Also relocating from Michigan to Oregon (Portland area) (Gresham, Hillsboro: sales, apartments)

[ameri-kiwi]

I hear the public transportation system is great in Portland (the MAX ?). Is there a line that goes directly to the airport? I'm just beginning my investigation into Portland as I may take a job there that requires frequent air travel so I need to be close to the airport or a train line that goes there; are there any good areas of Portland or suburbs that fit the bill? I will most likely rent the first year I'm there.

I don't know much about the Pacific Northwest other that the climate. I see that Vancouver, WA is close to the Portland airport. Is Vancouver any good? Are there any advantages to living in one state over the other (property or income taxes; state political difficulties, etc., that I should be aware of?). Not trying to stir up a state rivalry just trying to get a sense of the area.

Thanks in advance!

[jfwells]

The MAX light rail line does go directly to the airport. Check out TriMet: Public Transportation for the Portland, Oregon, Metro Area for more information.

Washington does not have an income tax, but there is a sales tax. Oregon has no sales tax, but does have income tax. Many people live in Vancouver and shop in Oregon. Personally, I couldn't stand to live up there just to save a buck.

[PNW-type-gal]

You'll get a lot of dismissive comments about Vancouver from people who have either never been there or been there once 10 years ago or have heard about it from someone recently there. It's pretty much exactly the same as the other suburban areas of Portland (Gresham, Happy Valley, Oregon City, Tigard, etc etc). There are nice parts, expensive parts, not-so-nice parts, yuppie parts, areas with problems. The bigger upside is that schools are not quite so underfunded and houses are slightly cheaper and the biggest downsides are that most Vancouver voters don't believe in mass transit of any kind nor did the County Commissioners of the past couple decades have a clue what "land use planning" meant.

In Oregon, you have Bill Sizemore - in Washington he just changes his name to Tim Eyman but they do the same thing. I don't think Washington has a version of Lon Mabon and the OCA.

Otherwise it's pretty much the same, with the exception of sales tax (Washington) versus income tax (Oregon). Property taxes and vehicles taxes are similar, and which tax system benefits you more depends on your income bracket and your spending habits. If you live in Washington but do your work in Oregon for an Oregon-based company, you will pay Oregon income tax on top of local WA sales tax, which is an "unideal" situation.

[lucero32]

The neighborhoods of the inner NE would be a good fit. The MAX line has a stop in the Hollywood neighborhood, and behind the Lloyd Center (the states biggest mall). These areas are very nice, have many options as far as apartments go, and are a short drive downtown. Also, they are very walkable and filled with neat shops and restaurants. Irvington would be a good neighborhood to check out. It is one of the nicer neighborhoods in the city filled with historic homes, yet also has a lot of apartments.

Good luck

[wanderlust00]

The MAX is awesome as it goes from Hillsboro to Gresham and the airport, and N. Portland down to Clackamas. Like lucero said, NE has some very nice neighborhoods. I live in NW Portland and like it very much as well.