Medford or Bend: need your opinion!

[4theluvofgold]

Both places are awesome. Bend has Colder winters, Period The lows in Bend are in the 0's - 10's highs in the 30's Medford 20's-30's highs in 40's. Summer is usually about equal with Medford having more 100+ days in summer then Bend (Usually per records)

Both have the services you speak of wanting. I personally prefer Medford myself. I have checked both areas out. I was born and lived in Madras just north of Bend. Both places do have friendly people.

I like rock hounding, Hiking, Rafting and many others that,, well both places have! Deschuttes/Rouge and mountains around.

But I lived in bend for about a year, and the housing prices were very stabbing at people. Many families had lost their hopes of buying a newer home there because the prices went faster then their savings and their incomes didn't go up. So the regular folks I knew moved to Redmond, Prineville, and now La Pine is actually starting to turn into something besides a pit stop off hwy 97.

Medford was depressed. But I've seen it growing around. Things are improving except the meth addicts (Bend has those too)

Its really just go and see and determine what you like. Oh the fish are bigger in the rouge then the deschuttes if that matters to you.

[seven of nine]

Originally Posted by ladysrodgers

Bend is your best bet. I think it's a tad warmer, and a tad colder but well worth it.

IMO, Medford is a poorly layed out no personality town, with a very depressed economy, a lot of crime and meth heads.

I have relatives in Sisters, now that is a cute town, really changed over the past 20 years, good luck

[klamathkennedys]

I know you did not ask; but civic pride forces me to add my two cents...

This is a great town, smaller than Medford, but much more navigatable - The People are nice and friendly and helpful.

We do get colder in the winter and we do get snow (elev. 4300) but all is managable, it comes and it goes. We do not get as hot in the Summer. You'll find home prices about 20% less, a much bigger bang for your buck; and there is a whole section in town that gets free heat via Geothermal wells, very interesting. Brand New Hospital, Shopping in gettting better and better all of the time. The Airport is in process of expanding, and is much nicer, and faster than Medford, and Amtrak comes right through here. Klamath County is the home of Crater Lake, an awesome place. Some great eating places as well.
Best of Luck...

[mdvaden]

Originally Posted by ladysrodgers

Bend is your best bet. I think it's a tad warmer, and a tad colder but well worth it.

IMO, Medford is a poorly layed out no personality town, with a very depressed economy, a lot of crime and meth heads.

That may depend on point of view, or lack of ingenuity, or whether one needs a job or not.

I've been in the Medford area for 2.5 years.

Have never met a Meth-head that I can think of. Wouldn't know it anyway.

Work-wise, in business, referrals have been about 300% better here.

The main reason we even plan to move, is we are too acclimated to north Oregon, after about 40 years of being in the rainy climate near Portland, and like that better. Plus the short drive to the ocean.

Medford seemed layed-out bad until I learned how to use the roads right. The only so-so issue I see, is the the airport in the middle.

If someone is retired, the economy is almost irrelevant.

Just depends on what one does.

I hear that The Manor retirement center on the hill, budgets $100,000 a year, for just it's annuals and perennials beds. Think about that. That's not shrubs - just the flower beds alone. Now does that sound depressed? Just depends on who you are and what you plan to do.

Between Medford and Bend, I don't know which I would pick. I like the ocean, to probably west Oregon. The redwoods and ocean are about 2 hours to our west.

[Pier]

Originally Posted by ladysrodgers

Bend is your best bet. I think it's a tad warmer, and a tad colder but well worth it.

IMO, Medford is a poorly layed out no personality town, with a very depressed economy, a lot of crime and meth heads.

The City Council changed the name to METHford Oregon late last year.

[PNWhike]

Bend and Medford are both bad places to live in Oregon. Bend is hands down the absou lte worst place to live in Oregon. Why? snot nosed Californians trash the landscape in ever increasing numbers. It is really going downhilll quickly as a result. Medford is a major methamphetamine town. You be the judge. Good luck in your move.