Is Keizer a good place for a family? (Portland, Salem: apartment complexes, to rent)

[sunshine08]

We might be moving to the Salem area with in the next few months from Redmond Oregon. I am looking for a place to rent that is in a good neighborhood and school for my 5 year old son. We will be renting at first but when I begin teaching hope to purchase a home again. Any suggestions on Keizer area or surrounding for good schools or neighborhoods?

[Silverfall]

In Keizer the schools that get the best ratings and have a good "community" reputation are Gubser Elementary and Clear Lake is starting to get stronger ratings.

If you want to live in Salem itself schools with good ratings are Schirle Elementary (I'm biased since this is my son's school but it is great), Sumpter and Pringle (although I'm hearing a lot of overcrowding at these schools due to large amounts of construction in these districts). Candalaria is also good and McKinley gets good ratings as well. Lee is a new school so there isn't a lot to rate yet. Wright elementary also has a solid reputation.

"Good" neighborhoods are down south and out west. Englewood in downtown area is also nice. Jan Ree in Northeast Salem. Keizer has the Gubser and Clear Lake neighborhoods which are nice. The area over by Cummings Elementary is also a very stable neighborhood in Keizer. In the Gubser area, you'll want to watch traffic. I know with the Keizer station going in, what were quiet streets have become busy as people weave their way through the neighborhood. You'll want to watch that.

Good is relative, but I think all of these areas are "healthy" neighborhoods, meaning houses tend to appreciate and sell well. Good resale, stable, etc.

[BLAZER PROPHET]

The north & west areas are excellent. I hear the schools are fine. I would avoid the south & east part of Keizer.

[ktoney]

I am thinking of relocating to Oregon (somewhere near Portland). Mainly due to the job scarce here in Canton, Ohio. My son is 11 years old. Our family is biracial. Is Keizer or Salem a good place for a family like mine? I would hate to move somewhere that my child (or family) would have a hard time or not feel accepted. ~Thanks for any advice...
- Kari in Ohio

[Silverfall]

Well Salem is about one hour south of Portland so I guess it depends on what you consider near. Oregon is not the most diverse state, but I have two friends that are mixed race couples and they don't have any issues here.

Honestly, some of this will depend on your socioeconomic status.

[nwsterner]

Honestly, I would avoid Keizer altogether as a place to raise a family. I have lived here in west Keizer for 7 years now, and have seen first hand the sad decline. I have 4 boys. The city has terrible growth ideas. In the past 2 years I've counted 5 new apartment complexes go up in my residential neighborhood. There is no need for them and are still mostly vacant. The crime is rising and I've even started to feel a bit unsafe. 3 weeks ago, my fence, backyard shed, and pick up were spray painted with "Norte something 14", whatever that means. There is a growing hispanic gang problem. The city is also encouraging homeowners of the larger older lots we have to divide them and add a house or two in what used to be the backyard. And sadly, several west Keizer residents have done just that. I'm not talking acreage here, but 1/4 to 1/3 acre lots. We will allow our ninth grader to graduate at McNary High, then we will be moving out of the Salem/Keizer area. Just don't come here believing this is an idylic small town, because it definately is not. There have been two recent bank robberies on River Rd.(our main street), quite a few drug busts(heroin and meth), and there is alot of theft, and vandalism. The police do their best though.