Medford Oregon or Redding California (Portland, Ashland: property taxes, housing, rent)

[sberdrow]

I just moved to Texas from the Portland Area. I would not recommend this move to anyone from the PNW as this was too much change for my family. I am a mountain and tree guy at heart I guess. I would be very happy to come home to the west coast at least. I have been looking at Medford and Redding. Is there anybody that has been to both. Help on this decision would be very helpful.

[mdvaden]

Originally Posted by sberdrow

I just moved to Texas from the Portland Area. I would not recommend this move to anyone from the PNW as this was too much change for my family. I am a mountain and tree guy at heart I guess. I would be very happy to come home to the west coast at least. I have been looking at Medford and Redding. Is there anybody that has been to both. Help on this decision would be very helpful.

Hard change - isn't it I dealt with it to a small degree even coming to southern Oregon from west of Portland. Southern Oregon is a very nice area. Its just that I'm acclimated to the Portland culture and north coast after being there for almost 45 years. As we sell our home, I'm taking many photos here to remember our stay.

Depending on what you want, Medford might work for you. There are mountains all over the place down here. The coast is a bit further.

What kind of work do you need to find, if any?

We're 8 miles in the country, but on the bus route for Medford schools. Some families enjoy it out here in Applegate family. Others need to be in toward town a bit more. Applegate Valley (Ruch) gets 8 more inches of rain than Medford and is a few degrees cooler. It's its own vineyard area now too.

[freedom]

Spent the 4th in Redding, they put on a great pyrotechnics display. Looks like a very well adjusted town with family priorities in place with a good tax base.
If I didn't live in G.P. and was going to move back to CA. It would be Redding.

Grants pass has growing pains, but the core is strong and will pull out of the mess the enviros have gotten us into.
Medford is the same, other than they have more state dollars going towards organizing the growth especially the road and highways.

The benefit of Redding is the sales tax and smart community planners have really put tourism as a priority.

[jjpop]

sberdrow, you know about the heat, right? Redding has been 110+ since the 4th of July. This is part of the West-wide heat wave, but it isn't unusual for Redding to have 110-degree days in the summer--particularly in August. Medford gets hot too, just not as hot as Redding. Maybe coming from Texas this won't be an issue.

I also think Redding has a sprawl problem, and traffic can be pretty bad. On the other hand, the Sundial Bridge over the Sacramento River and the adjoining Turtle Bay Exploration Park are really nice additions to the city. I've also seen the Independence Day fireworks in Redding and agree with Freedom--it's a killer show!

However, I think Medford has a greater variety of cultural and outdoor offerings. With Ashland and the Shakespeare Festival right next door, the Britt Festival in Jacksonville, and the Wild and Scenic Rogue River, Medford would win out over Redding in my books.

[pw72]

Interesting! Yes, Redding is hotter in summer and somewhat warmer in winter.

But one of the biggest differences in my opinion is Redding is "California", and Medford is "Oregon", and you get a different feel based a lot just on that! Redding is probably growing faster, many coming from areas south in Cali. That kind of explains the first sentence of this paragraph!

However, Redding has an "In 'n Out" Burger...a definite advantage!

[sberdrow]

Originally Posted by pw72

Interesting! Yes, Redding is hotter in summer and somewhat warmer in winter.

But one of the biggest differences in my opinion is Redding is "California", and Medford is "Oregon", and you get a different feel based a lot just on that! Redding is probably growing faster, many coming from areas south in Cali. That kind of explains the first sentence of this paragraph!

However, Redding has an "In 'n Out" Burger...a definite advantage!

awe but Medford has an Abbys Pizza...yummy Taco Pizza

[freedom]

Originally Posted by sberdrow

awe but Medford has an Abbys Pizza...yummy Taco Pizza

You fought valiantly, with the Abby's touche', yet
"In and Out" has no equal in the pleasure food arena.

This round must go to ...............pw72.

Free (from McD's, Bur King, Wen'd's) dom

[81bluewater]

Interesting post as I just returned home to Dallas Texas from Medford and Redding. We are looking to move in the near future to one of these towns and have been actively seeking information on both cities. I heard that Redding has the highest rate of sex offenders per capita and I have a 13 year old still at home so this concerned me. I am concerned about schools as well. I checked out the stats on the Medford schools and they were not fabulous. But I wonder how much of a difference it really makes. I haven't had a chance to do a lot of research on the Redding schools. My husband loves In and Out Burgers so we stopped there to have lunch one day. Nice clean cut kids working there. Is it true that the income tax in California is 16 % as opposed to Oregon at 24 %? How does this work? I hear property taxes are higher in Oregon but they have no sales tax. What is the less expensive place to buy a nice home? Lots of questions, hope someone can help me out.
Thanks,
Pat

[Waterlily]

State tax in Oregon goes up to 9%. I don't know what it is in California. There are no sales tax in Oregon. Property taxes are different for each area.

[sberdrow]

Well, as a former oregon Resident, I checked out both Redding and Medford, and the prices were very similar in housing. I am in sales, and I am hoping to move to the one that has the best chance to do well. Medford weather is very nice. Redding weather is also nice, although I guess a little hotter. Niether one seems to have that small town near by that saves you a lot of money on a house. Or is there? Boy alot of people like the Burger joint.