[DisplacedBadger]

I'm thinking about a move from Portland Oregon to Las Vegas. This move would be a result of a new employment offer.

I am not too familiar with the health care environment in Las Vegas nor am I knowledgeable in Las Vegas' quality of life.

This move is not necessary as I am currently employed in Portland. Any thoughts, opinions, suggestions, recommendations would be appreciated!

Thank you.

[olecapt]

Portland is a very nice place. So is Vegas. Kind of a dealers choice.

Vegas is more blue color than Portland. It has its educated cadre but they are a smaller percentage of the population than in Portland. Vegas is not a great tech town unless you are into one of its local specialties.

Substantial hispanic community in Vegas like most of the SW.

Vegas is little pools of green in an ocean of brown and beige. It is not green like Portland.

I vastly prefer the weather of Vegas..but I tolerate the heat well. The high temperature is compensated for by sunny days...

For health care purposes I would consider Las Vegas as a distant suburb of Los Angeles. It has everything you would expect but has no hospital of national or world class.

[DisplacedBadger]

Thank you. I too enjoy the warm sunny days, but am concerned about your comment concerning health care. Portland has a good health care system with a good population-to-doctor ratio.

Home prices in Vegas appear to be lower than Portland home prices.

[olecapt]

Originally Posted by DisplacedBadger

Thank you. I too enjoy the warm sunny days, but am concerned about your comment concerning health care. Portland has a good health care system with a good population-to-doctor ratio.

Home prices in Vegas appear to be lower than Portland home prices.

Portland? It is similar in size to Las Vegas metro. A little bigger though split between two states. It is no better position for health care than Las Vegas. And it lacks the proximity to anything remotely like the Los Angeles area.

I am sure it is OK...but I would doubt very much it is substantially better.

I would expect home prices to be similar. May be a larger range in the Portland area. Las Vegas is actually quite urban. I think Portland metro sprawls more.

[Chest Rockwell]

Portland has the big city amenities that Las Vegas lacks. Zoo, parks, public transit, real downtown center with public squares, a real artistic community, Saturday Market, etc. Also, being close to the ocean is a pretty big perk, in my opinion.

I think the quality of life is better there. Las Vegas has better earning potential, however - so it may even out a bit.

[DisplacedBadger]

Thank you. I didn't realize what Las Vegas did not have. Very interesting.

[ackackack]

DisplacedBadger, it depends on what you like to do with your time. Las Vegas really is a tourism town. There aren't all the same types of distractions that you have in Portland so be prepared. However if you like all that Las Vegas has to offer for tourists, then you will love it here. For expample, Portland is extremely bike friendly and if you enjoy biking around the city, be prepared to take your life into your hands here. I finally gave up biking around town here because everyone is in such a hurry that they pay very little attention to you and with all the constant construction and limited bike lanes it can be very scary. If you're an outdoor person, be prepared. There are some great places to go around here, but you really have to hunt for them to learn about them, and the Summer months make it harder to do them because of the relentless heat and sun. The other 7 or 8 months of the year are great times to spend outdoors backpacking and camping. Outdoor activities are not as well-touted here as they are in outdoor cities like Portland. Many in this forum will be happy to hear that I am leaving Las Vegas very soon for Portland. Good luck, maybe we'll pass each other on the road.

[olecapt]

Originally Posted by Chest Rockwell

Portland has the big city amenities that Las Vegas lacks. Zoo, parks, public transit, real downtown center with public squares, a real artistic community, Saturday Market, etc. Also, being close to the ocean is a pretty big perk, in my opinion.

I think the quality of life is better there. Las Vegas has better earning potential, however - so it may even out a bit.

I don't think so. Portland the city...about 25% of Portland Metro has that. But the rest of the town is generally a sprawl of suburbs.

It is cloudy 50% of the time. Has relatively long commutes. The vast portion of the metro has less public transit than Vegas. And it is not on the ocean. It is on the Columbia River...but that has little that Lake Mead does not offer unless you are a windsurfer...then it is Mecca.

The inventory of new homes is very low. It puts up new homes at about 20% of the rate that Vegas does. That is good if you want an older home...not good if you would like one built in the last ten years.

I said before it is a wash. And it is still a wash. Dealers choice.

[lvdad3]

i use to live in las vegas we moved to iowa for a slower lifestyle . our family moved there in 1977, moved away in 2005. las vegas got to big for us, out of the fifty states las vegas was number 48 out of 50 in 2005 for eduction,the health care system is terrible, the housing got pricey, the air pollution is getting worse, the traffic is bad.the 95 freeway forget about it, the new 15 freeway isn't that much better, and all the people moving there for a better life, well you'll see. lake mead is getting worse,so many people on the water,and the trash(it is a pretty lake) the crime is pretty bad for a small town, alot of gang bangers. and don't forget about the water, las vegas is running out of, but the casinos,can have all the water they want. if your lawn is watered to much and spills on sidewalk down the gutters, the water police might give you a ticket.the weather is hot,hot,hot!!! be sure to turn your a/c in your car on before you start driving, and if you are a clean person in your house or apartment, you still will get bugs,ants,roches,waterbugs,silver fish. las vegas was a really nice town in the 1970's and 1980's. if you are stuck on the side of the road,car problems,good luck!!!! the people in las vegas are friendly,good working people. it is easy to make friends there, but be careful. everything is in a casino, so if you like casino's have a blast!!! BUT THERE IS NOT STATE INCOME TAX. buffets are good but sometimes a bit pricey. evey town has it's problems!! and alot of illegals,so learn spainish. LAS VEGAS IS A SMALL TOWN WITH BIG CITY PROBLEMS.

[bellini195]

I made the mistake of moving to Vegas from Florida. No hurricanes, but flash floods and 120 degree summers with 4% humidity that sucks the life out of you. If you don't like casinos and gambling, don't bother moving here. Lake Mead, the main water source for the valley, will be gone in 10 years.

I figure once the lake is dried out, the Colorado and White Pine County water basin cannot sustain the population, Vegas will be another ghost town in the desert. Housing has sprawled up to the mountains surrounding the valley and is now moving NE & NW. One in every 200 homes is in foreclosure in the valley.

Stay in Portland.