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Forest Grove, OR

A town of about 26,529 people in Washington County, part of the Portland area. Resident comments and photos are about Forest Grove; job numbers cover the wider area.

The Portland area:College town · College teaching jobs 1.7x the U.S. share
Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives

Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.

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Where it is
Forest Grove
Forest Grove in Oregon
Oregon in the U.S.
State outlines: U.S. Census Bureau.

What's nearby

Within 5 miles of Forest Grove's center.

4
grocery stores
34
restaurants
13
coffee shops
46
parks
44
playgrounds
3
libraries
2
movie theaters
1
live theater
3
bookstores
1
gym
10
bars
3
pharmacies

None found within 5 miles: hospitals.

Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Biking and trails

Within 5 miles of the center of Forest Grove.

Bike lanes and bike paths
39 miles
more than most U.S. towns
Walking and hiking trails
20 miles
about typical for a U.S. town

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Counts depend on how well local volunteers have mapped the area, so treat them as a rough guide.

What rent costs

Of about 3,246 rented homes in Forest Grove, 86% rent for under $2,000 a month and 98% for under $3,000.

Under $1,000: 19%
$1,000 to $1,499: 41%
$1,500 to $1,999: 26%
$2,000 to $2,499: 11%
$2,500 to $2,999: 0%
$3,000 or more: 2%

Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

What moving costs

Hiring movers

Average cost: $1,946

From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.

Moving in as a renter

The middle rented home in Forest Grove rents for $1,000 to $1,499 a month. First month plus a one-month deposit comes to about $2,000 to $2,998 before you get the keys.

Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.

Your first weeks in Oregon

  • Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
  • Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the Oregon DMV.
  • Register to vote at your new address: Oregon voter registration.
  • Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
  • Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
  • Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.

Public schools

Pacific University entrance sign
Pacific University entrance sign · Photo: M.O. Stevens, CC BY 3.0

6 public school districts in this county, with about 76,605 students in all. Which one serves a home depends on its address.

Forest Grove Sd 15 · Forest Grove
5,778 students · 16.8 students per teacher · 10 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Beaverton Sd 48j · Beaverton
38,706 students · 17.9 students per teacher · 56 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Hillsboro Sd 1j · Hillsboro
18,920 students · 18.5 students per teacher · 36 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Tigard-Tualatin Sd 23j · Tigard
11,656 students · 16.9 students per teacher · 18 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Banks Sd 13 · Banks
1,062 students · 18 students per teacher · 3 schools · grades Pre-K to 12

NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For test results and programs, see each district's site and your state's school report card.

Childcare and colleges

Daycare and preschool

Oregon keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.

Search licensed childcare in Oregon →
Link via childcare.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

19 colleges in the county and the wider metro around Forest Grove. Prices are yearly tuition and fees for full-time undergrads, before financial aid.

Pacific University · Forest Grove
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 3,479 students · $54,466 a year
Portland State University · Portland (metro)
Public, 4-year · 20,519 students · $10,617 in-state, $28,257 out-of-state
Portland Community College · Portland (metro)
Public, 2-year (community college) · 20,033 students · $5,040 in-state, $10,080 out-of-state
Mt Hood Community College · Gresham (metro)
Public, 4-year · 6,271 students · $5,175 in-state, $9,675 out-of-state
Clackamas Community College · Oregon City (metro)
Public, 2-year (community college) · 5,153 students · $6,210 in-state, $14,040 out-of-state

Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less, and community colleges often charge even less to people who live in their district. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.

IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.

The facts behind it
Typical home value
$542,843
What a typical home sells for across the Portland area.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index, August 2026
Average commute
25 minutes one way
How long residents' trips to work take on average, counting every job and way of getting there. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Homeowners insurance
About $1,572 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in OR. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Natural disaster risk
Relatively High
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hail risk
Very Low
FEMA's rating for hail damage in the county, compared with other U.S. counties.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hospitals nearby
None within 5 miles
No hospital is mapped within 5 miles of the center. Check the drive to the nearest one before you move.
Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
Drug overdose deaths (county)
8.5 per 100,000 people a year
52 deaths in the 12 months ending March 2026. OR average: 19.4 per 100,000. U.S.: 19.9. Counts are by where people lived, and recent months may still be updated.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, provisional counts through March 2026; Census population estimates 2024
Median household income
$104,434
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
0.87% of home value a year
About $870 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
Graduated, up to 9.90%
OR's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
Source: 2026

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