Looking for best place to move that is affordable and places for the horses in western OR.. Info wanted :) (Salem: real estate, high school)

[dani3071]

I am looking for information on the more affordable, better towns in Washington and Oregon to move to. I am in Eastern OR and am not digging the environment, want to be back along the Northwest. Have growing kids from toddler to teens, horses and looking for a place to settle. Information please

[Billy_J]

Perhaps if you told us what you don't like about eastern Oregon, people could then tell you about places which are not like that?

[delta07]

I definitely agree that we need some more information in order to help you narrow down your search. Do you need work? What's your budget (affordable is different to everyone)? What other things are you looking for in a community?

[oregonwoodsmoke]

I've had horses in the Willamette valley and it takes extra work and expense to keep them healthy. Besides hoof issues, you get rain rot and other fungal skin infections.

I had horses in King's Valley, OR. Lots of grass, lower cost real estate, and plenty of grass hay to purchase.

Alfalfa had to come from the east side and was very expensive.

Pay attention to riding trails, because you can't just ride in the forests. The brush is too thick, so you need an area with logging roads that are open to the public.

[dani3071]

I am a social worker. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest then moved to Wyoming, then to Eastern Oregon. Eastern Oregon reminds me a lot of WYoming. I miss the green(ness), rain and the ennviroment of western OR and WA. Easter Oregon (town where I am at) is not opened minded to businesses opening, in fact there is 27 empty store fronts in downtown alone and our town is less tham 25000 and dying... We have large family so wanting a semi small town (less then 50000), within an hour of large town... My husband use to be a logger and comes from a very small town.. Just somewhere safe for the kids to grow but is open minded to growth instead of just the old timers way

[StealthRabbit]

If I had kids nearing 10th grade..... I would be in WA where they can attend college for free, instead of hanging around a High School. I worked terrific for mine, and many others that have to pay 100% of their own way through college. Works great for Drs I know, and even one of my bosses did Running Start 20 yrs ago in Eastern WA. She is a great boss!

Running Start

If you want west side... Then I would consider near towns with Colleges or Jr Colleges. Probably the least expensive is Kelso, or Centralia. Woodland is close enough to Vancouver or Longview (colleges) and WSU-V. Many affordable places near Olympia.

For OR, I would choose Roseburg for horse friendly, decent weather, affordable + a college. There are many other choices as well (McMinnville is nice, and Newburg, Forest Grove, ...). Your kids can also go to OR college while they are in HS, just that U have to pay tuition (not much), and few in OR get their AA's and go direct to University at full Jr. Status In WA it is very common for HS kids to have their AA's at same time as diploma.

Your kids will thank you a lot when they realize they get 2 yr head start on career earnings and/or travel plans.

[Nell Plotts]

I agree about the option to attend CC while in high school. That may be one of the reasons why 'high school graduation rates' look so bad. Who wants to stick around in high school when you can start your college education early? That isn't only for the honors students, my nephew was really frustrated and thought he wanted to be a mechanic. He enrolled in CC taking technical & academic courses and was hired by Costco's tire department. In time he earned a Jr. College degree and is now a manager at Costco. Whether or not he was ever counted in the HS graduation data.. I doubt it.

[Silverfall]

Most affordable in the mid-valley that are larger small towns... Dallas, McMinnville, Stayton and Lebanon.

[Steve Pickering]

From what you did post, I would say "Dallas" near Salem.

[dani3071]

I have been over to Dallas all way up to Rainer.. We liked Dallas most.. I want to show my husband some of southwestern WA to see what he would like. I know he would love Shelton as it is a logging town but we will see