North Plains, Oregon Neighborhood Guide: Homes, Prices & Selling in 2026

North Plains is a small Washington County city of about 3,400 people on Highway 26, northwest of Hillsboro. Redfin reported a median sale price of $501,068 for the three months ending August 2026, down 7.2% from a year earlier. It pairs a historic small-town core with newer subdivisions and a famous August garlic festival.

North Plains is a small Washington County city of about 3,400 people on Highway 26, northwest of Hillsboro. Redfin reported a median sale price of $501,068 for the three months ending August 2026, down 7.2% from a year earlier. It pairs a historic small-town core with newer subdivisions and a famous August garlic festival.

Where North Plains is and how it works

North Plains is an incorporated city in Washington County, located off U.S. Highway 26 on the northwest edge of the Portland metro area. Its 2020 Census population was 3,441, and the city covers only about a square mile. That compact size is part of its appeal: farm fields and the Coast Range foothills are close by, while Highway 26 puts Hillsboro, Beaverton, and Portland within reach.

One detail matters for buyers and sellers. The 97133 ZIP code reaches well beyond city limits into rural Washington County, including acreage, farms, and homes near Pumpkin Ridge. A North Plains mailing address does not always mean a property is inside the city, so confirm the jurisdiction, zoning, and services (city water and sewer versus well and septic) for any specific address.

A railroad town incorporated in 1963

Pioneer settlers first arrived in the North Plains area in the 1840s. The town itself was platted in September 1910 by Portland's Ruth Trust Company, which bought land after James J. Hill planned to extend United Railways through the area, according to the city's history.

North Plains stayed small for decades. On June 25, 1963, with a population of around 500, residents voted 90 to 56 to incorporate. Growth since then, and especially in recent years, has come largely from new subdivisions beyond the older town center.

Just outside town, Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club hosted the U.S. Women's Open in 1997 and 2003, which helped put the area on the map for many Portland-area residents.

What homes cost in 2026

North Plains has historically offered more home for the money than many east Washington County suburbs, and prices have softened over the past year.

• Median sale price: Redfin reports $501,068 for the three months ending August 2026, down 7.2% year over year.
• Average home value: Zillow reports $557,816 as of September 30, 2026, down 2.7% over the year.
• Pace: Redfin says homes sold after about 34 days in August 2026, compared with 57 days a year earlier, and 24 homes sold that month, down from 29.
• Pricing: Redfin reports homes typically sold for about 1% below list price.

The two sources measure different things. Redfin reports homes that actually sold, while Zillow estimates the value of all homes. With a small number of sales each month, one large new home or one older bungalow can move the median noticeably.

Mortgage rates remain a major factor. The 30-year fixed averaged 7.40% as of October 15, 2026, unchanged from the prior week and up from 6.27% a year earlier, according to Freddie Mac. At that level, buyers compare carefully, so price and condition decide which homes sell quickly.

Newer neighborhoods and housing types

North Plains offers a wider mix of housing than its size suggests. According to Homes.com, move-in-ready ranch homes, bungalows, and craftsman builds range from about $425,000 to $675,000, while newer craftsman and modern traditional homes in the Brynhill and Sunset Ridge neighborhoods range from about $500,000 to $800,000. Homes.com also reports a median year built of 2011, a sign of how much of the housing stock is recent.

That creates two distinct markets:

1. The historic core. Older detached homes on established streets near Main Street and Commercial Street, often on larger lots with more character and more maintenance.
2. Newer subdivisions. Modern floor plans, attached garages, and energy-efficient construction, where buyers compare closely against nearby resales and builder inventory.

North Plains is served by the Hillsboro School District, which lists North Plains Elementary among its schools. For school details, check the district directly or the Oregon Department of Education.

Community life and the Elephant Garlic Festival

North Plains is best known for its Elephant Garlic Festival, a free three-day event run by the North Plains Events Association for the City of North Plains at Jessie Mays Community Park. It is always held the second weekend of August, and the 28th annual festival ran August 7 through 9, 2026, with a parade, live music, a car show, craft vendors, and plenty of garlic.

The event began as a community fish fry in the mid-1990s, and the elephant garlic idea came from local farmer Bob Gnos, according to OPB. It now draws visitors from around the Northwest.

Day to day, North Plains has a small-town pace: a compact main street, a community park and center, a public library, and quick access to rural roads for cycling, farm stands, and wineries farther west.

Selling a North Plains home in 2026

Owners who bought in North Plains years ago often have meaningful equity, which gives them choices about timing, whether that means moving up, downsizing, or relocating.

What matters most when selling here right now:

1. Price from nearby sales, not citywide averages. A newer Sunset Ridge home and an older in-town bungalow are separate markets.
2. Know how you compete with new construction. If builders are active nearby, buyers will compare your finishes, lot, and price to theirs.
3. Prepare rural and acreage details. For homes outside city limits, have well, septic, and land use documents ready so buyers stay confident.
4. Address what inspectors flag. Roofs, drainage, older electrical, and deferred maintenance deserve attention before listing.
5. Know your net. Estimate payoff, closing costs, and moving costs before you choose a price.

Kent spent about 20 years in construction before real estate, which helps sellers decide which repairs are worth making and which are not.

Next steps

North Plains combines a historic railroad town, newer neighborhoods, nearby farmland, and quick Highway 26 access, with prices that have softened while homes are selling faster than a year ago. Whether you are buying in or weighing a sale, recent sales on your street are the best guide.

Call or text Kent at (503) 784-1065, or reach out through our contact page.

Kent Bounds & Kionna SakhoeunRE/MAX Equity Group · Serving Washington County & the Portland Metro area. Call or text (503) 784-1065.