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King City

Not a subdivision — an entire incorporated 55+ city. King City Civic Association governs more than 1,700 member households across detached homes, townhouses, and condos in southeast Washington County, where golf carts are street-legal community-wide and the Tualatin River runs alongside a 17-acre park.

~1,287Owned homes
1,700+Member households
40+Clubs
Wash. Co.County

King City is genuinely different from every other community on this list because it is its own municipality. The King City Civic Association (KCCA) oversees roughly 643 detached homes, 233 townhouses, and 214 condos that residents own, plus around 197 apartments that residents rent. Homes date from the mid-1960s through recent infill, so you'll find everything from a remodeled 1966 ranch to a 2019 build. The median list price tends to sit in the high $400Ks to around $500K, though condos and older homes can come in well under $400K.

What it costs

Every owner pays an annual KCCA assessment that funds the clubhouse, programming, and shared assets, and there's a one-time transfer fee at purchase that goes toward maintaining those shared assets. Because King City spans multiple housing types and several sub-associations (townhouse and condo groups each have their own boards and dues), the all-in monthly cost depends heavily on whether you buy a detached home, a townhouse, or a condo.

Cost itemStructureNotes
KCCA annual assessmentPer household, annualFunds clubhouse, newsletter, programming, shared assets
One-time transfer feeAt purchaseGoes to maintenance of KCCA shared assets
Sub-association duesVaries by housing typeTownhouse / condo groups levy separate dues; detached homes may have none
Typical home price$300Ks–$500KsMedian list often high-$400Ks; condos lower
Property tax (Washington Co.)~0.84% effectiveOn capped assessed value

Confirm exactly which dues apply to your specific home. Because King City layers a citywide KCCA assessment under sub-association fees that vary by building and housing type, two homes a block apart can have very different monthly carrying costs. Always get the specific sub-association's dues and rules in writing — alongside the KCCA assessment — before you commit. Our true cost page walks through how to stack them.

The lifestyle: golf carts, the river, and 40+ clubs

The KCCA clubhouse is the hub — administrative office, a "living room," a banquet and meeting room, and smaller activity rooms — anchoring more than 40 clubs covering games, arts and crafts, travel, hobbies, faith, and civic groups. Members can drive golf carts on the community golf course and use them for transportation throughout the city, a feature that genuinely changes daily life for residents who'd rather not drive a car for short trips. The 17-acre King City Community Park adds playgrounds, sports facilities, and a Tualatin River kayak dock.

Right for you if

  • You want a true small-town, self-governed feel
  • Street-legal golf carts appeal to you
  • You want Washington County proximity to Portland
  • You value a deep slate of clubs and activities

Look elsewhere if

  • You want one predictable flat HOA number
  • You want resort-scale amenities and a big pool complex
  • You need new construction at scale
  • You prefer a gated community (King City is not gated)

Location

King City sits next to Tigard in southeast Washington County, about 12–15 miles from downtown Portland, with the same freeway access and proximity to Legacy Meridian Park and the airport as its neighbors. It shares the corridor's quiet financial advantage: being outside Multnomah County, residents avoid the county's Preschool for All income tax. See the county tax guide for how that compares across the metro.

Detached, townhouse, or condo at King City?

The right answer is mostly a cost question. We'll stack the KCCA assessment, sub-association dues, and taxes for each.

Get your King City cost breakdown