Douglas County (Portland, Eugene, Roseburg: real estate, transplants, rent)

[ELacey]

I just moved here (Roseburg) from a much larger town. I thought that a small town would be nice but uhhh not so much, I am finding. My job search leaves me in tears and unemployed, the friend search is kind of ending up the same. Either has ever been a problem for me, I am very marketable in my professional and personal life. I was hoping that maybe there are others out there feeling the same way? Or maybe you have suggestions on how to adjust to a small town? Thanks in advance!

[seven of nine]

Originally Posted by ELacey

I just moved here (Roseburg) from a much larger town. I thought that a small town would be nice but uhhh not so much, I am finding. My job search leaves me in tears and unemployed, the friend search is kind of ending up the same. Either has ever been a problem for me, I am very marketable in my professional and personal life. I was hoping that maybe there are others out there feeling the same way? Or maybe you have suggestions on how to adjust to a small town? Thanks in advance!

Do you mind telling where you moved from? Might help with the perspective?

[ELacey]

hi seven of nine
I moved here from Florida (St Petersburg) after growing up in Hawaii. Does that help?

[chrisruns2far]

I have a dear friend who moved to Roseburg from Portland 7 years ago, and he lamented about the same issues that you have. Just within the last 1-2 years have he and his wife developed any meaningful local friendships.

He and his wife originally moved there for the then cheap housing and they are both avid fly-fishers and He already had a job there waiting for him the the Forest Service, but it took her about a year to find a decent full-time job.

It turns out that there are quite a few recent transplants to Roseburg and Douglas County, you just have to find each other as these are where my friends found their friends. My friend and his wife found it extemely tough to pierce to locals-only mentality and insularness of Roseburg. But in spite of that, they stuck it out and now seem to like it there. They also now get the sense that some of that dynamic is slowly changing, with an emphasis on the word slowly.

I would give it a year or two, if things don't fundementally change for you, than my advice would be to go elsewhere. BTW, what made you pick Roseburg if you don't mind me asking?

[ELacey]

Chris
Thanks for the input! It is nice to know that others have felt the same. As for why we picked Roseburg; we (husband & I) were told that OR was a great place for families and the state was full of friendly, open minded people. More specifically Roseburg because we had a great real estate opportunity, that ended up falling through. We are looking into Eugene after the holidays we are going to spend sometime up there to see if it is any better. 1-2 years is a long time to live in a place that doesn't fit but we will see. Thanks again for the hopeful thoughts

[chrisruns2far]

Originally Posted by ELacey

Chris
Thanks for the input! It is nice to know that others have felt the same. As for why we picked Roseburg; we (husband & I) were told that OR was a great place for families and the state was full of friendly, open minded people. More specifically Roseburg because we had a great real estate opportunity, that ended up falling through. We are looking into Eugene after the holidays we are going to spend sometime up there to see if it is any better. 1-2 years is a long time to live in a place that doesn't fit but we will see. Thanks again for the hopeful thoughts

I would take Eugene over Roseburg any day. I lived in Eugene during the mid-to late 90s and liked it very much. Real Estate prices will be higher than Roseburg, but living-wage jobs are more available. I still miss it at times, the only reason we moved is that my wife and I both have small town roots and wanted to get back to that.

[seven of nine]

Originally Posted by ELacey

hi seven of nine
I moved here from Florida (St Petersburg) after growing up in Hawaii. Does that help?

Oregon is really two different states in thought, east vs west. With more transplants on the western side you will find a bigger view as it comes to new arrivals. You will see a difference in the I-5 Corridor from Eugene to the north. Check out school systems, many are in dire money situations. You will see higher prices for housing, thanks to the demand though that is going into a more balanced cycle, rent first then pick your home, it is a buyers market, good luck, Roseburg for its many good things would not be a first choice for me.