Moving back home.... (Portland, Eugene, Medford: to rent, homes, neighborhoods)

[White Mountain]

Lived in Grants Pass in the 70's, went to high school there. I felt like I was only going to be able to get mill jobs so I moved away.
Now I have a small but thriving Web Design business, so I won't have to worry about getting a job, now I can do what I have wanted to do since I left and that is to get back to Southern Oregon!
Funny thing is that from what I have heard, except for the population growth, much is still the same.
Medford has always been known for a drug problem, I guess now it's meth.
Ashland with it college is still over priced in it's homes etc.
Grants Pass it has grown, but, I had no problem finding the place I lived.
It is just going to be my wife and myself, we are in our 40's and 50's looking for a place where we can just relax and enjoy the country, a long drive every once in awhile, and take in a play from time to time.
Since it has been so long since I have been back, I am going to rent for awhile first till I get a good feel of what I like best.
My first choice is Ashland, then GP, and then Medford.
Which place do you think is safest for a leisurely walk in the evening?
I agree that Ashland is expensive, put from what I have seen is that it has a nice energy because of the college there, but, not so big and rowdy crowd.
I was hoping I could get some of your thoughts and advice.
All the best to you all.
Many thank you's!!!!
White Mountain...

[backdrifter]

Where isn't it safe to walk at night in Southern Oregon?

I would keep an open eye walking in Grants Pass over on M/Bridge Street between the Parkway and SW 3rd after dark (wouldn't feel "unsafe" however), but otherwise I wouldn't have a single worry walking anywhere alone in the middle of the night anywhere else. Medford probably has a street or two like M. I wouldn't know where, but I'm guessing you wouldn't be living anywhere near any of those places.

Of course Ashland is smallest and therefore the most walkable... You can walk from just about anywhere in the town up to Lithia Park and it's wonderful. Medford is quite the opposite. I wouldn't advise it in general, but I'm sure there are good areas. It just has no character whatsoever. You have to go to Ashland or Grants Pass (yes, GP) for decent restaurants, cultural events, etc.

I definitely wouldn't rule out GP totally, but if you can find a decent priced place in Ashland, then go for it if you really enjoy Ashland. There are great drives from GP and it is closer to the coast and Redwoods, but there are also some nice drives around Ashland as well. And then you also have OSF at your doorstep. There is good community theatre in GP, but it's no OSF for sure. Maybe try Jacksonville too, if you can find something in your price range.

[White Mountain]

Thanks backdrifter,

My wife and I get to visit from time to time, one time we drove through Ashland late evening/early morning and saw people all ages walking the streets, talking and having a good time.
My wife and I are quite holistic and Ashland just seems to have a nice energy running through it.
I do have a very soft spot for GP, I spent a lot of time living with my grandparents on 5 acres which a part of the Rouge River was a boundary of the property, many times I was covered head to toe in poison oak..ugh....
From the first time I saw Medford, it just had nothing for me, so I guess it's still the same...
I never got a chance to see Jacksonville, so we will check it out for sure. Thanks for the heads up!
I looked at your profile, you still looking to go to Australia? if so, best of luck!!!!!..great photo BTW!!!!
Be well
White Mountain

[Steve97415]

I would also look at J'ville if I worked from home. It's an easy 20 minute bike ride from downtown Medford, yet it feels like it's a world away. There's a huge amount of public open space for a city its size. Nice walks through madrone-studded hillsides. It's not for everyone, though, so if the vibe there doesn't feel right, don't pursue it.

Ashland has become quite densely populated and the yards are very small. Privacy might be hard to come by. If you had kids, I would say that you should go for Ashland due to the schools, but without that concern, there are other options to consider. GP would be favored for affordability. It has lots of great deals on homes with larger lot sizes at the moment. You might look at some of the properties on 238 heading out toward the Applegate if you want space. Gold Hill and Rogue River are also possibilities.

[White Mountain]

Thanks Steve for your input!
This is why I posted, so I may get some ideas from people like you and backdrifter.
I am lucky that it is just my wife and I as we will rent when we first move to Southern Oregon, then get a feel of what place suits us the best and then find a place to buy.
I am just hoping that my wife doesn't mind the weather there, as she lived in Toronto and just hated the snow and cold weather, if I remember correctly the weather is somewhat mild, I know going up further towards Portland it gets quite rainy, SO gets its share but not as much.
Thanks
White Mountain

[White Mountain]

If I remember correctly, GP air quality is not as good as Ashland.
I seem to remember when coming up on GP I used to see a layer of smog, but, that may have been back when there we more lumber mills?
White Mountain

[backdrifter]

Originally Posted by White Mountain

If I remember correctly, GP air quality is not as good as Ashland.
I seem to remember when coming up on GP I used to see a layer of smog, but, that may have been back when there we more lumber mills?
White Mountain

Smog isn't really too big of a problem, but we do get nasty inversions in the summer and winter (the price for living in such a beautiful little valley) that traps wildfire smoke in the summer or woodstove smoke in the winter. Air quality a couple years back was something like 5 times over the legal EPA limit for a week due to massive California fires. Ashland generally doesn't have this issue.

Ashland, however, gets colder in the winter and definitely gets small amounts of snow. Grants Pass and Medford and other lower areas only get a couple inches that melt off by the next day. That usually happens only once or twice in January and once in February. It's mild compared to Toronto, definitely. Winters (/falls/early springs) are very similar to Vancouver's, but drier.

Ashland/Medford average around 19" of rain per year, mostly in the rainy season. Rogue River/Grants Pass/Merlin averages about 30" of rain per year. The difference in greenery is noticeable, if you haven't noticed. This compares to around 40-45" per year from Eugene up to Vancouver. It is cloudy and overcast most of the rainy season.

Summers are also HOT. Today it was in the upper 90s, but normally it starts cooling off now. We generally have at least a week of 100+ temperatures in summer (one reason I am glad to be moving north after I come back from Australia ).

The general vibe of Ashland is more "alternative" and holistic, into more naturopathic health, non-Christian spirituality, and so on, as you've noticed. You can definitely find that in Grants Pass, but there is less of it as GP is just more diverse. If you're more looking to live on some land, the GP area might be great for you. That way you could enjoy the positive aspects and natural beauty, but avoid some of the more negative aspects.

[bluebird39]

I agree with Steve. Look into Jacksonville. I LOVE that place! There are tons of trails that lead into the mountains right from town, and it's small enough that you could really get anywhere you wanted in town with only a bike. Plus tons of public land nearby.

I worked in GP for many years, lived in Central Point and Medford. GP is nice, but from what I remember, not really that walkable. Seems like most of the neighborhoods close to downtown aren't really that great. Ashland is SO expensive, plus it has many more tourists and students to contend with.

You may also look into Butte Falls. I love the areas down by the creek.

There's also parts of Medford that are very nice. There's a "Greenway" park that goes from Central Point to Ashland that we used to walk on and ride our bikes on all of the time. Unfortunately though it's also a popular place for homeless people....

Good luck.

[White Mountain]

Thanks Bluebird39,
Seems like you know of what I am looking for
. The trails sound great and right up our ally.
We are going to be visiting at Thanksgiving time, which is not too far away, so we are excited to come and check it out for sure...
Thanks
White Mountain