Need your help! Best place to raise 3 year old? Albany area? Salem? and others (Medford: job)

[Logan's Dad]

PLEASE, PLEASE HELP! Really need some input here!

I will first give you my background and my concerns to clarify:

I am a 37 year old man married to the most beautiful woman in the world and the most amazing 3 year old ever (no bias of course) and I live in California and HATE IT with a passion.

I HATE California because people have the worst attitudes here. Driving on the freeway is like being in the indy 500, people are rude, gangs and drugs are HUGE hear in the central valley of California. (Known for Scott Peterson unfortunately)

I am a College Counselor hoping to be a Counselor at Linn-Benton College in Albany or at Chemeketa College in Salem.

OR in Washington (thought maybe some people may have input about Washington here and I posted in the WA forum also) Skagit College (Mount Vernon) or at Whidbey Island, or at Seattle Comm. College (but live in Bothel) or work at Bellevue college.

I want a SAFE, QUIET, COOL to COLD (It gets up to 110 degrees in the summer where I live now and it is horrible.), SMALL, FAMILY town.

We are devout Christians and would like church availibility nearby. Also, like every family looking for good schools for my son.

Also need a good gym as we are fitness people.

Thanks for any help!!!

[freedom]

You may want to look towards the south. Medford, Roseburg, Grants Pass.
The North tends to be less Christian, maybe there is a potential for private practice.

freedom

[zilfondel]

I don't know, why don't you just buy a house in whichever town you get a job in? Both Albany and Salem are fairly conservative little towns with a lower crime rate than the big cities of So Cal. Plus, why commute on the freeway if you have to? Much easier to live 2 miles from work and spend more time with your family. =D

Also, housing is pretty affordable in both of those towns, so I wouldn't worry about it.

Oh, and didn't people tell you it rains in the Willamette Valley? So it's cool 70% of the year, with a few hot days (the 'hotter than hell' 90s - bleh!) in August & early September.

I definitely would not move to Medford! It's hotter than hell down there (much, much hotter than the valley gets) and 3.5 hours away from Albany - about 4 hours from Salem. 200+ miles. That would be a REALLY bad choice considering what your preferences were listed above.

[Logan's Dad]

Originally Posted by zilfondel

I don't know, why don't you just buy a house in whichever town you get a job in? Both Albany and Salem are fairly conservative little towns with a lower crime rate than the big cities of So Cal. Plus, why commute on the freeway if you have to? Much easier to live 2 miles from work and spend more time with your family. =D

Also, housing is pretty affordable in both of those towns, so I wouldn't worry about it.

Oh, and didn't people tell you it rains in the Willamette Valley? So it's cool 70% of the year, with a few hot days (the 'hotter than hell' 90s - bleh!) in August & early September.

I definitely would not move to Medford! It's hotter than hell down there (much, much hotter than the valley gets) and 3.5 hours away from Albany - about 4 hours from Salem. 200+ miles. That would be a REALLY bad choice considering what your preferences were listed above.

Thanks a lot for your input!

[oregon_mom]

Before You Move Here Find A Job I Moved Here From Az And Its Very Hard To Find Work Get One Before You Move The Area In Salem Is Nice The People Are Nice Cool Night But Rain Of And On

[DavePautsch]

Logan's Dad
If you've read any of my posts on this terriffic board...you'll know I am a HUGE advocate of Albany. I moved here 6 years ago to work at OSU, and when I retired from the Navy (I was at the ROTC unit) we had fallen in love with this area...and decided to stay.
I have 2 girls (now ages 10 and 14)...and we have been very happy with the schools here, with the family atmosphere available, the sense of community, and the opportunities to become involved in our town.
I actually live within about a good driver and a 3 wood (as the crow flies) from Linn-Benton CC (the neighborhood is called Spring Meadow...all pretty new homes...great family oriented neighborhood).
If you'd like any more info, I'm happy to help.

Dave

[INEEDSUNSHINE]

Hi,
Have you considered the Rogue Valley in Southern OR. Cities include Medford/Ashland. There is a University in Asland (SOU) and a Community College (RCC) based out of Grants Pass with a Medford location.
Plenty of Churches in this area. Good Luck with the search.

[oregonready4change]

I'd be interested in know what you mean by SMALL town. Small to me would mean around 20-30k people! I would agree that the Rogue Valley is not for you if you don't like hot. It gets HOT here in the summers. Plenty of 100+ degree days here, mainly in late July and August.
Perhaps you might want to look at Klamath Falls. They are here in Southern Oregon as well, but over the Mountains and up higher, so the summers are a bit cooler. They have OIT (Oregon Institue of Technology) and a JC as well - Klamath Community College. It really depends on what you want to be around. I agree that most of Southern Oregon is much more conservative than Northern Oregon. Klamath is even more conservative than the Rogue Valley - an extra bonus would be the housing is more affordable over there! I know quite a bit about Medford/Rogue Valley and some on Klamath if you have any more questions!! Good Luck

[DavePautsch]

Just a little more about Albany (if you don't mind).

Population is about 40K, but it feels like a small town. When you go to CostCo on Sunday...its impossible to get out of there without seeing at least 10 people you know.

We had a performance at my daughter's Elementary school last week...Every parent was there...(3 5th grade classes, about 25-28 kids each class)...and you know almost everyone there!

I guess some of this is relative...I spent most of the past 23 years in big cities (San Diego, Honolulu...) and this was like Mayberry to me when we first moved here...

YMCA has great (and affordable) facilities, there is also an Anytime Fitness in town. The Colleges also have facilties (both Linn Benton and OSU which is just 12 or so miles away).

Housing is still fairly affordable here...and you can get a nice home in a nice neighborhood in the low $200's. Last stats I was looking at had the average home in the mid-Valley at 1936 sq ft / $133 per square foot / 3 bedroom / 2 bath / 6000 sqft lot.

Corvallis is significantly MORE expensive than Albany, Lebanon is a little less expensive...both have lots of pros depending on what appeals to you.

[Logan's Dad]

Originally Posted by DavePautsch

Just a little more about Albany (if you don't mind).

Population is about 40K, but it feels like a small town. When you go to CostCo on Sunday...its impossible to get out of there without seeing at least 10 people you know.

We had a performance at my daughter's Elementary school last week...Every parent was there...(3 5th grade classes, about 25-28 kids each class)...and you know almost everyone there!

I guess some of this is relative...I spent most of the past 23 years in big cities (San Diego, Honolulu...) and this was like Mayberry to me when we first moved here...

YMCA has great (and affordable) facilities, there is also an Anytime Fitness in town. The Colleges also have facilties (both Linn Benton and OSU which is just 12 or so miles away).

Housing is still fairly affordable here...and you can get a nice home in a nice neighborhood in the low $200's. Last stats I was looking at had the average home in the mid-Valley at 1936 sq ft / $133 per square foot / 3 bedroom / 2 bath / 6000 sqft lot.

Corvallis is significantly MORE expensive than Albany, Lebanon is a little less expensive...both have lots of pros depending on what appeals to you.

Thanks for all the info Dave!

Sounds like a great place.

Are there problems with gangs or drugs there. I know that stuff is everywhere, but where I am from it is getting out of control and law enforcement even admit that it is!

How hot does it get there in summer? Where I am it gets up to as high as 110degrees. It is so tiring after a while.

Is Linn-Benton a pretty solid cc?

I live in a town that is about 70,000 people and is just too small to hold that many people without lacking resources.

Thanks for your help!!!