In Oregon’s lush Willamette Valley, Silverton is a picturesque city with outdoor recreational opportunities, almost 30 locally made murals, a respected school system and scenic views of the Cascade Range and Mt. Hood. Originally a mining train stop, the city was incorporated in 1885 with 229 people. Today, there are over 10,000 residents, according to 2023 Census information. “It’s very vibrant for such a small community, which is not something you always find with these small towns,” says Meredith Wertz, a Realtor with Silverton Realty with over 20 years of experience. “It’s a very trendy place that people want to live. There’s always something going on.” That ‘something’ often refers to the city’s burgeoning dining and art scenes centered in its historic downtown shopping district.
Silverton is well known for its stock of medium and large sized homes.
Downtown Silverton is home to many locally owned businesses.
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Specialty recreation areas, Silver Falls State Park and the Silverton Mural Society
Silverton maintains eight parks and facilities, including playgrounds and a pool. Silverton Reservoir is a 65-acre fishing and non-motorized boating lake with a 10-acre marine park. The Silverton Dog Park has fenced areas where canines can run off-leash, while the adjacent skate park has various features to challenge skateboarders. Silverton is called the gateway to Silver Falls State Park, Oregon’s largest state recreation area. It contains a nearly 200-foot-high waterfall that visitors can walk behind and the Trail of Ten Falls, which passes by waterfalls, a creek and miles of forest. Oregon Garden contains diverse plants, art installations and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Gordon House, the only home the architect designed in the Pacific Northwest. The Silverton Mural Society offers guided and self-guided tours of over 20 murals throughout the city.
Boating and fishing activities can be found at the Resevior in Silverton, Oregon.
The South Falls in Silver Falls State Park is an excellent place to witness nature.
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Water Street restaurants, a historic shopping district and Salem Center
International, Southern, diner and pub classics are served up and down Water Street at breweries, bistros and bars. Milltown Pub, for instance, is a historic restaurant located on the site of the 1916 Silver Falls Timber Company Store. It's part of the city's burgeoning dining scene, which focuses on locally owned eateries and regional ingredients. Historic downtown Silverton is recognized for its well-preserved, mural-covered buildings, creekside store options and popular restaurants. Other shopping is done 15 miles away in Woodburn or Salem at centers like the Woodburn Premium Outlets, Willamette Town Center and Salem Center. Regional grocery stores and locally owned markets dot Silverton.
Find handmade home furnishings made my local artisans in Downtown Silverton.
There are several outdoor dining options overlooking the river in Silverton.
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Silver Falls School District and technology programs
Silver Falls School District operates 15 campuses, enrolling nearly 3,700 students. It earned an A-minus rating from Niche, which also named the district among the top 10 in Oregon. The district is known for its gifted and talented program and technology initiative. Plus, the district provides high-resolution televisions for classrooms, while iPads and Chromebooks are distributed to each student.
Silverton High School recieved an A rating in 2024, according to Niche.com
Silverton Middle School has 444 students in grades 6-8 in 2024, according to Niche.com.
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Over a century of housing in the Willamette Valley
Silverton’s long history has resulted in an array of architectural styles from the last 170 years. Farmhouses, Craftsmen and ranch-style homes with meticulously maintained lawns and gardens line shaded streets. Sixty-seven percent of housing is single-family homes, with townhouses, apartments and manufactured housing making up the rest. Twenty-four percent of the city’s housing was built before 1939, while 64% of homes are from 1970 through today. Most houses have two to three bedrooms. At 5.4%, appreciation rates in Silverton are among the highest in Oregon, although they’re even with the national average. Homes sell for a median price of $575,000, higher than the national average of $400,000.
Craftsmen style homes are the most prevalent architectural style in Silverton.
Contemporary homes in Silverton offer plenty of room for growing families.
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Major industries, large employers and the Legacy Silverton Medical Center
The city’s most prominent industrial sectors include healthcare, public administration and educational services. Some of the largest employers are the Silver Falls School District, the Legacy Silverton Medical Center, the City of Silverton and the Oregon Garden. Many residents also commute to nearby Salem for work. Legacy Silverton Medical Center is the city’s primary healthcare facility, with an emergency room, a birth center and a physical therapy department.
The Silver Falls School District is a major employer in Silverton.
The Legacy Silverton Medical Center is a major employer in Silverton.
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Highway 213, bus services and Portland International Airport
Silverton has no interstates, meaning the city has very little roadway noise. There are, however, several highways, such as Highway 213, which leads to Interstate 5 or into Salem 15 miles away. Cherriots operates bus routes in the city and throughout Marion County. Commuters typically have a 29-minute one-way trip daily, slightly longer than the 27-minute national average. The city doesn’t have many bike lanes or sidewalks, although a new transportation plan approved in 2020 would begin creating those networks. The Salem Hospital is 16 miles southwest, and Portland International Airport is 46 miles north.
Rainy winters, Silver Creek and low crime rates
The city has a temperate climate with long, rainy winters and short, dry summers. The average annual rainfall of 47 inches is higher than the national average of 38 inches. However, there are fewer sunny days here than throughout the country, with 157 days in Silverton as opposed to 205 nationally. The city has an elevated risk of wildfires due to surrounding state parks, reservoirs and agricultural fields providing fuel sources. Houses can have steep driveways with single access, making it essential for residents to have escape routes planned in the event of wildfires or earthquakes. The portion of Silver Creek along Pine Street has the highest chance of flooding, so people are advised to use sandbags in the event of rising water. Air pollution in Silverton can be extreme enough to cause breathing problems in healthy people around 15 days a year. People are advised to wear masks during air advisories.
Both violent and property crime rates are lower than the national average, according to FBI crime data. Violent crimes are almost 60% below average, while property crimes are 33% below. Theft is the most often reported crime.
Jennifer has been in Real Estate since 1993. Her energy and enthusiasm has been appreciated by her clients and most of her business comes from referrals and repeat buyers and sellers. Jennifer does not differentiate the level of service for buyers or sellers between a $100,000 property or a multi-million-dollar luxury home. Simply put, her clients matter.
Jennifer grew up in McMinnville Oregon after moving from California. She grew up on small acreage and lead a double life working after school in a clothing boutique and going home to manage her own livestock business/4-H & FFA project. After graduation she traveled for a year as Oregon Vice president for the FFA. She attended Linfield College and graduated from Oregon State University. Jennifer worked as a News Anchor/Reporter and in Hotel Sales and Marketing. She was a Fundraiser for a local Children’s Therapy center and served as Assistant Alumni Director for four years for OSU. She joined her husband Eric in Real Estate after watching his business grow and found it to be the perfect fit.
Together Eric and Jennifer have grown a successful business, repeatedly top agents in the Willamette Valley since 2004. In 2009 Larson and the rest of The Larson Group opened HomeStar Brokers. It was a dream fulfilled to own a company that was top-notch and trustworthy in every aspect.
Jennifer has a strong background in marketing and advertising. She enjoys helping clients stage homes to maximize sales potential. Whether you want to purchase or sell a new home, older home, equestrian property, farm or high-end luxury home, you will be given competent and enthusiastic service. Jennifer also understands investment properties and owns a number of rentals in the Salem area giving her an experienced eye in helping investors make wise decisions.
When you are in Salem please come by our office! Otherwise, E-mail, call or write and we will do everything we can to help you!
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.
