Overview
Highway 217 cuts through the middle of Tigard and I-5 runs along its eastern edge — these two roads define the city more than anything else about it. Washington Square Mall has anchored the northern end since 1973, and the Tigard Triangle, the redevelopment zone near 99W, is slowly becoming a denser commercial district. The location is genuinely central: 20 minutes to downtown Portland, 15 minutes to Beaverton, 10 minutes to Tualatin or Lake Oswego. For people who work across the south metro — or who need I-5 access toward Salem or points south — Tigard's position is hard to beat.
Housing is mostly 1960s–1990s ranches and split-levels with a scattering of newer subdivisions where older commercial land has been redeveloped. The price point sits above Hillsboro and Tualatin but below Lake Oswego directly to the east. The Tigard-Tualatin School District is one of the stronger suburban districts in the metro — Durham Elementary, Fowler Middle School, and Tigard High are all consistently rated well. Families who leave Portland for schools often land here because the schools are good and the housing is still affordable relative to the Eastside suburbs.
Tigard is not walkable in most of its neighborhoods. 99W (Pacific Highway) carries heavy traffic and is primarily a commercial strip. There is no light rail yet — the Southwest Corridor MAX line has been approved and is in planning, but it won't change daily life anytime soon. If you're coming from an inner Portland neighborhood where you walked to coffee and dinner, Tigard will require adjustment. The payoff is a house with a yard, good schools, and a location that puts you within range of the entire south metro without being deep in the suburbs.
Getting Around
20–30 min by car via Barbur Blvd (I-5) in normal traffic, 40–50 min in rush hour; no direct MAX — bus line 12 runs to downtown via Barbur in 45–55 min
Local Life
Restaurants
Coffee
Bars & Nightlife
Schools
Tigard-Tualatin School District
Parks & Green Space
Summerlake Park
Cook Park
Fanno Creek Trail
The Market
Prices shown are estimates based on recent sales. Contact David & Bri for current market data.
Your team
We actually know Tigard — and we’ll tell you the truth about buying here.
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Buying in Tigard?
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What Clients Say
“We were renting in Division Street and paying $2,100 a month. We bought a three-bedroom ranch in Tigard for $541,000 and our mortgage is $2,800. The schools alone made it worth it — our daughter is in third grade and the difference from her Portland school is immediately obvious.”
“I work in Tualatin and my wife is in Beaverton. Tigard puts us both within 20 minutes of work. We found a 1980s ranch for $489,000, put money into the kitchen, and it's ours now. Bri helped us figure out the math on rate buydown vs. saving the cash for renovations.”
FAQ
4 questions
How do you commute from Tigard to downtown Portland?
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Most people drive Barbur Blvd (which runs parallel to I-5) or take I-5 north. In normal traffic it's 20–30 minutes. In rush hour — particularly northbound in the morning — it regularly runs 40–50 minutes. Bus Line 12 on Barbur runs to downtown and takes about 45–55 minutes. There is no MAX light rail in Tigard yet — the Southwest Corridor project is approved but years away from opening.
How are the Tigard schools?
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Tigard-Tualatin School District is well-regarded. Tigard High School has solid academic programs and above-average graduation rates. The district has maintained quality as Tigard has grown and is consistently rated above PPS on most measures. If you're moving from Portland for schools, the difference is noticeable, particularly at the elementary level.
How does Tigard compare to Lake Oswego for housing value?
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Meaningfully more affordable. Lake Oswego's median sits roughly $150,000–$200,000 higher than Tigard's, and Lake Oswego has tighter lot sizes. In Tigard you're more likely to find a ranch with a real backyard in the $500k–$600k range. The schools are both good — different districts but comparable reputations. The main difference is Lake Oswego has more walkable commercial areas. Tigard does not.
Is the Tigard Triangle worth buying into?
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It's the most active redevelopment zone in the city — the area near 99W and Hwy 217. New apartment projects and commercial development have been approved and some are underway. Buying near the Triangle now means living through construction for a few years. The long-term case is reasonable if you're holding for 5+ years, but it's not a quiet neighborhood today.