Considering moving to Oregon (Portland, Tigard: insurance, high crime, home)

[taylex]

My husband and I are considering a move to OR with our 2 teenagers. We currently live in New Orleans and are looking for a change. The cost of Catholic high school here is over $6000 for each child. The housing market is a nightmare post-Katrina, as are insurance rates. How are the high schools? Do most kids attend public or private schools? (Public school here is NOT an option) The kids have been looking at Tigard and Tualatin. Any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated.

What is the weather like in these areas? What is the crime rate? What is the cost of living there?

[bobmulk]

Tigard and Tualatin are high income communities, hence, housing will be pricey. I would say minimum of $300K, although things have slowed quite a bit and you could probably pick up something for $250K. Most of the neighborhoods should be great.

Because it's a high income area full of white collar professionals, the high schools are going to be quite good. You will also be close to excellent shopping, restaurants, etc. And, two freeways merge there so you can get around quite easily to Portland, Mt. Hood, Seattle, the Willamette Valley, etc.

The weather is typical for western Oregon. Figure some rain and sun during the spring. You'll get spring showers that might last several days, with sun interspersed. And you'll get days of sunshine with everything blooming and budding. Summers are glorious with no humidity--you'll think you're in heaven. We ordinarily have Indian summers into November, obviously it starts getting colder. December is when the rains usually start and they can last into February. However, it's important to know that there will also be a substantial number of days with sun. Any snow that comes will usually be a dusting. Very rare to get a substantial accumulation.

Good luck.

[bluebird39]

I just had to reply. I moved from New Orleans many years ago, and have since moved to Michigan, partly to be closer to my family in New Orleans (and in-laws in Chicago). I lived in Southern Oregon, but have in-laws in Portland as well. That being said, I loved Oregon, and miss it a lot. If you're looking at good schools in Portland, you need to look carefully. The schools in Oregon aren't great, but compared to New Orleans, they'll be better. I looked into Catholic schools in S Oregon, even though I'm not Catholic (but DH was raised Catholic), and they were about the same as you mentioned. It may be more or less in Portland. Most people go to public schools in Oregon, or home school. In general, Oregon is MUCH more secular than Louisiana.

You'll miss the diversity and culture of New Orleans, and of course the food. I learned to love salmon, and all of the fresh healthy food of the Northwest. It's nearly impossible to find good shrimp or crawfish though. There are very few Louisiana folks out West, although that may have changed since Katrina. I now have family in Dallas after the storm, and have only seen them once post-Katrina. Take this into consideration if you move. Oregon is a LONG ways from New Orleans, and with 2 teens, if you have family still in N.O., it'll be very expensive to see them, with airfare going up and up... Driving isn't really an option.

One thing I really had a problem with was the winters in Oregon. I spent a year in school in Portland, and got a big case of the winter blahs. The days are much shorter in the winter than in New Orleans (but in summer they're much longer). It is very cloudy and foggy too.

Some things I never missed was the crushing poverty, poor roads, high crime, bad traffic, and hot humid summers (springs and falls). Ants are about the worst insects you''ll find in Portland. I don't miss the roaches, stinging caterpillars, fire ants, mosquitos, etc, etc, etc.... I swore after leavign the South that I'd always live in the mountains, but had to eat my words when I moved to Michigan. I LOVE and dearly miss the mountains of the West. It's a beautiful place.

Good luck.