looking for a place to settle... (Salem, Silverton: low crime, employment, high school)

[macyjune]

i am a newly-wed 27 y.o. and my husband and i are searching for the perfect place to settle down together and start a family. When i picture the "perfect" place for us, i see a small town with reputably friendly people, above average, quaint schools w/out overcrouding, English speaking/caucasion, no gang activity/low crime, median-priced, maybe some snowfall, warm summers, lots of green surroundings, country, simplicity, and tradition. Here in Santa Rosa, CA where we were both raised, the children (as young as jr. high) don't feel "good enough" to their peers unless they carry Coach backpacks, wear Abercrombie jeans, and other high-end designer names (none of which I have ever owned myself), and the city is growing at a rate in which we've hardley the means (or desire) to keep up with any longer. My husband and i are good, simple, and friendly people who find happiness and content in simple things, and we desire such an environment to raise our future children in. My childhood doctor moved her family to Silverton, OR which is how i've come to learn of it. If anything i've described reminds you of Silverton, or if it does not, please...i welcome any/all feedback. Thank you!

[Oregonbeachlover]

Hi. I hesitate to give you my personal opinion because I think there are a lot of places in Oregon to love, and what I love may not be what someone else does. Yes, I think Silverton is a very pretty town. I think you should come visit and just drive around and see how places feel to you. The reason I am responding to your post is because I am saddened to hear about what has happened to Santa Rosa. My husband is from Petaluma and I lived a lot of my growing up years in Sonoma Co. too. I graduated from high school down the highway from you in Sonoma (many years ago). We raised our family in Oregon and have no regrets. Both my husband and I think that Oregon is paradise. Good luck to you!

[Metlakatla]

Silverton's great. But be advised that there is a sizable non Caucasian population there. Many of them are old and established families and I doubt that bigotry will be well received.

[Silverfall]

I don't consider Silverton median priced, but that is a matter of perspective. It is the most expensive of the towns in the Salem metro area. It is a quaint little town.

I don't consider Silverton to be culturally diverse (coming from a Chicago area perspective), but I do agree that bigotry would not be well received there. It is a very welcoming town.

[Steve Miller]

Maybe I missed it, but do you require employment in your new city?

[ConeyIsBabe]

There are many small towns in south Oregon that would fulfill your desires but EMPLOYMENT is the key issue. Good jobs are scarce.