Tualatin Valley

Known for its wineries and stables, Tualatin Valley is an emphatically upscale rural community, offering residents a luxurious lifestyle in pastoral surroundings. “It definitely has a country feel to it, but if you actually look at the homes there, you’re going to see more mansions than farmhouses,” says Diana Lipton, an associate broker with More Realty who has lived in the area for over a decade. “If you’re looking for a bit of acreage for horses or hobby farming or just for your kids to run around, but you don’t want to get too far from town, the area is great.”

While there are a few older farmhouses in the area that occasionally sell for under $1 million, the vast majority of properties in Tualatin Valley are modern mansions built in the last 30 years. Home styles run the gamut of new traditional designs, incorporating Colonial Revival, Craftsman and ranch elements. Most properties on the market these days are priced between $1.4 million and $3 million and offer between 4,000 and 6,000 feet of space. These homes, many of which might be better described as estates, generally come with at least an acre or two of land, often more, and high-end amenities like in-ground pools and tennis courts are a frequent sight in local backyards. Sidewalks, however, are mostly absent from the neighborhood, which shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise given the space between properties.

While Tualatin Valley itself doesn’t have much in the way of shopping — though there are a few feed stores, as well as seasonal produce markets hosted by local farms — the area is bordered on three sides by popular shopping districts: Willamette, Downtown Tualatin and Wilsonville all offer plenty in the way of shopping and dining. “It can feel like you’re way out in the country,” says Lipton, “but you really have easy access to shopping and amenities.” Most residents in the neighborhood are within a ten-minute drive of a shopping center or walkable main street.

Willamette’s downtown area has been revitalized over the last couple of decades and now features a number of modern, highly-rated eateries like surf and turf spot Avanti, as well as its own branch of Portland-area staple McMenamins Pub. Tualatin Valley residents looking to while away a weekend afternoon can also visit a tasting room at one of the neighborhood’s vineyards, like Barnello Winery or Twill Cellars.

When it comes to spending time outdoors, local options include the Hidden Creek Polo Club, home of the popular annual Polo Noir festival, and the Oregon Golf Club, which features an 18-hole course designed by Peter Jacobsen, along with tennis and pickleball courts and a swimming pool. The Tualatin and Willamette Rivers also provide endless opportunities for aquatic entertainment, from fishing to kayaking and rafting. Public green spaces in the area are limited to Fields Bridge Park, which is home to the local playground and Little League fields, as well as a short hiking trail and interpretive site dedicated to the Willamette Meteorite, which has long been held sacred by local Native American Tribes.

Public education in the neighborhood is overseen by the West Linn-Wilsonville School District, which Niche ranks as the 3rd best district in the state. Stafford Primary School has a 9 out of10 rating on Greatschools, while Athey Creek Middle School has a B-plus grade on Niche. Wilsonville High School has an A overall grade on Niche, and received a silver ranking from US News and World Report in 2016.

When it comes to commuting, Interstate 205 makes it easy to get around the southern suburbs. Tualatin and Wilsonville are right next to the neighborhood, while Oregon City and Lake Oswego are just a five-mile drive. Getting to Portland and Beaverton can take a bit more effort: they’re both roughly fifteen miles away from Tualatin Valley.

If you’re looking for a luxurious lifestyle in pastoral surroundings, and don’t mind a bit of distance between you and the cultural offering of Downtown Portland, then it’s hard to imagine a better landing spot than Tualatin Valley.

Written By

Andrew Moreno

Photography Contributed By

John Othic

Video By

Michael McAdams