Which has sunniest weather: Medford or Roseburg? (Portland, Eugene: travel, work)

[former Californian]

I am hoping to move soon to southern Oregon from Port Townsend, Washington. Too many gray days here for my mental health. The only truly warm months are July, August, September. Roseburg seems like a charming town, but I have heard that Medford has more sun. Which of these towns has the hottest summer? Which has the largest number of gray days? Is the Umpqua River warm enough to swim in? Thanks for any information you can give me on the climate in these two towns.

[Waterlily]

Medford gets more sun. It will get hotter during summer. Very often it has the highest temperture in the state during summer. Sometimes it'll be colder there during winter.
Roseburg still gets a fair amount of sun more than Eugene or Portland.

[seashelly]

I've stepped into the Umpqua River (Roseburg area) during the HOT summer months to cool off but I don't know about swimming because the water was moving too swiftly.

[freedom]

Medford has a great climate and location, if the summer days are too warm you can run up to one of the lakes, or the Greensprings.
In fact any city between Ashland and Merlin has great year round weather.
The Rogue is warm and swimmable, we like to float and kayak to get cool in the summers. There are some great parks to put in and take out of.

I was in your town a couple of years ago when the bridge was being worked on. Which was fine for a visit, the whole family loved the ferry rides back and forth. Port Townsend is a great place, a friend of ours has a sewing machine business there. One day he will retire here in G.P. we hope.

freedom

[thaed_a]

Hey,
I'm from Grants Pass which is between Medford and Roseburg. My wife and I honeymooned up in Port Townsend at New Years a year ago. We liked it up there minus the gloomy weather. As to your question, Medford is better for weather, but I would suggest looking at Grants Pass. It is 30 minutes to Medford and has about the same weather, but is smaller (35,000 people compared to 85,000) and more friendly. Great historic downtown area with lots activities like Friday Art Walk nights on the 1st Friday of each month. There is also a Saturday market with fresh produce and meat from local growers as well as arts and crafts. And best of all is the famous Rogue River featured in movies like True Grit and A River Runs Through It. The River has world famous rafting and fishing as well as a large boat race event. And in the summer, you most definitely can swim. If you have kids, it has a great High School. Grants Pass is great. Many people come to retire here. And as our town slogan states, "Its The Climate".

[freedom]

Thaed a,

You must be speaking of the university of Grants Pass, the one with the professional theater, basketball gym that the blazers could play in, and don't forget the astro style turf at the football stadium.

It is a beautiful campus.

Your description of Grants Pass is spot on.......

[Marko3]

Medford is a little farther south and east of Roseburg (100 miles via I-5). When traveling on I-5, you get to Grants Pass, and then I-5 turns and heads East for about 20 miles. Medford is slightly higher elevation than Roseburg, roughly 1000ft higher, so it gets colder in the winter, better chance of snow, but it is also the hot spot of the state many days out of the summer with temperatures easily hitting 100 degrees or more sometimes. Last summer was especially hot, and a little extra hot in Medford. My fiancee lived down there at the time, so I spent alot of time between Roseburg and Medford. They get slightly less rain too, I think it is because they're farther from the coast, with more mountains between them where majority of the rain falls before getting to the Rogue Valley. Still rains, just not as wet as the Umpqua Valley or Willamette Valley.

[luvabargain]

Medford is definitely sunnier - and hotter. We spend a lot of July/August/September with over 100°. Medford is surrounded by a lot of smaller cities which makes it a nice option for housing, schools, etc. There are several nearby lakes and there are swimming holes for play in the Rogue River.