Eugene or Medford area? (Ashland: low income, best city, apartment)

[Eagle2]

We are seriously considering moving to Oregon and are trying to choose the best city for us. I grew up in NW Washington State so am familiar with the NW climate. We spent a year in Tucson but things haven't been working out to well as I am disabled and unable to drive most of the time so it is too hard for me to get around here. We are not expecting to find dream jobs as we are on a fixed, albeit low income. I like living near a college because I like the things that are going on. We don't want to live on the coast at this point in time. I would prefer not having as much rain as there was up in Washington and I guess that would mean the Southern part of Oregon. It would help to know about apartment availability and costs and which cities are the most expensive. I have already ruled out Ashland as it looks to expensive for us. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated!

[backdrifter]

If you are unable to drive then you won't have much of an easier time in Medford than in Tucson! Medford is your typical sprawling American boomtown suburb. The public transit is awful there and I can attest to that.

Lane Transit has much, much better public transit options--to where you could reasonably live without a car depending on where you lived. But it also has most of the rain of Western Washington also. It does get warmer (and probably sunnier) in the summers though than further up north.

[chuckycheese]

I grew up in southern Oregon and lived in Eugene for about 6 years. I left shortly after finishing school because I couldn't stand the rain. The further you go south down I-5, the less rain and dreary days you'll have to suffer through.

Having said that, Eugene is a very nice city. I like Medford, too, but I think Eugene 'tops' it in every aspect....with the exception of the weather.

[sarahkate_m]

Is Medford more conservative? Is it a "smaller" town than Eugene feels like?