Central Beaverton - Beaverton, OR

Originally, the Atfalati Native American tribe lived on the land that would become Beaverton. When settlers from the east first arrived in the 19th century, the area became known as Beaverdam until the name changed later to Beaverton.

Due to the work of the Beaverton Arts Commission, a variety of sculptures, paintings and other artwork adorns Central Beaverton. In addition, the Beaverton Civic Theatre offers a selection of plays year-round for affordable rates.

Because many couples want to get out of Portland proper to start a family, Beaverton houses many children and largely remains family-centric. However, since Central Beaverton lies within a few hours from ocean beaches, Mount Hood’s ski resorts and lush hiking trails, many outdoor enthusiasts live in the area as well.

If you need something for your kids to do, you can bring them over to the Portland Children’s Museum, which sets up many interactive, kid-friendly exhibits for family fun.

Many restaurants line the Highway 217 exits to Beaverton, with a few standing out as exceptional. The Beaverton Sub Station has become a staple among the locals, featuring massive 6-inch sandwiches that make Subway foot-longs cower in fear. The sandwich shop caters to vegetarians with a wide spread of veggies and the option to add cream cheese spread. Make sure to get there before lunch hour or you might have to brave a long line of hungry customers.

For a more upscale, sit-down restaurant, you must try Decarli. The polenta fries and spumoni ice cream alone make this Italian gem worth a stop, not to mention the assortment of beautifully arranged entrees such as the roasted brick chicken or short ribs. Meters dot the street along the restaurant, making parking a breeze.

Though the Portland area has very few Mexican restaurants, Gloria's Secret Cafe, which only accepts cash, serves fresh salsa and affordable Mexican delights. The beans and rice always come out steaming hot, and the food has plenty of sauce to go around.

Central Beaverton's nightlife might not match that of downtown Portland's, but Bootleggers' Whiskey Bar, numerous theaters, lounges and bars provide the primary entertainment for Central Beaverton's residents. Eddie May's Mysteries, a traveling theater group that performs at various Portland venues, also frequents the area.

Highways 26 and 217 cradle the neighborhood of Central Beaverton, making it easy to zip along the highways toward the larger I-5, I-405 or I-80 freeways. No one wants to go through the standstill agony of rush-hour traffic, though, so to avoid an arduous commute in the mornings and evenings, many Central Beaverton locals take the Trimet Max trains and buses into downtown Portland. Tickets cost only $2.50 for two hours, plenty of time to get downtown and eat a nice lunch, though you can buy a monthly pass for only $100.

Though the neighborhood has more than 25 miles of bike paths, walking from place to place can become difficult because the city is somewhat spread out. Public parking, however, is much easier to find than in downtown Portland, which makes driving short distances a favorable alternative.

Hailing a cab would be difficult in Beaverton, but there are plenty of nearby cab companies willing to drive you where you need to go 24 hours a day. Alternatively, you could take Uber, which can save you up to 40 percent on taxi rates.

The parks in Central Beaverton are a major part of why Money magazine rates Beaverton one of the best 100 cities to live in. With more than 100 parks, the City Park Fountain, where the farmers market is held, still remains a favorite and opens during the summer months for kids to play in for no cost.

The Tualatin Hills Nature Park, also free, has become a hot spot for runners, dog walkers and bikers alike, and its many trails require a map to navigate. Fir Grove Park has playground equipment that is perfect for young kids.

Portland’s and Central Beaverton’s cost of living indexes actually match up similarly except with regard to housing. While renting a one-bedroom apartment in Central Beaverton will run you about $950 per month -- cheaper than in Portland -- the houses in the Central Beaverton area cost more than they do in Portland.

In Central Beaverton, you can get a beer at a pub for about $6, and the grocery bill costs a bit more than the national average, especially with regard to meat. The cost of gas in Central Beaverton is approximately 8 percent higher than the national average, and overall, living in Central Beaverton costs about 20 percent more than the national average.

If you need to get your weekend shopping fix in or just need a break from your work week, head over to Cedar Mills Crossing for a prime selection of fashionable chain stores and local boutiques. For more of a local scene, Beaverton Town Square houses several unique, one-store locations.

Local comic book enthusiasts head to Things from Another World, which features both mainstream graphic novels and obscure comic books for avid hobbyists. If that isn't your cup of tea, Bella Furnishings puts a fresh, family-owned spin on decorating your home.

Locals find that the Safeway supermarkets and Fred Meyers provide all the groceries they need. However, Beaverton Farmers Market, which has been around since 1988, serves the city's population as well, offering fresh produce and homemade artisanal goods. The market remains open daily for most of the year but follows an extremely minimal schedule during the colder winter months.