Is Grants Pass, OR a good place to live? (Eugene: low crime, houses)

[slolife99]

To answer this question you will need to know a little about myself, and the things that I like.

I love the outdoors (Hiking,fishing,swimming) and I have always wanted to move to Oregon, but I don't know the state. I am married with 2 kids, so I want good school systems, and low crime. I would also like to live in a smaller laid back city. I live in a medium sized city in California which is nice, but lacks in natures beauty.

A fellow co-worker recently bought acreage in Grants Pass and he says it is beautiful. However, he say's there seems to be a meth problem. Although there seems to be meth problems across the US.

So, I am just looking for feedback about Grants Pass, and maybe suggestions about other Oregon cities.

[backdrifter]

In a word: Yes.

And it is that simple... Provided you can get a job if you are not self-employed.

Grants Pass is a wonderful place to live. Stay in the city limits and you don't need to worry so much about meth-related problems. It's really not even noticeable to the average person. Nowadays it's really not any worse than California.

Also an advantage to being in the city limits, besides more thorough police and fire protection, is that you'll be in Grants Pass School District 7 (though the district boundaries do not overlap exactly with the city limits), which has a wonderful high school and some excellent elementary schools (Lincoln, Parkside, Redwood, Allen Dale). Three Rivers School District (essentially the county school district) is just okay. Definitely not preferable. My family has had very major negative issues with Manzanita Elementary and Fleming Middle School, both with teachers and administrators. If your children have any special needs or if you want them to get a good college preparatory education, then you really should make sure to be in District 7.

Other cities worth checking out are Corvallis (a very nice little college city), Eugene (might be a little big for your taste, but very laid back, one of my favorite Oregon cities), Silverton (a little on the small side maybe), Roseburg (though it's rather conservative and redneck and, in my opinion, not as pretty as other areas, and really doesn't have as many amenities as the other cities listed), The Dalles, and poooossibly Ashland. Personally I am not a fan of Ashland as I feel it's much too yuppified and not very laid back, but a lot of people (out-of-staters especially) really seem to like it. It does have a lot of amenities, including a decent school district, but it is also pricey. Others might have more suggestions for you.

[guitar70]

Hi.
We located to Grants Pass 8 years ago and are generally quite happy. We have two school age children in the city schools and we are quite happy with the schools.

It is beautiful here, we love the seasons, and the outdoor opportunities all around.

I think that the methamphetamine issue is nationwide and worse in poor and rural areas across the country. When we first moved here, there were a record number of houses in the county where folks were caught manufacturing meth. That has plummetted to I believe no houses last year as the state made it harder to get the ingredients needed to make the stuff.

I hike rurally, walk and bike around town with my daughters and feel quite safe.

Grants Pass Pros: Great Grower's MArket 8 mos./year; schools; so much wild stuff so near; seasons; friendly folks;

Grants PAss Cons: Library situation; minimal( but present) "nightlife."

Other Oregon Towns we know and like: Corvallis, Ashland, (like Bend, but a bit cold for us--we did our time in MN), Cottage Grove(pretty small).

Take a trip and check out some places!