Help choose between Klamath Falls and Yreka CA (Medford, Altamont: sales, real estate)

[AKfinn]

Hello all, potential to live in either place, have been to both and would like some insider information. Here are my thoughts,
K-falls, more people, furhter from Medford and shopping/dining, cheeper to register car not as hot in summer

Yreka,
Smaller, hotter in summer? closer to Ashland/Medford and the coast.

Might just come down to which is cheeper to live in?
Any thoughts?
Also, no kids, wife and dog so no issue with schools
Thanks

[hamellr]

What about Jobs?

[PNW-type-gal]

Klamath Falls is about 40,000 people - 20,000 in city and 20,000 in the adjacent "suburb" of Altamont. It's about 75 miles to Medford, over a pass that can be snowy or icy in winter. It has several grocery stores, a Fred Meyer which is a "multi-shopping" store (food, clothes, hardware, home) and two large home improvement stores. While it's true that many people head to Medford for big shopping runs (Costco, Best Buy, Macy's and the mall stores), day-to-day level shopping can easily be done in Klamath Falls. Dining is very basic.

The weather looks pretty much the same, with Yreka slightly sunnier and slightly hotter in summer.

Tax-wise, Oregon has a (roughly) 9% income tax, no sales tax and a much lower car registration tax. Usually in comparisons with California the property taxes are lower, but that might not be true in a comparison between Klamath Falls and Yreka, where property values are probably about the same.

[AKfinn]

Thanks PNW, Hamellr Job is why I'm headed, would no move to either place without one.
Another concern with K-falls , midges and smell from the lake, do you have to be miles from water to not have these issues?

[PNW-type-gal]

Midges are the very worst along the lake and along the irrigation canals. We're about 3/4 up the hill from the lake and they aren't as bad here as they are on the lake, but they are still bad enough during the hatch (roughly about a 1-2 months in summer, in waves) that we don't sit outside with lights on then.

Every now and then in late summer we can get a whiff of the lake during very low water, but it's not a regular thing and some years it doesn't happen at all.

[AKfinn]

PNW
Do you know how the midges are out in Running Y area? There are some homes there that are "away" from the lake. Also, what do you think about Keno area?

[PNW-type-gal]

Running Y, for all the upscale, is in one of the buggiest parts of Klamath. I like the walking paths there, but the covenants and restrictions about things like cars in driveways, landscaping and fences (for dogs) crossed it off my list. It's got that gated community vibe with the actual gates - fine if that is your thing.

Keno is a very cute tiny town, emphasis on tiny and not really "town" because it's more of what I'd call a hamlet - small single store, post office, real estate office (well, and Keno Tractor, where I go for tractor supplies). It's nice because it's forested (with Ponderosa pine, not juniper). Don't be fooled by a map, you do not want to take the road (Hwy 66) that goes between Keno and I-5 unless you have a lot of time on your hands and it is a very nice day.

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by AKfinn

Thanks PNW, Hamellr Job is why I'm headed, would no move to either place without one.
Another concern with K-falls , midges and smell from the lake, do you have to be miles from water to not have these issues?

Good.. glad to hear it. I have family still in K-Falls, and jobs are their number one concern still.

I lived at OIT and right on the lake, the smell was very rarely a problem. In fact I didn't even remember that there was a smell issue until you mentioned it.

The midges are a might worse issue. I do remember having to stop to wipe the front of the car down to keep the radiator from over heating once, but other then that, just turn off your lights and keep screen doors closed and you'll be good.