Possible move near Wilsonville (Portland, Salem: housing, rent, income)

[mwmover]

My wife is considering a job offer in Wilsonville- which would move us from the Midwest. We've always loved Oregon (from our many visits) and looked forward to the possibility of living there. That enthusiasm has been tempered a bit by reading posts here-- which is probably a good thing, as I'm sure we've glorified the state a bit in our minds. But we're in our early 30s with no kids, so this is as good a time for a big change as any.

It's very likely we'll be renting at first. I work in graphic design, so I'm imagining Portland would be where I'll be looking for employment first....though I'll certainly end up going wherever the jobs are. (If there are any, which obviously isn't a sure bet from the sounds of things!)

We're going to fly out there in the next few weeks to see it first-hand, but I'd love some input on which communities we should consider renting in. Perhaps a place that would be equidistant, commute-wise, between Wilsonville and Portland. Would appreciate any ideas-- thank you!

[mdvaden]

Originally Posted by mwmover

My wife is considering a job offer in Wilsonville- which would move us from the Midwest. ...... We're going to fly out there in the next few weeks to see it first-hand, but I'd love some input on which communities we should consider renting in. Perhaps a place that would be equidistant, commute-wise, between Wilsonville and Portland. Would appreciate any ideas-- thank you!

Wilsonville is very nice. West Linn is nice too.


Honestly, you could pick Beaverton, Tigard, West Linn or Wilsonville, and do just fine.

For some reason, Tualatin has not excited me too much. But there is one neighborhood called "Fox Hill" or "Fox Hills" if I remember right. One among several good neighborhoods there. But as a whole, I don't like Tualatin a lot.

[LetsgoShane]

Wilsonville has all the shiney new buildings & strip malls and housing tracks. It's a nice play to RENT.

[sabine87]

I lived in Wilsonville for over 2 years and it's literally the best place I've ever lived. It has 2 grocery stores, tons of very nice homes, and is surrounded by green and trees. It's a very lovely neighborhood. At night it's not unusual to see people of all ages - couples, etc., walking around. They feel safe. There are 2 different types of groups that come here - renters who don't mind paying on the higher end of rents for nice 1-2 bdrms ($625-$725) for a small-town feeling unlike what you'd get from the big city suburbs, and those who can afford the uber-nice houses that are in Wilsonville. Seriously - do a quick search for homes for sale in this town and I bet you won't find anything less than $300K. Out on the fringes towards the back roads you'll get into multi-million dollar homes. There are 3 major apartment communities that have seemed to attract low-income families, and that has led to a slight decline in quality of life simply because it's not very cozy to hear little kids running around the parking lots playing around unsupervised and other adults hanging around their lit-up cars playing music pretty loud. Trying not to get discriminatory, but there is a culture of 8 people to a 2-bedroom apartment going on now more than there was even a year ago. In spite of this, the nicest apartment complex I'd suggest looking into is right directly ACROSS the street from Wilsonville High School. It's pricey, but I never see people hanging around there and it's really clean and nice-looking. I would've stayed in Wilsonville a lot longer if I was able to work in the town - so your wife is a very lucky woman if she scored a job right in town. You won't ever really need to leave it. There is a Target, PetSmart, Pier 1 Imports, Sam's Club, Albertsons, Blockbuster, a sushi bar, Hollywood Video headquarters are there, a newly opened fitness center and they are building more stores (along with a promising Morroccan restaurant) in the town area. It's really convenient and quick to get to Portland (20 minutes, or 30 minutes if going through to north Portland).

[bobmulk]

I would think that you'd find graphics work in Wilsonville. The town has more jobs than people and has a number of corporate headquarters there along with regional and local facilities. Companies include Mentor Graphics, Coca-Cola, Hollywood Entertainment, InFocus, Sysco Foods, Precision Interconnect, G.I. Joe's and a huge Nike Warehouse. There's plenty of decent shopping with an excellent Costco there now although it needs more upscale restaurants. However, Bridgeport Village is only five minutes away.

Wilsonville is mostly new which is why a previous poster didn't seem to care for it. I personally love Wilsonville; worked there for seven years (I live in Salem). The neighborhoods are all upscale and nice; there's next to no crime. Educational levels and income levels are quite high. The immediate area is similar; indeed, the best demographics in the state are in that area --Wilsonville, Sherwood, Lake Oswego, Tigard, West Linn. Any of those communities would be great places to live, too.

[jimg1126]

Hollywood Entertainment went bankrupt. Infocus is very close to bankruptcy. Mentor Graphics has major problems. Nike is closing their distribution center.

If you like strip malls, Californians driving massive SUV's with $10,000 custom wheels, and bad traffic/noise, you'll love it here.

It's really quaint. Just about everytime I drive through, someone with gel in their hair and their Ipod cranking flips me the bird.

[freedom]

Originally Posted by jimg1126

Just about everytime I drive through, someone with gel in their hair and their Ipod cranking flips me the bird.

I'm starting to understand why...

[lifes2short]

Hmmm...I was in Wilsonville this morning and everyone I came into contact with was very nice. Must be a fluke that it is like that every time I go there, which is about once a week or so

[bobmulk]

Lifes--completely ignore jimg1126. Actually, everyone on this posting needs to ignore him. I think he's probably just a kid who thinks it's cool to write stupid things. No adult could be that stupid. I was reading his lunatic ramblings and it's quite obvious that his "intelligence" is less than a bowel movement.

Here are some facts, something jimg1126 cannot comprehend: Hollywood Entertainment is now owned by Movie Gallery in Alabama and yes, they have filed for bankruptcy. InFocus has had problems, but it's not close to bankruptcy. Mentor Graphics is doing quite well. There is NO indication that Nike is closing its distribution center.

Jimg1126 is assuming that everyone he doesn't like is a Californian--there's nothing wrong with Californians. There are things wrong with people like him who don't back up their comments with facts.

I stand by my previous post. Wilsonville does have more jobs than people--they are working to bring more people in by building more housing. However, housing in Wilsonville is quite high. Expect to pay a minimum of $300K for a starter house. Crime in Wilsonville is virtually non-existent. This is most likely due to the fact that it is a high income community with a highly educated population.

Your experience of coming in to contact with a lot of nice people was not a fluke, as I'm sure you figured out. Best of luck in your decision.

There isn't a whole lot of shopping in Wilsonville. You have Costo and Target and a couple of grocery stores. There's a couple of strip malls. Overall, though, all the developments are relatively new and very attractive.

[Lee151]

I worked in Wilsonville for many years. There are more jobs than residents. It is a very nice town. Much of the town is new.

Just don't buy a house in Sherwood or Tualatin that requires commuting on Tualatin Sherwood Rd. to I5 to get there. That traffic sucks. There are back roads though and ways around it.

West Linn, Lake Oswego are much easier commutes but they are all upscale communities with upscale home prices. To find less expensive homes try farther south and more rural such as Aurora or maybe Hubbard. Oregon City, Canby and Milwaukie are possibilties too. Beaverton requires the 217 which can be a pain but not that bad. Wilsonville is about twenty minutes from downtown Portland unless it is rush hour.