We're moving and need help on which towns (Portland, Medford: rent, home)

[ElizabethDreyer]

Hi. My family and I are moving to SOuthern OR. We have no idea where.
We have heard that Southern OR gets far less rain than Northern OR (is this true). We are also wanting a small town with less than 20,000 residents. But we dont want to compromise education for the small town. I dont want to sterotype, but I know that when you find a quaint town, usually the education and the people can sometimes be scary. We have 6 small kids (under 12) and so I feel like we ar elooking for a dream that may not be real. Smal ltown, good community, very pretty and nice neighbors.
We figure that we should rent for about a year just to get a fell for the place. We want to be about an hour from the water. I had heard that Coos Bay wa sreall nice, but then I heard from a realtor that it wasn't such a great town. So.... we're coming out in jUly for a week and I have no idea where to look and wher to start. So if any locals could help me out, I would appreciate it alot.

Thanks.

[freedom]

Originally Posted by ElizabethDreyer

Hi. My family and I are moving to SOuthern OR. We have no idea where.
We have heard that Southern OR gets far less rain than Northern OR (is this true). We are also wanting a small town with less than 20,000 residents. But we dont want to compromise education for the small town. I dont want to sterotype, but I know that when you find a quaint town, usually the education and the people can sometimes be scary. We have 6 small kids (under 12) and so I feel like we ar elooking for a dream that may not be real. Smal ltown, good community, very pretty and nice neighbors.
We figure that we should rent for about a year just to get a fell for the place. We want to be about an hour from the water. I had heard that Coos Bay wa sreall nice, but then I heard from a realtor that it wasn't such a great town. So.... we're coming out in jUly for a week and I have no idea where to look and wher to start. So if any locals could help me out, I would appreciate it alot.

Thanks.

Try Eagle point, 10 miles north of Medford on Hwy. 62. It is called the gateway to the lakes, it has about 10 lakes within an hour, some as close as 30 min.
Good schools, and all of the comforts of a bigger town.

best wishes,

freedom

[Leap of Belief]

I am not sure how far south you are planning to be? However, I vote for Monmouth. It is really charming, the home of Central Oregon University and has a quality school system. Just my two cents - - it is worth checking out... Best to you on your search! :-)

[tiffela74]

well, are you wanting ocean water, or will lakes/rivers do it for you? Because I live in Coos bay, love it here, but we do get more rain than those that live inland do. (yes, you DID hear me admit that! lol)
Not all small town have lousy schools btw. We lived in a teeny little town called Mulino, and they have this very little school that my daughter went to. Kg-6th, and well under 100kids total. Classes were combined,my daughters 1/2grade blend had about 18kids in it, total. And it was by far the best school we've ever sent our kids to. You just have to check em out....
best of luck!
Tiffany

[ClassicalContractor]

Oakridge is probably the best kept secret in the state. Shhhhhhh.

[RogueWolf]

Monmouth is actually home to Western Oregon University. Rainfall averages about 40 inches anually in the Willamette Valley; but is not usually constant, which means sunbreaks can be often. North/Western Oregon is beautiful, though, as is the Rogue Valley area, of which Freedom spoke. Average rainfall for Medford is ~19 inches. 300 days of sunshine a year. Enjoy the upcoming trip!

[Krystle]

Now I don't know how valid this is, but I have a friend in her early twenties who recently moved closer to Portland, and she called her previous city Methford.

[Bendite]

Originally Posted by Krystle

she called her previous city Methford.

Is that a play on words with your user name, Krystle?

[Krystle]

Originally Posted by Bendite

Is that a play on words with your user name, Krystle?

Ha! That's right. I moved to a part of the country where people are going to have either a very positive--or a very negative--association with my name.

[Leap of Belief]

Yes... WESTER Oregon University....sorry about that - my bad! ;-)