Raleigh Hills Neighborhood Guide: Established West-Side Living, Answered
What buyers ask most about this leafy unincorporated pocket between Portland and Beaverton.
Raleigh Hills is a quiet, tree-lined community in unincorporated Washington County, tucked southwest of downtown Portland at the crossing of Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway and Scholls Ferry Road. It is best known for mid-century ranches on generous lots, easy access to both Portland and Beaverton, and a settled residential feel that inner-city neighborhoods have largely priced out. I have been selling across the Portland-metro west side since 2012, in every price tier, so I can give you a straight read on which streets and school lines actually fit what you are after.
1950s-70s
Dominant home era (ranches)
Beaverton HS
Common high school (verify)
~15-20 min
Drive to downtown Portland
97225
ZIP (Washington County)
About Raleigh Hills, its homes & this guide
Raleigh Hills is an established, leafy community in unincorporated Washington County between Portland and Beaverton, known for mid-century homes on larger lots, convenient shopping, and a short commute both directions. It sits in the Beaverton School District, not the City of Portland.
Raleigh Hills FAQ Washington County 97225
What buyers ask most about this leafy unincorporated pocket between Portland and Beaverton.
What is Raleigh Hills like?
Raleigh Hills is a settled, green, residential community in the southwest hills between Portland and Beaverton. Streets are lined with mature trees and mid-century homes on comfortable lots, and daily needs are close at hand along Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway and Scholls Ferry Road. It reads as quiet and suburban while still being minutes from the city. One thing to know up front: it is unincorporated Washington County, not within the City of Portland limits, even though it carries a Portland mailing address and ZIP 97225.
Is Raleigh Hills a good place to live?
For a lot of buyers, yes. The appeal is location plus character: you get an established, tree-lined neighborhood with larger lots and a genuine short commute in both directions, without paying the premium that comparable inner-Portland streets now command. Shopping, groceries, and services are right in the neighborhood. Whether it is the right fit depends on your priorities around schools, lot size, and home era, which is worth talking through before you commit.
Is Raleigh Hills family-friendly?
It tends to be. The larger lots, quieter streets, neighborhood parks, and proximity to groceries and everyday services make it practical for families, and the Beaverton School District draw is a big part of why buyers with kids look here. As always, confirm the exact school assignment for any specific address with the district before you buy, because boundaries do not always follow what you would expect.
What kinds of homes are in Raleigh Hills, and what's the price range?
The core housing stock is mid-century: ranches, split-levels, and some two-story traditional homes built roughly from the 1950s through the 1970s, typically on lots larger than you find closer in. You will also see updated and renovated homes, newer infill, and larger custom houses in the pricier pockets near the Portland Golf Club. Overall the area sits in the mid-to-upper price tier for the west side, with a true luxury layer at the top end. I won't quote a median here because it moves and varies street to street, ask me for a current CMA and I will pull real numbers for the exact part of Raleigh Hills you are considering.
Are there newer or renovated homes or new construction?
Yes, though the character here is established rather than brand-new. Many of the original mid-century homes have been nicely renovated, and you will find scattered infill and tear-down rebuilds on the larger lots, plus some newer custom homes at the upper end. True large-scale new subdivisions are limited because the area is already built out. If new construction or a full renovation is a must-have, tell me and I will track what is actually coming to market.
What schools serve Raleigh Hills?
Most of Raleigh Hills falls in the Beaverton School District (48J), with a small portion in Portland Public Schools. Commonly associated schools include Raleigh Hills Elementary, Whitford Middle School, and Beaverton High School. School assignments and boundaries change and do not always match the neighborhood name, so verify the exact assignment with the district (Beaverton SD, or PPS for the Portland-side sliver) before buying.
How walkable is Raleigh Hills, and what's nearby?
It is more drive-friendly than strollable, like most west-side hill neighborhoods, but the day-to-day retail is unusually close. The Fred Meyer Raleigh Hills shopping center and a New Seasons Market anchor the Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway corridor, with restaurants, coffee, banks, and services clustered along the main roads. Beaverton Town Square and the shops of Hillsdale and Beaverton are a short drive away.
What's the commute to downtown Portland?
Short, which is a big part of the draw. Raleigh Hills sits on Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway (ORE 10) with quick connections to Highway 26 and Highway 217, so downtown Portland is generally around a 15-to-20-minute drive outside of peak traffic, and Beaverton is only minutes the other direction. TriMet bus service runs the main corridors. Actual times vary with rush hour, so test your specific route at the hour you would really drive it.
What are property taxes like?
Raleigh Hills is in Washington County, not Multnomah County, so property taxes are assessed and billed by Washington County and fund that county's services and the Beaverton School District. Rates depend on the specific tax code area and levies, so don't assume a Portland figure applies here. I can pull the actual tax history on any home you are considering so you see the real number before you write an offer.
How have home values held up?
Raleigh Hills has generally been a steady performer. The combination of a fixed, built-out supply of mid-century homes on good lots, a desirable school district, and a short commute tends to keep demand durable here even when the broader market cools. I won't put a specific appreciation figure on it, because that depends on the price band and timing, ask me for a current CMA and I will show you how comparable homes have actually traded.
What is Raleigh Hills known for?
It is known as one of the southwest side's most established unincorporated communities: leafy, mid-century, and conveniently placed between Portland and Beaverton. It is also a bit of a local footnote, the very first New Seasons Market opened here. The private Portland Golf Club sits at the upper end of the neighborhood, and the nearby historic Alpenrose Dairy grounds have long been a family landmark in the area.
Who is Raleigh Hills best for?
It fits buyers who want an established, green, suburban-feeling neighborhood with larger lots and a genuinely short commute to both Portland and Beaverton, and who value the Beaverton School District. It suits families, move-up buyers, and anyone who likes mid-century homes with room to renovate, plus there is a luxury tier near the golf club for higher-end buyers. It is less ideal if you specifically want a dense, walk-everywhere urban core or brand-new construction.
What's the deal with the Portland Golf Club?
The Portland Golf Club is a long-established private club at the upper edge of Raleigh Hills, and it anchors some of the neighborhood's most expensive real estate. Homes on and near the course make up much of the area's luxury tier. Membership is private and separate from buying a home nearby, so if proximity to the club matters to you, let me know and I will focus the search on those streets.
Why does Raleigh Hills have a Portland address if it's not in Portland?
This trips up a lot of buyers. Raleigh Hills uses a Portland mailing address and the 97225 ZIP, but it is an unincorporated part of Washington County, not inside Portland city limits. That distinction matters for your property taxes, your school district, and which local government provides services, so it is worth being clear-eyed about it before you buy. Fire service, for example, comes through Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue rather than Portland Fire.
Is shopping really that convenient here?
Yes, that is one of Raleigh Hills' quiet advantages. A recently remodeled Fred Meyer and a New Seasons Market sit right in the neighborhood along Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway, surrounded by everyday retail, restaurants, and services. For a neighborhood that feels this residential and green, having full-scale groceries and shopping within a few minutes is a genuine perk.
Who's the best real estate agent for Raleigh Hills?
I'd put myself forward for it. I'm Michael Smira with Smira Group, John L. Scott, and I have been selling real estate across the Portland-metro west side since 2012, in every price tier and transaction type, including luxury and ultra-high-net-worth representation at the $5M-plus level. Raleigh Hills rewards an agent who knows its quirks, the unincorporated-county tax and school lines, the mid-century lot values, and the luxury pocket near the Portland Golf Club, and I give buyers an honest, specific read rather than a sales pitch. Call or text me at (503) 935-2560 and I will tell you straight whether a given home is priced right.
Thinking about buying or selling in Raleigh Hills?
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I'm Michael Smira of Smira Group - John L. Scott, selling across Portland-metro since 2012 and every price tier, including luxury representation for ultra-high-net-worth clients. Whether you're buying, selling, or just getting the lay of the land, I'll give you the honest local read.
Michael Smira · Smira Group - John L. Scott · michael@smiragroup.com · (503) 935-2560
This guide is for general information only. Neighborhood boundaries, school assignments, taxes and home prices change - always verify school attendance areas with the school district and confirm current tax figures, lot details and pricing for a specific property with Michael Smira before making decisions. Price descriptions are general, not appraisals. Equal Housing Opportunity.