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I just wanted to add the first time I came to Portland, I stopped at a gas station and learned about how you can't pump your own gas. Of course to most, it's an entertaining surprise the first time someone says it and you wonder if you're on candid camera or something. Do I need someone to escort me to the bathroom?
Anyway, I was talking to the guy pumping gas and he was in IT, and said he was from NJ and had been looking for an IT job for almost a year. Said the market was rough there and that pumping gas was temporary for now.
I don't know if the market has improved there, but that was one of the biggest reasons I didn't end up staying there for long.
I have lived in both. They offer totally different lifestyles; but both are currently enjoying healthy job markets and growth. Here are reasons why I would live in either area:
Why live in Seattle:
- Job market is more diverse
- Unbeatable water activities (sailing, boating, kyaking)
- A downtown that's like a slice of Manhattan
- Three major pro-sport teams
- International recognition and more cultural diversity
- More choices in resturants and shops
Why live in Portland:
- Cost of living is more affordable and housing is considerably cheaper
- Traffic is not nearly as bad and commutes are shorter
- A more attractive and pedestrian friendly downtown
- Better mass transit system
- More diverse outdoor activites (Ocean Beaches, Columbia Gorge, Cascade Mountains, Coast Range, Central Oregon, Willamette Valley)
- Offers most everything a major US metropolitan would, but with a more laid-back atmosphere
To sum it up; Seattle is more exciting, Portland is more livable. But honestly, I doubt you would make a wrong choice by moving to either...
Seattle and Portland are both wonderful, but isn't true that Portland offers more diverse activities. Seattle is much closer to Cascade Range than Portland is, plus Seattle is just across the water from the Olympic Mountain Range. Seattle also has three lakes inside its limits; one of them gigantic. It has fabulous mountain climbing, mountain biking, skiing, whitewater rafting, kayaking, and hiking. And have you seen Mount Rainier? Lovely.
To summarize: Portland, on a river.
Seattle, on Puget Sound, e.g., saltwater. Has three lakes, one of them gigantic.
Portland, drive, drive to mountains.
Seattle, practically in the mountains
I like both, for different reasons. Portland has the Pearl District and Powells, very cool. Seattle has a much larger Asian community and thus a bigger Chinatown. Portland is cheaper but that's changing. I could go on and on.
Why not visit? One will feel like "you." Welcome to the NW!
Seattle, on Puget Sound, e.g., saltwater. Has three lakes, one of them gigantic.
Portland: 1.5 hrs to the devastatingly beautiful Oregon coast, with real crashing waves
Quote:
Portland, drive, drive to mountains.
Seattle, practically in the mountains.
Seattle, 5+ hours to wine country.
Portland, just a 1/2 hr to wine country
Quote:
I like both, for different reasons.
As do I, and I chose Seattle over Portland, 23 yrs ago when I moved here because it had more stuff going on. It still does. But today, I would live in Portland. It's got a vibrant downtown, and fantastic food/restaurant scene, and has 'walking' neighborhoods like Seattle does. It's a fantastic place.
Similar 'vibe', with Portland being more community-oriented and Seattle more big-city. That said, the distinct neighborhoods in Seattle offer their own types of community.
Don't think you can go wrong with regards to outdoor activities. The Gorge outside of Portland is the windsurfing capital of the world; you have an abundance of great skiing within 2 hours of Seattle (plus Whistler 4+ hours north), beaches within 1 1/2 hours of Portland, water everywhere in both cities (better boating in Seattle though), more hiking than you can imagine... basically anything you want except surfing. Well, you can do that too if you don't mind wearing a dry suit.
I live in and LOVE Seattle, yet I always look forward to visiting Portland. It's different, yet feels like a kindred spirit. I also love the ability to drive 2 hours east and be in another world, landscape and weather-wise. Vancouver is 2+ hours to the north. Both downtowns are fantastic, yet very different. I love the small blocks of Portland, love the sheer urbanity of Seattle. Seattle's parks (Greenlake, Discovery, Magnuson et al) are wonderful, offering hyper-busy social workout sites (Greenlake) or an oasis from the madness (Discovery). Multnomah Falls outside of Portland is breathtaking.
What I'm saying, I guess, is to take a couple of days in each city - not just the tourist sites, but the neighborhoods, parks, pubs and drives.
I lived in the Seattle area for 9 years and I've now been in the Portland area for a few months. Both my husband and I have concluded that Portland seems much, much more laid back and people here are incredibly friendly compared to Seattle.
Both cities are great in my opinion. A friend compared Portland as more embracing of the arts and Seattle more embracing as music but both generally as liberally minded cities with a lot to offer.
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Can't really go wrong.
