Salem v Coos Bay specific questions (Portland: rentals, how much, home)

[esya]

I wanted to move to Coos Bay, but am going for an interview in Salem. I have some questions.

How much hotter in the summer is it than Coos Bay?
How much snow does it get?

If I live and work near the downtown can I garage my car most of the time by walking or using the bus?

Can I take a bus or shuttle back and forth to Portland and how much does it cost round trip? I know there is the Amtrak but the schedule is sort of limited.

How close are the colleges/Universities to the downtown area? I'd like to live walking distance to both. I would rent at first, a small place, just to get used to things and then decide what to do about living arrangements.
Is that realistic if my standards are not too high?

[Silverfall]

Commuting from Coos Bay to Salem is not realistic. I don't spend a lot of time in Coos Bay in the summer, but we tend to be around 80-85 with 1-2 weeks in July that tend to hit the 90's and 100's.

Downtown is small in Salem. It's very walkable. We aren't a big enough city to garage your car. You'd probably just park it on the street if your rental doesn't have parking.

There are some carpooling shuttles, and the airport shuttle up to Portland, but there isn't that runs every hour up to Portland or anything like that. Are you thinking of living in Portland and working in Salem??? Essentially what is the purpose of wanting to shuttle up there.

Willamette University is downtown. If you want to rent a small cottage you can look in the Richmond and Englewood areas that are very walkable/bikeable to downtown.

[esya]

I know that commuting to Coos Bay or Portland is not reasonable. The HUT shuttle indicates a PDX to Salem trip about on the hour, and that clarifies that. I just would want to go out to the beach or to the city when not working, on weekends. I also will definitely need airport access and with only one trip out of Salem, well.....

I ask about garages to avoid rain/rust to my car and to avoid collision damage esp if I am in a rental at first. So many posters have a negative view of parts of Salem I did not know if I should be concerned about on the street parking.

I did compare the climate charts but you are telling me what's hard to gage from the charts: after decades of extreme temps I am really looking for a milder set of temps, both hot and cold. The 90s--100s is not ideal for me but two weeks would be ok and way better than the midwest where I grew up.

I would really love a walkable city or town life, that is what I am looking for. You need a car but to me that is for trips, not for everyday life. I wouldn't think of living anywhere that is more than a 10 mile, period If that means some compromise that is OK.

[Silverfall]

The HUT goes up to the airport which if that is why you want a shuttle to Portland then that is fine. I wasn't sure if you were looking to go into downtown or something like at 1:00 in the afternoon...we don't have that kind of a shuttle.

The beach is about 1.5 hours away from Salem. 2 hours if the casino traffic is bad.

I wouldn't be worried about rust. I'd be more worried about car break-ins. It's a problem all over Salem. I'd find a rental that had a garage if you are worried about it.

I grew up in Illinois and I think our weather is totally mild compared to there. Even when it's hot, it isn't humid. It's not like out in the Midwest where you are dripping just walking outside. I think the winters are mild. We are usually in the 30-40's. Since we have cloud cover, we don't get the swings like the midwest, BUT that means cloud cover.

I'm not sure what you meant by a city that is more than a 10 mile...I think you left out part of your sentence.

[esya]

I think I meant to say ten mile drive to work. Even in Denver, I live less than 8 miles from work; I am very much not a commuter. I don't mind driving on the weekend to have fun, though.

[tiffela74]

i get the joy of walking to work each day. Gotta love it! Before moving here, I had an hour commute each way...my husband had a THREE HOUR commute on his way home each day (miles away and during rush hour on the freeway makes for a LONG commute!) Now he works from out of our home, and i have a very short/easy walk to/from. I getcha on wanting a short commute!!

Weather here in Coos Bay is pretty mild. Its one thing we really enjoy about it. Rarely is it too cold/windy/rainy for the kids to go out at all, and even more rare for those super hot days. Anything more than about 85degrees and im miserable.....and Im not miserable here much! couple weeks during the summer maybe, but being right on the beach, its easy to cool off, plus theres the other bennie of living in Oregon...lots and lots and lots of places to go hiking/picnic where your deep in a shady forest. Nice....
we have an airport...not a big one, might wanna check if the flights in/out fit your needs.
lotsa rentals out here right now....might find one w/a garage/carport.

i cant help you much w/salem. Ive been there, but ive never lived there.....