Relocating to Oregon (Portland, Medford, Bend: low crime, house, good schools)

[steph_joyce]

Hi, my husband and I will be visiting Oregon in a few weeks. We have places to stay in either Seaside or Klamath Falls. We're planning on moving to Oregon in a few years and are checking some places out.
For my husband's job we have to live somewhere within 30-45 min's drive of the following cities:

Central Point, Hermiston, Portland, North Bend, Tangent.

Any info I can get on these areas would be great. Also, I'm assuming Seaside would be closer to these areas and the Portland airport-where we'll be coming in.
What I'm wanting to know is what the weather is like year-round, school systems, culture, family oriented stuff (we have an 18 mo old and one on the way), cost of living, etc. I would like to be somewhere where you still get snow just not lots of it, nice warm summers, mountains within an hour or two would be great, not a lot of rain.
I hear it rains more towards the coast area than it does inland. Is this true?

Portland, or more specifically the suberbs around it appeal to me. Can anyone tell me anything about the above mentioned areas?

Thanks for any help you can offer.
Steph

[tiffela74]

Hi. If you look up the threads on Coos Bay, you'll find your infor on North Bend. The two are pretty much intertwined.
I have three kids and live here and we are quite pleased with it. havent had any problems with lack of activities for the kids, we like the schools they go to, and the summers are bliss. Or at least for me they are, I like the 80s degree days, hardly ever up in the upper 90s or 100. I also enjoy how summer stretches into October here.
it does rain in the winter, but not daily. I posted a webcam that overlooks the bay somewhere on this forum. That way people can see for themselves.
It doesnt snow here too much, but the kids did get 2 snow days this year...Of course, any good playable snow here at our house was gone in a few hours..just long enough for the kids to tire of it and get too cold. lol
any questions on the area, feel free to PM me.
Best of luck to you!
Tiffany

[steph_joyce]

Thanks for the info. We'll be staying in Portland first nite and in Seaside the next two nites. Are there any small cities (around 100,000 or less) where we could find land to build on? My in-laws would probably be moving w/us and we'd like to find a plot of land to build on. What do you think you could get for around $200,000 to $250,000?
Thanks.

[freedom]

We were in Central Point yesterday and took a 30 minute drive up hwy. 140 to fish lake, there is a snow park there and people ice fish on the lake.

It was 55-65 deg. sunny and beautiful out.
There are also some great homes on the market in the central point, eagle point area.
Southern Oregon has the best of 4 seasons, it rains about 18-24 inches per year in the greater Medford area.
There are a lot of young families and tons of outdoor activities, there are a dozen lakes and rivers, and snow skiing at Mt. Ashland.

best wishes,

freedom

[Silverfall]

Are you looking for the cost of land to be 200-250K or that is what you want to spend total?

[steph_joyce]

The cost of land totaling $250,000 would be nice. We could probably go more but I'd rather not. Building the house would be a separate cost. I'm mostly interested in the areas around Portland and Seaside right now. Within an hour of either of those two cities. Do you know an average cost for building a home in those areas?

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Originally Posted by steph_joyce

Hi, my husband and I will be visiting Oregon in a few weeks. We have places to stay in either Seaside or Klamath Falls. We're planning on moving to Oregon in a few years and are checking some places out.
For my husband's job we have to live somewhere within 30-45 min's drive of the following cities:

Central Point, Hermiston, Portland, North Bend, Tangent.

Any info I can get on these areas would be great. Also, I'm assuming Seaside would be closer to these areas and the Portland airport-where we'll be coming in.
What I'm wanting to know is what the weather is like year-round, school systems, culture, family oriented stuff (we have an 18 mo old and one on the way), cost of living, etc. I would like to be somewhere where you still get snow just not lots of it, nice warm summers, mountains within an hour or two would be great, not a lot of rain.
I hear it rains more towards the coast area than it does inland. Is this true?

Portland, or more specifically the suberbs around it appeal to me. Can anyone tell me anything about the above mentioned areas?

Thanks for any help you can offer.
Steph

Here's my thoughts as a 51 year resident of the state who has lived in all the general ares you mention:

Best to worst of these specific places:

Central Point
Tangent
Hermiston
Portland
North Bend

I'm basing this on what I would want for a family. The top 2 are fairly close together, then Hermiston, then a ways down to Portland and last Coos Bay.

The first two have excellent climates, in semi rural areas with larger towns near by and very excellent places for low crime and wholesome things for kids to do. Good schools.

Hermiston is also nice, but it's really an ag community with a strong ag culture, and not all that pretty. Good schools.

Portland is 2.5 million people. Crime, poor schools (except in some suburbs), rainy... But there are some upsides as well. A city this large offers a highly diverse culture.

Coos Bay is a coastal town with two seasons. Rain & heavy rain. Very poor place if your kids want to get outside. Schools are OK. Beautiful area though.

[tiffela74]

"Coos Bay is a coastal town with two seasons. Rain & heavy rain. Very poor place if your kids want to get outside"

as a resident of Coos Bay for the last five years, with kids of my own, and i work with children, I disagree with this statement. it does NOT rain here all the time...we're into spring now, with well over a week w/o rain, (at least during the day, i believe it may have rained last night, but not anymore by morning) I havent had to send my kids out to the bus stop w/raingear for weeks....they spent most of last week outside in short sleeves and the kids where i work, did the same. Its a terrific place to raise kids, and they get outside plenty. We have 4 seasons, we even had 2 snow days this year....summertime is spectacular, we have shorts weather, but it doesnt get unbearably hot. We're in the start of spring, which is glorious, and our leaves get crunchy in fall too.
Tiffany

[Waterlily]

Yes I've been out doing some gardening today. It's been nice and sunny. I guess it may have rained a little last night as the ground is damp.

I live in North Bend and find it a great place to live. The city is right next to Coos Bay.
I don't have children (mine are grown), so I'm not sure about what the kids do here. I can tell you that I get outside in between the rainy times of winter. Summer is pretty much dry with no rain. People are usually friendly here. I've lived here just a few years but I have no complaints. My husband and I like it better than the last city we lived in which was out in eastern Oregon. There's not a lot of freezing weather which is great.

[valerian]

Hi Waterlilly!
I see that you live in North Bend, and I have been trying to get information on Roseburg. I have been to Coos Bay and lived briefly in Myrtle Point, so I know the coastal area there somewhat. Do you know much about Roseburg?

The lack of snow would NOT bother me, as I have been driving 45 minutes to work in heavy snow, sometimes whiteout conditions.

The wonderful gardening zone wouldn't hurt my feelings either....can't seem to get pumpkins, winter squash, and tomatoes to a good size before frost hits. I had thought that since southern Idaho was an agricultural area I'd have a prime garden. Good for potatoes, I guess!

I have a 9 year old son who is into every sport he can get into, and a graduating 18 year old daughter who might want to check out the community college. Do you (or anybody else) know if the schools in Roseburg are fairly sports-oriented, and if the college is good?

My family lived in Roseburg ages ago, before I was born, and I'm sure their memories are a bit outdated. Anything you could tell me?