Overview
NW Cornelius Pass Road climbs out of the Tualatin Valley and dead-ends, essentially, into Forest Heights. The neighborhood was carved out of West Hills timber land starting in the early 1990s, and the result is one of the only parts of Portland where you can buy a 3,500-square-foot house built after 1995 with a Portland address. Homes run large — four-bedroom Colonials and Craftsman-revival houses on quarter-acre lots with views of the Tualatin Valley and, on clear days, the Coast Range. The Forest Heights Town Center at NW Miller Road has a New Seasons, a handful of services, and not much else.
Skyline K–8 feeds into Lincoln High School, which is Portland Public Schools' IB school and one of the most academically competitive high schools in the district. The Tualatin Hills Nature Park is a seven-minute drive and has over five miles of trails through lowland forest — it's where Forest Heights families actually recreate. Closer in, the West Hills Trail system is accessible from several neighborhood trailheads. The HOA maintains common areas and enforces architectural standards, which keeps the neighborhood tidy and is either a comfort or an annoyance depending on your disposition.
Forest Heights is honest-to-goodness car-dependent. NW 23rd is 20 minutes in normal traffic; downtown is 25–30 minutes. There is no MAX, no meaningful bus service, and no plan for either. The trade-off is a newer house, a Portland address, good public schools, and access to West Hills green space — at a price point noticeably below the closer-in West Hills neighborhoods like Nob Hill or Goose Hollow. If someone at your dinner table will be commuting to the Pearl District or downtown every day, test the drive yourself at 8 a.m. on a Tuesday before you make an offer.
Getting Around
25–30 min by car to downtown (40+ in morning rush), no practical transit option
Local Life
Restaurants
Coffee
Bars & Nightlife
Schools
Portland Public Schools
Parks & Green Space
Tualatin Hills Nature Park
Forest Heights Park
West Hills Trail System
The Market
Prices shown are estimates based on recent sales. Contact David & Bri for current market data.
Your team
We actually know Forest Heights — and we’ll tell you the truth about buying here.
David & Bri, Movement Mortgage. Portland born, Portland based — the local read no rate sheet gives you.
Buying in Forest Heights?
Get expert guidance from a Portland team that knows this market — David & Bri, Movement Mortgage. NMLS #1367416 / #265974.
What Clients Say
“We needed a four-bedroom in Portland Public Schools and didn't want a 1940s fixer. Forest Heights checked every box. Bri walked us through the HOA documents before we even made the offer.”
“The jumbo loan process felt like a black box until Bri explained exactly what the underwriter was looking at. We closed on time with no surprises.”
FAQ
4 questions
What schools serve Forest Heights?
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Most of Forest Heights is in the Skyline K–8 attendance zone, which feeds Lincoln High School. Lincoln is Portland Public Schools' International Baccalaureate school and consistently ranks as one of the top public high schools in Oregon. Confirm the specific parcel's school assignment with PPS before making an offer — a handful of western lots near the city boundary have had different assignments historically.
How car-dependent is Forest Heights?
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Extremely. There is no MAX stop, and TriMet bus service is minimal. Driving is how every errand gets done. NW 23rd and the shops on that corridor are about 20 minutes in normal traffic; downtown Portland is 25–30 minutes. If a household member commutes daily to downtown, expect 40+ minutes each way during morning rush.
Does Forest Heights have an HOA?
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Most of the neighborhood does, yes. The Forest Heights HOA manages common green space and enforces architectural covenants that govern exterior changes, fencing, and landscaping. HOA fees are typically $100–$200 per month depending on the sub-association. Review the CC&Rs carefully before closing — the rules are real and enforced.
How does Forest Heights compare to other West Hills neighborhoods on price?
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Forest Heights runs meaningfully less expensive than closer-in West Hills neighborhoods like the West Hills above NW 23rd or Goose Hollow. The trade-off is newer construction and larger lots — most homes here were built in the 1990s and 2000s — but much longer commutes to downtown and the Pearl. Median is around $750,000, compared to $900k+ for the closer hills.