Choice between Grants Pass, Medford & Klamath Falls (Portland, Corvallis: rent, house)

[heather77w]

For the family from Texas, sounds like Eagle Point or Grants Pass would be a good fit for you. Both have places you can afford to buy with land and school with decent football teams and they are around the size you're looking for classwise! My husband played football at Eagle Point and loved it and his good friend is now the football coach at Eagle Point High School, great guy! We're up in Washington now though thanks to the job market but we'd move back there in a second if we could!

[Noreaster73]

My family and I are basically looking for the same things as Schmidty and their family.

I'm from Northern N.Y (Lower Canada) and moved to KY 9yrs ago to get away from the cold. Now I want to get away from the heat and humidity!

I'm no longer a Christian and the culture of Oregon appeals to me. We'd like to find some land cheap and start a hobby farm, but it would have to be close to a town with a Lowe's as that's where my husband would be working.

We also have two children in elementary school...so the quality of schools is important also.

We don't mind driving an hour or so to find culture and entertainment...are the roads from one town to another easily traveled?

All of this being said...would any of these communities be suitable for our family?

[Cornerguy1]

Originally Posted by Noreaster73

My family and I are basically looking for the same things as Schmidty and their family.

I'm from Northern N.Y (Lower Canada) and moved to KY 9yrs ago to get away from the cold. Now I want to get away from the heat and humidity!

I'm no longer a Christian and the culture of Oregon appeals to me. We'd like to find some land cheap and start a hobby farm, but it would have to be close to a town with a Lowe's as that's where my husband would be working.

We also have two children in elementary school...so the quality of schools is important also.

We don't mind driving an hour or so to find culture and entertainment...are the roads from one town to another easily traveled?

All of this being said...would any of these communities be suitable for our family?

I think you can strike Klamath from your list; it's strictly Evil Orange (Home Depot) country.

I'm not sure what your idea of cheap land is, but arable land in the Klamath Basin is pretty spendy. Might worth your time to search some of the real estate sites to get an idea on land prices.

[PNW-type-gal]

Originally Posted by Cornerguy1

I think you can strike Klamath from your list; it's strictly Evil Orange (Home Depot) country.

I'm not sure what your idea of cheap land is, but arable land in the Klamath Basin is pretty spendy. Might worth your time to search some of the real estate sites to get an idea on land prices.

Actually, Lowe's bought the lot next to Fred Meyer this year. Dunno what their expansion plan status is in the recession, but the press people are still making positive noises about starting soon.

[ConeyIsBabe]

Originally Posted by Noreaster73

My family and I are basically looking for the same things as Schmidty and their family.

I'm from Northern N.Y (Lower Canada) and moved to KY 9yrs ago to get away from the cold. Now I want to get away from the heat and humidity!

I'm no longer a Christian and the culture of Oregon appeals to me. We'd like to find some land cheap and start a hobby farm, but it would have to be close to a town with a Lowe's as that's where my husband would be working.

We also have two children in elementary school...so the quality of schools is important also.

We don't mind driving an hour or so to find culture and entertainment...are the roads from one town to another easily traveled?

All of this being said...would any of these communities be suitable for our family?

You should check out the smaller towns of Rogue River, Gold Hill, etc.!! I'm also not a Christian and, although the majority of people in these areas ARE, religion has never been an issue (to me) impacting the good lifestyle.

[Noreaster73]

Thanks for all of the helpful info. I'm glad to hear that Klamath is planning to open a Lowe's...it seems like a nice place. Does anyone know how it compares to Roseburg?

I would like to be where I can snowshoe...but my hubby loves the ocean...so I'm trying to find someplace that might suit both of us. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

I want to thank everyone in advance for being patient with all my crazy questions. But it's going to be hard to visit since we're so far away...and even after visiting Ky twice... I still ended up hating living here. I just don't want to make the same mistake twice.

[Noreaster73]

I've been doing alot of research and have fallen for McMinnville. It seems to have everything we're looking for...except a job. Medford does though...except that it seems like it's too close to what we're trying to get away from here in KY(heat and crime). I know jobs are scarce right now in Oregon...should we take the chance and go for Medford or hold out for the possibility of a job in McMinnville?

[Nina-in-Ashland]

Originally Posted by Noreaster73

I've been doing alot of research and have fallen for McMinnville. It seems to have everything we're looking for...except a job. Medford does though...except that it seems like it's too close to what we're trying to get away from here in KY(heat and crime). I know jobs are scarce right now in Oregon...should we take the chance and go for Medford or hold out for the possibility of a job in McMinnville?

Don't know where you've gotten the idea that there is crime in Medford (enough to cause concern), but that was not my experience when I lived there.

[Scotty1]

Noreaster73,
Anywhere you go in Oregon is good. I lived in Portland an Corvallis. I loved them both. You can't go wrong wherever you go in Oregon, though I prefer the coast line. However, I'm sure the job market there would not be good. Have you thought about Ashland? I loved that area also.
I left Oregon for Florida. I'd move back in a minute, but my wife hates the rain of 8-9 months a year. BUT, boy are the summers beautiful, with pleasant temperatures. Good Luck.
Scotty in Florida

[Noreaster73]

Originally Posted by Nina-in-Ashland

Don't know where you've gotten the idea that there is crime in Medford (enough to cause concern), but that was not my experience when I lived there.

I got the stats off "bestplaces.net". I'm not saying it's a bad place...it's just that it ranked only 2pts. lower for violent crime than the city we're in now. I grew up in a very small rural town and that's what I want for my kids. I don't want to have to worry about a multitude of meth addicts or sex offenders. Just a small close knit community where people look out for eachother. I realize as far as cities go Medford is probably a pretty nice place to be(just like the town we're in now) it just might not be the kind of place I want to put down roots and live in forever.