produce at the Beaverton Farmers Market, or enjoy a stroll through the beautiful Tualatin Hills Nature Park. Community events like the four-day long Beaverton Arts Mix and the summer series, Picnic in the Park, are a great way to stay involved in the community.
4. Lake Oswego, OR
Key Stats:
- Residents age 65 and up: 16.1 percent
- Number of doctors: 136
The affluent suburb of Lake Oswego has a variety of housing options for retirees, including modern condos and townhomes, and classic craftsman style homes on spacious lots.
Grab fresh local produce at the Lake Oswego Farmers’ Market, enjoy a picnic in one of many scenic city parks, or hit the links at the Oswego Lake Country Club. Arts and culture enthusiasts will love viewing local art at the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts.
5. West Linn, OR
Key Stats:
- Residents age 65 and up: 13.3 percent
- Total crimes per 100k: 1,107
The riverside city of West Linn rounds out our list of the best suburbs of Portland for retirees with beautiful historic homes in Elizabethan and craftsman styles, and low maintenance modern townhouses.
Check out a new book at the West Linn Public Library, or enjoy a picnic by the Willamette River and a stroll through the 128-acre Mary S. Young Park. The Adult Community Center offers numerous affordable fitness classes, perfect for active retirees.
Our Methodology
To create this list of the best Portland suburbs to retire, we took a look at the following retirement friendly criteria:
- Doctors per capita
- Senior amenities per capita (volunteer opportunities, recreation centers, golf courses, restaurants, libraries, arts and entertainment, and retirement homes)
- Cost of living (the lower the better)
- Median home price (the lower the better)
- Percent of residents 65 and up
- Total Crimes per 100k
From there, we ranked each suburb in the above categories. Then, because some things are a little more important to retirees than others, we weighted the percent of residents 65 and up and total crimes per 100k so they made up 20 percent of our total score, while the rest of the categories made up 15 percent.
We averaged these weighted scores into one overall score, with the lowest five scores going to our top 5 suburbs for retirement.
To see how other Portland suburbs ranked, check out the table below:
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