Livability

[Download a PDF]

Cost of Living Comparison

Housing

City Government

The City of Hillsboro was incorporated in 1876.  Government in Hillsboro is fiscally conservative, yet progressive and forward thinking.  We take great pride in the supportive, cooperative attitude of the local government toward residents and business.  The stability of the City is evidenced by the fact that it has had only four City Managers in its 100+ year history.

The City operates under a council/manager form of government.  Voters elect six councilors and a mayor. Each serves a four-year term, subject to a charter imposed limitation of two consecutive terms.  The mayor and council appoint a City Manager to conduct the business of the city.  Policy decisions are the responsibility of the council and Mayor.  Administrative functions are carried out by the manager and manager-appointed staff.

Healthcare

Tuality Healthcare is the primary provider of in-patient services, urgent care centers, and outpatient facilities throughout the Hillsboro area.  In addition, Tuality offers a range of services including health education, birthing care, physical rehabilitation, mental health, cancer treatment, diagnostic imaging, laboratory, out-patient, home health, nutrition, and addiction counseling.  Many of Tuality’s 300 member medical staff are also providers in the Tuality Health Alliance, a physician/hospital/community partnership that links members of local insurance plans to the full range of services represented by Tuality and its professional staff.

Tuality Health Education Center provides education and community outreach funded largely through the Tuality Healthcare Foundation.  Generous contributions by community business and individual help fund the Foundation.  Tuality also works closely with community organizations such as Community Action Organization, Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, Healthy Start Inc., Washington County Hospice, Tualatin Valley Mental Health, and the Washington County Department of Mental Health.

Source: Tuality Healthcare

Secondary Education

Several private schools are available in the Hillsboro area offering education services to several grade levels.

Faith Bible Christian Schools (Pre K- 12)
16860 SW Blanton St.
Aloha, Oregon  97007
tel: 503-642-4112

High School Campus
4435 SE Tualatin Valley Hwy
Hillsboro, Oregon  97123
tel: 503-681-8254

Forest Hills Lutheran School (K – 8)
4221 SW Golf Course Road
Cornelius, Oregon  97113

St. Matthew Elementary School (K-8)
221 SE Walnut St.
Hillsboro, Oregon  97007-2745
tel: 503-648-2512

Tualatin Valley Junior Academy (Pre K - 12)
21975 SW Baseline Road
Hillsboro, Oregon  97123-6240
tel: 503-649-5518

The Hillsboro School District 1J includes a number of communities (Hillsboro, North Plains, Cornelius, Aloha, and even extends into Sherwood) located in three different counties (Washington, Yamhill, and Multnomah).  The District has 4 high schools, 4 middle schools, and 24 elementary schools.  It is also the fourth largest school district in Oregon.

• Total District Employment: 2213

• Total Students: 20,200 (as of October 2008)

• Average District Class Size: 26

• General Fund Expenditures per Student: $ 6254 (2004-05)

Test Scores

Source: Oregon Department of Education, Report Card, 2009-2010

Higher Education

Three higher education institutions are located in Hillsboro and neighboring Forest Grove to the west.

Oregon Health Sciences University – Oregon Graduate Institute School of Science & Engineering is a “…national leader in education and research aimed specifically at the interface of science, technology, health and the environment.” The OGI School of Science & Engineering provides an exclusive graduate-level education with a focus on research.  The school incorporates the best features of a traditional university environment, research emphasis and state of the art instrumentation with the personal attention found usually in small colleges.  The research environment is entrepreneurial, emphasizing the fundamentals and practical applications to solve problems in advanced technology, science management, finance, the environment and health.  This campus also offers professional development courses which deliver knowledge, skills and tools that can be applied immediately.  Enrollment is approximately 3000 students.

Portland Community College – Rock Creek Campus

Portland Community College's Rock Creek Campus is located north of US Hwy 26 and serves the western metro Portland area.  The college offers college transfer and professional and technical programs which include Veterinary Technology, Landscape Technology, Biology, Diesel Service Technology, Auto Collision Repair, Building Construction Technology and Biotechnology programs. The campus is a model for successful partnerships with area high schools, and its science-technology building, completed in 1995, houses up-to-date laboratories and classrooms. The on-campus hangar houses the Aviation Maintenance Technology program where students can get hands-on experience maintaining airplanes and helicopters.The Rock Creek campus serves about 10,000 students annually.

Pacific University, located in Forest Grove is a private, four year university offering undergraduate and graduate degrees from:

• College of Arts & Sciences
• College of Education
  
• College of Optometry
  
• College of Health Professions:
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Physician Assistant Studies
  • Physical Therapy
  • Professional Psychology

   

Many graduate degrees are offered at Pacific’s Health Professions Campus in Downtown Hillsboro.

Recreation

Hillsboro residents enjoy a variety of recreational opportunities.  Proud to promote its natural beauty, Hillsboro is home to 24 public parks, some of the area’s premiere wineries and the Jackson Bottom Wetland Preserve, a 710 acre wildlife preserve located within the city limits.  Jackson Bottom is a superior resource center for information and services related to wetlands and aquatic education in the metro region.  Residents of Hillsboro also enjoy recreational and seasonal event opportunities such as swimming, boating, and fishing, as well as team sports played at the Gordon Faber Recreation Complex.  Hillsboro also has nine golf courses, including the Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club.