Looking for the right Oregon.

[Oregoncoasty]

Check out Troutdale/Sandy/East Gresham areas...those are what I thought of when I read your post...Mt Hood C. College jazz festival, a little drier, close to Portland (even though Gresham has basically everything), easy to Mt Hood trails mtns etc...

[Silverfall]

Sherwood is a separate city, otherwise those are all neighborhoods in the Portland area. Honestly, money will dictate where you can buy. As you are quickly realizing, we are significantly more expensive than the mid-west.

There are many fabulous neighborhoods in Portland. I used to live in the West Hills and I loved it out there. It's not cheap though. I think most people should rent for a little bit when they move out. Unless you have several visits to really nail down where you want to live...

[StealthRabbit]

The rain falls practically everywhere west of the Cascade Range, and north of Sutherlin. Amounts vary considerably due to elevation and air flows. Our county ranges from 30" to 120" / yr. but.... less rain does not mean it is sunny . It just 'drizzles' heavier in certain places, and actually rains hard in a few areas where the clouds get trapped. You can get rainfall maps at the county extension service or online.

For your desires, I would;
1) first decide on community type / location, while looking at affordable areas (which I don't consider any of the above very affordable).
2) Then link in school and cultural / social issues. You may have preference to avoid certain school / housing areas. (racial / conservative vs liberal, / migrant / gang influence...)
3) Then validate property tax / community issues. (check with local assessor and verify how the community votes and if there are special levies you need to pay.

There may be some areas of s or sw Portland / Milwaukee / Oregon City that will work for affordability and schools and location. Your wife's job may be the secondary deciding factor (Next to the kids school). Your gig's will probably generally be 'downtown', or in Salem, Corvallis, or Eugene

In addition to McMinnville /, I would look check out Newburg, Dundee, and Aurora (I have friends teaching in each, some in Special ed). Living further south in the valley can get you into a fog area (as if rain is not bad enough)

If eastside is reasonable, look at Boring and Damascus while you check out Sandy area. I think they have decent schools and will be free of some social problems that can hinder learning in some schools in Portland and Woodburn.

[kimhamblin]

Hi Ryan,
I wanted to weigh in here too- if you want to stay around the $120,000 range outside of McMijnville in some of the smaller towns might be good- Sheridan is good, Dayton, Amity are both cute. You can still find some ok deals around here.
Pacific City, my favorite/closest beach is about 40 mins from Sheridan, a little further from the other 2. The mountains are a little harder to get to though, not really any skiing, you'll have to go to Mt Hood or take up surfing? Are you scared of sharks?