Forest Grove 79 Exceptional
Forest Grove Livability #56 ranked city in Oregon#1,886 ranked city in the USARanks better than 93% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Forest Grove

PROS
  • Commute Commute

    A high commute score suggests convenient, easy access to public transportation, with shorter-than-average work commute times to work.

  • Employment Employment

    This area excels in the employment category with a score well above average, primarily due to the higher median home income, per capita income and low unemployment rates.

  • Housing Housing

    High scores in the housing category are attributed to this area, possibly pointing to a favorable home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Achieving a high health and safety score relies on factors including great air quality and convenient access to vital health facilities such as hospitals, doctors, clinics and police stations.

  • Ratings Ratings

    Locals express favorable opinions about the proximity of everyday local amenities, parks, public transit, neighborly atmosphere, strong sense of community and the general safety of the area.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    A large portion of amenities are not ideally situated within walking distance, potentially requiring residents to utilize a vehicle or public transportation.

  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    The cost of living in this area is notably high, making it a more expensive place to live. You'll find higher expenses for everyday goods and services, housing and groceries.

What's it like Living in Forest Grove?

Forest Grove, Oregon is a moderately-sized city with a population of 25,554 people. With a population density of 4,365 people per square mile, Forest Grove is well above the nation's average density level. At 82%, the majority of the Forest Grove population is White; this is followed by 3% Asian and 1% Black. Long, unnecessary commutes can be both frustrating and inconvenient when heading to work. Nationwide, the average one-way commute time takes 26 minutes, but regrettably, residing in Forest Grove entails a longer-than-average one-way commute time, averaging 30 minutes.

Whether you’re relocating to a new town to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Forest Grove could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Oregon if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like amenities, health & safety, education, employment, you can easily compare the best places to live in Forest Grove and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Forest Grove to Oregon and the national average.

The livability score in Forest Grove is 81 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 95th percentile of all cities across America. Pack your bags! This is a very high score in comparison to other US cities. Living in Forest Grove could be a great choice! Forest Grove has also earned the rare honor of ranking in the top 10 percentile among all cities. If we take a closer look at each of the categories individually, we see that Forest Grove ranks well for employment (A-) and housing (A+). There are some categories that Forest Grove scores poorly for, including: amenities (D-). It might be worth taking a closer look to find out why.

For home buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they will ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their Forest Grove apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city. A thriving real estate market can also generate strong local economic activity and job creation.

Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Forest Grove is real estate affordability. Median real estate prices in Forest Grove come in at $618,451, which is 39.8% higher than the Oregon average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Forest Grove, the home price to income ratio is 6.1, which is 8.9% higher than the Oregon average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Forest Grove

See all the best places to live around Forest Grove

How Do You Rate The Livability In Forest Grove?

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Compare Forest Grove, OR Livability

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      Forest Grove transportation information

      Statistic Forest Grove Oregon National
      Average one way commute30min23min26min
      Workers who drive to work73.5%71.4%76.4%
      Workers who carpool8.4%10.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit3.3%4.4%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle1.6%2.4%0.6%
      Workers who walk5.5%3.9%2.8%
      Working from home6.2%6.4%4.6%
      Source: The Forest Grove, OR data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.