Tell me about Medford (Portland, Ashland: low crime, mortgage, living)

[My2cats1]

I saw a job posting today that really interested me, and the position is in Medford. I admit I had been looking for larger cities, but I'm trying to keep an open mind. Can anyone tell me about Medford? Culture? Humidity/Climate? Noteworthy places that make Medford special? Popular things to do?
Quick background: I've been in Chicago for a decade, and before that was in Tennessee. I'm ready to leave urban living for a slower pace, lower cost of living, and an area with natural beauty.
Thanks in advance for your comments.

[rick390]

I've lived in Medford and the adjoining area for 45 yrs. The city is about 60-70,000 people. It has mild winters but hot, dry summers. The city is ringed by mountains and there are ample outdoor activities nearby. Culturally things are getting better with more nightlife, live bands and such. There is also the Britt Festival with major acts during the summer in nearby Jacksonville and Shakespeare in nearby Ashland. Housing is expensive but coming down with the current mortgage crisis. Low crime rate, I'm a retired cop from Medford. All in all a very attractive place to live.

[Alexious]

I think Rick pretty much covered it all.

The climate there in the Rogue Valley is wonderful. Medford does have a reputation as a haven for meth dealers, but that's not really fair. Meth is a HUGE problem everywhere you go at this point. I think, overall, that the crime rate in Medford is about average for Oregon (which is to say low). It does have some catching up to do in the nightlife department (you didn't mention if you were single), but as Rick also said, there are some great options (Britt Festival, Oregon Shakespeare Festival). If you really get desperate for some city time, it's only about a 5-hour drive from San Francisco for a weekend getaway.

You also mention larger cities... if you want to continue with the urban lifestyle, it doesn't get much better than Portland. That place is about as clean and beautiful as a city can be. But if you want to take a step back into a smaller place, Medford is a good option.