Does Your PDX Suburb Suck? An Investigation.

One of the worst decisions you can make in Portland is... um, not actually living in Portland, but in one of its innumerable suburbs instead. Especially when so many of said 'burbs kinda suck. Don't believe us? Here's why...

Aloha

It’s pronounced "ah-low-ah." Enough said.
 

Battle Ground

Tonya Harding once got arrested for driving under the influence here. Rest assured they’re saving up for a monument.
 

Beavercreek

Oregon’s first hamlet, Tonya Harding now lives here. Try to stay off the roads.

Flickr/born1945

Beaverton

It's the home of Portland's corporate overlord, Nike, so not even the fact that it boasts some of the best Asian food outside of 82nd Ave can keep it from totally sucking.
 

Boring

Sister city to Dull, Scotland, Boring actually belied its name by hosting a party with Vitaminwater a couple years ago that brought in B.o.B. and Santigold. Let’s do that again.
 

Canby

Lots of young families doing whatever it is those people do for fun.
 

Cedar Mill

Proud home of the $10 hot dog, and not much else.
 

Cedar Hills

Only slightly better than Cedar Mill.

Flickr/camknows

Clackamas

Home to a cabin that is so old it may in fact predate Lewis and Clark, which is also about how old you have to be to want to live there.
 

Cornelius

The tiny town between Hillsboro and Forest Grove that we’re all going to forget exists.
 

Damascus

Oregon’s newest city. It was afraid of being annexed by Portland, but truth be told, we didn’t want it.
 

Dunthorpe

A mysterious, secluded area Northeast of Lake Oswego that is quite possibly more wealthy, it is also the best place to go trick-or-treating.
 

Fairview

Sure, the view is fairly decent -- if you’re looking away from the city for the 60 seconds it takes to drive through.

Wikimedia/M.O. Stevens

Forest Grove

Peach farmers and students of Pacific University.
 

Garden Home

Organized elderly couples. Basically a retirement community that runs itself.
 

Gladstone

There's so little going on here the kids should skip school to go to Garden Home.
 

Gresham

The city we love to hate but secretly enjoy on the side, especially when you can find half of this city sleeping on the sidewalk before the Rose Parade.

Flickr/Kathleen & Ryan Rush

Happy Valley

This town will be anything but happy if the extinct volcano it's built on the side of is just dormant.
 

Hillsboro

Everyone who lives here makes gobs of money...  just not enough to move to Lake Oswego or West Linn yet.
 

King City

This tiny town was built in the '60s and only allowed residents over 50. The rule has since changed as the home owners realized they missed telling youngsters to “get off my lawn!”

Flickr/The AutoMotovated Cyclist

Lake Oswego

Where all the NBA players live. The “lake” is private and only for card-carrying residents.
 

Milwaukie

Okay, actually a pretty funky, cool little blue-collar town South of Sellwood, plus it’s super-close to Acropolis Steakhouse, but it is also just one letter away from being a city in... ugh, Wisconsin.
 

Oregon City

Oregon sh*tty?
 

Raleigh Hills

This is that OG money, where the founders of Portland lived and, let's face it, you don't.
 

Sherwood

The infuriating two-way traffic and strip mall part of the drive to wine country.

Flickr/Loren Kerns

Tigard

Washington Square Mall?
 

Troutdale

The scenery that lets you know you’re almost home when driving East on 84.

Flickr/Matt' Johnson

Tualatin

I guess there’s movie theater at Bridgeport Village.

Vancouver

We like to make fun of the ‘Couv, but let’s be honest, there’s a decent amount to do after you hit the totally legal dispensaries. Just kidding... it's in Washington! Hahahaha.

West Linn

Almost as fancy as Lake Oswego.

West Slope

Conveniently hidden behind the beautiful side of the hills. We just realized people there probably call them the East Hills...

Wilsonville

Where you go to buy a new car.

Wood Village

Home of the Walmart Supercenter off 84.

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