Lake Oswego vs West Linn (Portland, Beaverton: city hall, how much, house prices)

[RambleOn]

Hi All,

We've been reading a lot about Oregon. We have lots of family in Bend and in the Portland area and are thinking of moving to one or the other. We are very familiar with Bend but here's the real question.

We've heard a lot about Lake Oswego being great for a family; lots of community feel with a nice down town area, great schools, restaraunts and shops and of course, the lake.

We have also heard about West Linn being a 'similar' type of community but everyone seems to say that Lake Oswego is 'better' and West Linn not as nice. I can see by the house prices that West Linn would offer us a nicer home for the money so what would we be giving up if anything?

We are hoping to hear from folks who live in one or the other and this is NOT an attempt to start a fight,,,but we just want to know from some locals what the two are like and what separates them in honest terms. This is a huge decision...and of course we will visit before deciding but even a week long vacation is not enough to really make an informed decision.

We appreciate your comments.

All the best...

[bobmulk]

Lake Oswego is one of the wealthiest, if not THE wealthiest community in Oregon. Downtown is wonderful with developments along the lake and plans to open up the Willamette River. LO is VERY expensive--by Oregon standards. If you're coming from California where a bungalow costs half a million dollars, you'll find it reasonable. It's difficult to find anything worthwhile under $400K in the city.

Some people deride it as snobbish and elitist. I haven't found that to be true. There's a lot of new money there from internet executives, California refugees and assorted other high tech moguls. The people are very supportive of schools and scholastic achievement is high.

West Linn is right next door and is just as delightful. It's not as expensive because it doesn't have the cache. Yet you can very easily spend $1 million plus if you are inclined to do so in West Linn. The city creeps up the hill so many homes have a view. The Willamette District is a very quaint older section just off I-205 and has been rehabilitated with shops, boutiques, coffee houses, etc. West Linn has been grappling with growth issues because it's so desirable. There's been animosity in the community towards City Hall because residents have felt that there's been too much development.

As for being "better", what you're basically getting in LO is the cache of being with the hoi polloi. West Linn has that, too, but it's less flashy, I'd say. At least it's reputation is. Hope this helps and welcome to Oregon!!!

[RambleOn]

Hey Bobmulk,

Thanks for the information! This is very helpful. We have no desire to buy into a reputation and are more interested in finding a house we can call a home for a long time in a good area where schools are good and neighbors know each other.

I hope more people will jump in here and add anything interesting to the discussion. We want to be near the city due to the job market (just in case) but are really interested in the outdoor activities near by. How far to open space? (camping, hiking, the coast, etc)

Thanks again!

[bobmulk]

The Coast is about an hour away, depending on where you want to go. My favorite places are Cannon Beach (fabulous artist colony and very pricey, called the Carmel of the North) and probably Newport on the Central Coast. But then, there's so many wonderful little places to discover. You can get fine dining, incredible seafood, comfort food, funky hippie-type stores, boutiques, antique stores, garish t-shirt shops, art galleries, anything along the Coast.

The mountain, Mt. Hood is about an hour east with world-class skiing along with hiking, camping, fishing, etc. Wine country is about forty minutes away in the foothills of the Coast Range--that's the epicenter. You can also find wineries out in the country in Clackamas and Marion Counties. They're relatively uncrowded and you usually rub elbows with the actual vintners and owners who are well-versed in wine-making.

The high desert is about 2-2.5 hours away. I LOVE the high desert. Bend is magnificent and growing like crazy. Sisters is a quaint, delightful little Western town with a Western theme and VERY expensive. The state parks are gorgeous and you can smell pine and juniper immediately upon crossing over the pass.

The Columbia River Gorge is breathtaking. If you get off the freeway and take the old CRG highway, you'll come upon about a dozen different waterfalls. Some are right along the road, others you have to hike a few hundred feet to get to. I've done it a couple of times and they're SO GORGEOUS. I would really recommend taking an afternoon to do so. You will never forget it.

Hood River and The Dalles in the Gorge are great little towns. HR is a wind surfer's paradise and has an international reputation for outdoor sports--primarily windsurfing and board sailing. It has attracted people from all over the world and is now quite spendy but it has a wonderful little downtown with boutiques, restaurants and shops.

Also, I didn't mean to say that Lake Oswego is bad. It's a delightful community. Schools in both LO and West Linn are very good because the population is affluent and educated and they really support education. I think that in most neighborhoods you'll find a certain amount of neighborliness. As with any place, it depends on how much you put out.

I hope this has helped. Where are you living now?

[fairweathergolfer]

I think that in most neighborhoods you'll find a certain amount of neighborliness. As with any place, it depends on how much you put out.

Okay Bob. I'm NOT going to even touch this. But I had to emphasize it once again. I know you didn't mean it as it could be taken, but it is fun to pop it out as if you did. Thanks for all the information, you gave a great overview of the variety in Oregon. Just thought I'd contribute some light hearted humor for the day.

[Nature Girl]

Originally Posted by bobmulk

Lake Oswego is one of the wealthiest, if not THE wealthiest community in Oregon. Downtown is wonderful with developments along the lake and plans to open up the Willamette River. LO is VERY expensive--by Oregon standards. If you're coming from California where a bungalow costs half a million dollars, you'll find it reasonable. It's difficult to find anything worthwhile under $400K in the city.

Some people deride it as snobbish and elitist. I haven't found that to be true. There's a lot of new money there from internet executives, California refugees and assorted other high tech moguls. The people are very supportive of schools and scholastic achievement is high.

West Linn is right next door and is just as delightful. It's not as expensive because it doesn't have the cache. Yet you can very easily spend $1 million plus if you are inclined to do so in West Linn. The city creeps up the hill so many homes have a view. The Willamette District is a very quaint older section just off I-205 and has been rehabilitated with shops, boutiques, coffee houses, etc. West Linn has been grappling with growth issues because it's so desirable. There's been animosity in the community towards City Hall because residents have felt that there's been too much development.

As for being "better", what you're basically getting in LO is the cache of being with the hoi polloi. West Linn has that, too, but it's less flashy, I'd say. At least it's reputation is. Hope this helps and welcome to Oregon!!!

I thought "hoi polloi" meant the opposite?

[mdvaden]

All that good stuff you hear, can be found in many areas of almost all the west large suburbs, and Sherwood.

Really, what do you want?

Close to recreation?

Lots of established trees?

Close to downtown?

I'd say, pick your activities and geographical wants, then pick the suburb that's close. All of them have great shops and restaurants. Hard not to be when they are as big as 80,000 or 100,000 population like Beaverton and Hillsboro. And it just takes minutes to cross boundaries into the next suburbs cool stuff.

I'd say that Lake Oswego has one of the greenest feels to it.

[moving again and again]

I currently live in LO. I'm one of those refugees from SoCal. This is the nicest place I've ever lived. It's extremely well kept up, this town has money and uses it and you can tell just by driving through it. The people are friendly...this is breeding grounds though. And I mean that kids are abundant! LO High School is top notch and probably the best in the state. With that being said. Great place to raise a family and if you own a BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, and/or Hummer, you'll fit right in.

[fairweathergolfer]

What do you think it would be like for a middle aged s. California couple that does not have children and are in careers that require a lot of privacy? (We both work from home). We are deciding between Santa Barbara and Lake Oswego. We presently live in the Brentwood area of LA and are very used to being in an exclusive community, but a friendly one. Are there places to go in LO where children are not all over the place there? (We love children by the way, but since we have not been blessed with them, we are pretty much spa/resort/quiet couple--LOL.) Are street parties required attendance for acceptance there?

My sense of Santa Barbara is one needs to be practically spending 2 plus million to begin the enjoyment of the 'good life'--no remodeling--(that may be a bit cheap and I am talking just the house and lot size here) and that does not include any local memberships (golf, fitness clubs etc).

Lake Oswego although pricey and getting pricier from the looks of it, is atleast accesible in pricing and what you get for the home over a million is much more substantial. But I have seen pictures of street parties there and it scared me!!!!--LOL The usual, "hi, how is it going, what's your story, this is mine, see you later" has always been the valued conversation and of course later the distance wave and quick nod or smile as a reinforcement. Could Lake Oswego be too small, for the artistic, and somewhat unsociable? Just curious.

I'd love your thoughts and experience regarding anything I mentioned above. I am so envious you live there--LOL! But very happy someone got it right!!

Originally Posted by moving again and again

I currently live in LO. I'm one of those refugees from SoCal. This is the nicest place I've ever lived. It's extremely well kept up, this town has money and uses it and you can tell just by driving through it. The people are friendly...this is breeding grounds though. And I mean that kids are abundant! LO High School is top notch and probably the best in the state. With that being said. Great place to raise a family and if you own a BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, and/or Hummer, you'll fit right in.

[moving again and again]

Fairweathergolfer,
There are many golf courses in Lake Oswego and this isn't a college town as Santa Barbara appears to be in my opinion. I really like S.B., a whole lot more than I do L.O., mainly due to the fact that there is a beach and a younger crowd. L.O. I guess you could say is a paradise for retirees. Check out Mt. Park in L.O. Many affordable condos in that area. Probably the most affordable area of L.O. I'm just wondering, why S.B. or L.O.? Why not Santa Cruz?