Moving to Oregon for Job (Portland, Eugene: house, established neighborhood, theater)

[lola2012]

We are moving from Milwaukee Wisconsin to Oregon for my husband's job. He basically covers the state of Oregon, so it does not matter where we live, workwise. We have sons aging 13-6 and like hiking, kayaking, biking as well as older architecture and homes that have character. Schools are also very important to us as is culture and character. We are looking to spend around $300,000 for a home in an established older neighborhood. Any recomendations on towns?

[Silverfall]

Does size of the city matter?

[Bendite]

Originally Posted by lola2012

We are moving from Milwaukee Wisconsin to Oregon for my husband's job. He basically covers the state of Oregon, so it does not matter where we live, workwise. We have sons aging 13-6 and like hiking, kayaking, biking as well as older architecture and homes that have character. Schools are also very important to us as is culture and character. We are looking to spend around $300,000 for a home in an established older neighborhood. Any recomendations on towns?

Hiking and biking are available all over Oregon and it's easy to get to places for kayaking. Most Oregon towns have at least some older architecture and homes with character, depending on what you are really looking for size and age-wise. If by culture you mean great dining, theater, arts etc., then Portland or maybe Eugene or Bend would be good choices for you to explore. Is weather a factor?

[KIMBER129]

I am not there yet, but looking for the same sort of things you are, and so far, looks like Beaverton is a good bet??? I am not sure what size town your looking for, but its close to Portland, so its got the culture there..

[Nell Plotts]

Eugene would also be a good choice, unless her husband will be traveling by air regularly (flights cheaper and more frequent from Portland).

The advantage of Eugene is that it is smack dab in the middle of the Willamette Valley and driving to Bend (except in the worst winter weather) or the coast is a reasonable drive. Two hours north, south, east or west and you have a high % of the OR population covered.

[lola2012]

We have lived in larger cities such as Chicago and small towns and find the advantages of both. We do like music a lot and would need to be where there is a music scene within driving distance. I am mainly trying to avoid new suburban sprawl where everyone's house looks the same. More of an established neighborhood and where you can walk or ride a bike and not always drive everywhere would be nice too.

[Silverfall]

What kind of price range are you looking for and what is driving distance?

[lola2012]

Around 300,000 and driving distance would be 20 minutes or less.

[Drunkus_Maximus]

Originally Posted by lola2012

We are moving from Milwaukee Wisconsin to Oregon for my husband's job. He basically covers the state of Oregon, so it does not matter where we live, workwise. We have sons aging 13-6 and like hiking, kayaking, biking as well as older architecture and homes that have character. Schools are also very important to us as is culture and character. We are looking to spend around $300,000 for a home in an established older neighborhood. Any recomendations on towns?

I recommend you look into Corvallis:

Oregon.com - Corvallis, Oregon
City of Corvallis, Oregon
Visit Corvallis and Benton County Oregon
Corvallis, Oregon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Good luck.

[Silverfall]

I would look at Portland to be that close to a music scene.

Neighborhoods, Laurelhurst, Belmont, Woodstock, Sellwood, would be some of my first thoughts.

Otherwise, if you don't mind being farther from big city culture, Silverton OR is a great small town.