Ashland and Medford cost of living (Central Point, Jacksonville: relocating, budget, apartment)

[patsyw]

I'm thinking about relocating to either Ashland or Medford from the Southwest to escape the year round heat.

I was looking at average salaries in the health services. It looks like if I could find a job in my area I'd stand to make about the mid 40s in Oregon. That's considerably lower than what I make now in Arizona, and the cost of living looks about the same. So I'm worried about whether I could make a go of it out there.

Could I afford to live there, support my son (who eats a lot), and buy a home on that salary, and still travel sometimes? I would prefer to live in Ashland and would probably start with a rental.

[Nina-in-Ashland]

Hi there - my husband and I lived in both Medford and Ashland. Ashland is more expensive in housing and there is a town sales tax imposed on food (I think it was just dining out). Medford did not have this food tax and is less expensive in cost of housing. A lot of people prefer Ashland for the shops & culture, but there are some very nice communities in Medford and some nice parks (I really liked Bear Creek Park).

We've lived in a number of states now, and this was by far the most expensive as far as gas and groceries. Yes, you don't pay sales tax, but you pay higher prices overall for groceries and household items (kleenex was $2.50 a box - for the little square one). I remember seeing a $15 organic pineapple in one of the natural food stores in Ashland. I hope it was good if anyone bought it! (I did not). Good luck in your decision.

[VelvetKiss]

Ashland is very expensive to live but people love it for the culture and shops, plus Ashland has Southern Oregon University. I have lived in Ashland and Medford and can tell you rents and buying a home is very expensive in Ashland and alot of the rentals are not that nice because of the college students. Ashland does have the food tax on dining out. Medford has some nice areas as well but some areas you want to stay out of for living. Rents are pretty ok, I pay $650.00 a month for a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom 930 sq ft apartment with a dishwasher, washer and dryer (they come with the apartment) and central heat and air. When I lived in Ashland I paid $650 for a 2 bedroom 1 bath apartment with no central heat or air, we had individual heaters in each room which was expensive and was smaller then where I live, we did have a washer dryer hook up but you had to buy your own washer and dryer and use window air conditioners but they had everyone move so they could turn them into condos to sell for 250,000+, so you dont get alot for your money in Ashland and where I live in medford I am only about 7 miles from Ashland. Hope this helps. You may also want to look into Central Point. Jacksonville is expensive as well, but Central Point is alittle further out but has some nice areas and some reasonable housing.

[Nell Plotts]

There is a Veteran's Hospital in Medford, you may want to check out employment opportunities there.

Living in Medford is definitely cheaper than Ashland. Home prices are going through an 'adjustment' in Medford so you may find an affordable home to purchase in a year.

[TheShoeboxDiaries541]

Medford (population is about 85,000 including phoenix/talent area) is a typical valley city; nice areas, not-so-nice areas and high crime areas. Meth usage and distro is high, even by valley standards, and stats rival CA cities like modesto and delano. housing costs were slightly higher in medford than in northern oregon a few years ago, but as home prices adjust all across SO, you're more likely to find something now in a decent area for $250,000-400,000.

Ashland (population is about 20,000) is really, really nice, but expensive. Crime is not a problem in Ashland the way it is in medford, but you're also paying more for just about everything. I go into ashland all the time, and in some ways, it reminds me alot of a REALLY small San Francisco.

If you can afford it, I'd say Ashland over Medford. However, if you live on a budget and need to be directly in a larger city (for work, or whatever), you'll have to take medford.