Coos Bay....or maybe a hidden gem. (Bend, Corvallis: sales, low crime)

[MyCitySearchName]

I've spent several months looking at places to move and finally picked one
.....but I have a few concerns about it and I am just snooping around for other areas to compare it to.

I chose Floyd, VA.....but the taxes and government intrusion there scare me a little,
otherwise it meets all of my requirements. I don't know much about Oregon, but Coos Bay sounds kinda nice.
Anyone on these forums familiar with it?

looking for:
*low cost of living
*small government, mostly conservative.....with LOW TAXES. I'm wanting to make my next move permanent.
*low crime rate
*gun friendly
*pet friendly
*pretty scenery, with low cost acreage available near near water...MILD climate....not extreme either way
.....I do like to play in snow occasionally and prefer rolling foothills near mountains.
I also like hunting, the ocean, kayaking and rock climbing.
*rural, yet vibrant community with artists, artisans, self-reliant homesteader types and musicians....within a 30 min.
drive of a larger community (30k to 150k people) for business/shopping purposes
*access to organic produce, meat and goat's milk
*no big box stores or blacktop jungles. I like a town with some character, slow pace of life and interesting architecture.
*a decent hardware store and a nice restaurant or two.

Choices so far have been:
#1 Floyd or Boones Mill, VA
#2 Townsend, Tullahoma, Clarksville or Johnson City, TN
#3 Mountain Home or outskirts of Fort Smith or Fayetteville, AR
#4 Corvallis, Coos Bay, Roseburg, Astoria, Seaside or La Pine, OR
#5 Florence, Rock City, Gadsden or Mentone, Alabama
#6 Coeur D'Alene, Idaho
#6 Poteau, OK

Any other recommendations would be welcome.

Not sure of all that Coos Bay offers, but it sounds nice.

[Waterlily]

The Bay area includes Coos Bay, North Bend and Charleston. I don't know if this place will meet all your needs. The biggest problem I see is the affordable land. The cities do not have a lot of land left. You'd probably need to go outside of town to find a large empty piece of land and it's not very cheap. The cities are kind of condensed and they are growing.
There is not much of any snow here in the bay area. There is rain about 65 inches of it. Property taxes are low compared to most places.

There is lots of pretty scenery. We have a bay and the ocean. There are lakes as well. The towns are surrounded by water and forest.

Yes it's pet friendly and lots of people walk there dogs in town. There is a gun shop and that's all I know about that. I'm not a gun person myself.

There is a Walmart and a mall plus a downtown area. They are building a HomeDepot and a new shoping center by the bay soon. There is a Casino too.

Others will likely be able to tell you more. I hope this helps.

[MyCitySearchName]

Thanks.....

The snow isn't that important, but growing up in NM, I didn't get to see it much and I do enjoy playing in it. Being near the ocean would be a big plus I think. I love the ocean. Never actually lived by it though. That might be a different experience than just visiting.

Are the wooded areas around there all pine and fir?...or are there some hardwoods too?.....a mix would be nice.

Any organic farmers markets or food stores up there?

Is the community friendly and small-townish?....any live music available?

[seashelly]

I'd direct him/her more towards Coquille and Myrtle Point areas however that "low cost of living" comment compared to some of the other states he/she mentioned concerns me. For one thing, our gasoline prices here in the Bay Area are extremely high compared to the rest of the country's. I don't know about the gun thing either but I have heard that a shooting range is being discussed (with much controversy) to be built along the South Coast near rural Bandon area. Hope this helps you some.

[MyCitySearchName]

Originally Posted by seashelly

I'd direct him/her more towards Coquille and Myrtle Point areas however that "low cost of living" comment compared to some of the other states he/she mentioned concerns me. For one thing, our gasoline prices here in the Bay Area are extremely high compared to the rest of the country's. I don't know about the gun thing either but I have heard that a shooting range is being discussed (with much controversy) to be built along the South Coast near rural Bandon area. Hope this helps you some.

He....

Thanks for those recommendations...I'll check them out. I saw on a tax site that the gas there was a little pricey....but if the other stuff is all good...then it would even out I think.

[Waterlily]

Hi again I thought I'd come back and answer a few of your questions.

Woods are mostly fir with a bit of variety mixed in. Rhodies and scotch broom also growing in the woods.
We have farmers markets one in Coos Bay once a week during summer. There is one in the mall in North Bend once a week as well. There is a natural foods store and some grocery stores are starting to have Organic vegies.

Yep we have friendly people here. Actually I feel they are more friendly than the northern part of Oregon but maybe that's just what I've noticed.

Live music concerts are mostly during the summer. There is a couple of live theaters too. We have art stores and book stores. Most things you'd need can be found in this town.

Seashelly mentions Coquill and Myrtle point as they are more country small towns. If you wanted to go shootin' and run wild wild with the dogs then you'd be closer to that kind of thing. You still can't shoot or hunt within the city limits though.
Good luck finding a new home.

[MyCitySearchName]

Originally Posted by Waterlily

Hi again I thought I'd come back and answer a few of your questions.

Woods are mostly fir with a bit of variety mixed in. Rhodies and scotch broom also growing in the woods.
We have farmers markets one in Coos Bay once a week during summer. There is one in the mall in North Bend once a week as well. There is a natural foods store and some grocery stores are starting to have Organic vegies.

Yep we have friendly people here. Actually I feel they are more friendly than the northern part of Oregon but maybe that's just what I've noticed.

Live music concerts are mostly during the summer. There is a couple of live theaters too. We have art stores and book stores. Most things you'd need can be found in this town.

Seashelly mentions Coquill and Myrtle point as they are more country small towns. If you wanted to go shootin' and run wild wild with the dogs then you'd be closer to that kind of thing. You still can't shoot or hunt within the city limits though.
Good luck finding a new home.

Thanks for all the help.

[toulousaine]

I would definitely go to Coos Bay first and check it out first hand to get a feel.

Yes, people are friendly here, but housing is getting very spendy and Coos Bay IS growing fast (anchor stores, etc). No sales tax, but property tax is not cheap. Neither is gas.

You might like Winchester Bay better.....very tiny but cute.

[MyCitySearchName]

Originally Posted by toulousaine

I would definitely go to Coos Bay first and check it out first hand to get a feel.

Yes, people are friendly here, but housing is getting very spendy and Coos Bay IS growing fast (anchor stores, etc). No sales tax, but property tax is not cheap. Neither is gas.

You might like Winchester Bay better.....very tiny but cute.

Thanks!....its always great to hear from people who live there. What about Seaside?....is it worth looking at?.....I'll do some checking on Winchester, thanks for the tip.

[ExNYC]

Low crime rate and gun friendly? Isn't that like trying to find Military Intelligence? Guns and crime are inextricably linked in this country.