Best new burb: Orenco Station

The story behind the burb: The award-winning 260-acre development, begun in 1997, focuses on the pedestrian and light-rail commuter rather than the classic car-centric suburbanite. The neighborhood itself is arranged around parks and a bustling Main Street.

Want in? Condos start at about $160K, while single-family homes, on lots that average 3,500 square feet, sell for mid- to high $300K. There are about 1,200 units in Orenco Station; the number will cap off at around 2,000 in roughly five years. www.orencostation.com

Other new burbs we love
• Belle Creek, CO, has won awards for its affordable, family-focused development. www.newtownbuilders.com

• NorthWest Crossing in Bend, OR, preserved the landscape and connected street, sidewalk, and trail systems. www.northwestcrossing.com

• Premier Gardens in Sacramento, already sold out, wins praise for its "zero-energy" houses, while homeowners toast electricity bill savings. www.builtbypremier.com

• Prospect New Town in Longmont, CO, features narrow, tree-lined streets and a central park. www.prospectnewtown.com