Help Moving Out West (Eugene, Bend: low crime, to buy, good schools)

[o0treefingers0o]

I am planning on moving out west. However, I am really torn about where exactly would suit me best. If you have any input, it would be greatly appreciated!

Important to me:
1. Good Schools/Family Friendly/Reasonably Low Crime
2. Affordable Housing
3. Emphasis on Art/A Little Bit "Hippie"
4. Sunny
5. Welcoming of Diversity
6. Many Things To Do
7. Prefer a Larger City

I am also considering somewhere in Colorado. If you know anywhere there that would suit my needs then please let me know.

Thanks, guys!

[Silverfall]

Eugene is the hippie city in Oregon. I wouldn't call it sunny though. The only sunny places in Oregon are in central Oregon and down in southern Oregon. Bend and Ashland would meet most of the criteria except for affordable.

[davefr]

You won't get "large city" and "sunny" in Oregon. I'd recommend Louisville, Colorado or maybe around Sacramento, CA.

[White Mountain]

I agree davefr.
Sacramento Ca fits your criteria perfectly...There are higher areas of crime in some cities surrounding Sac but there are also some very nice places with not as much crime.
Fact is that if you are looking for a larger city, for the most part there will be a higher crime rate.
best of luck
White Mountain

[backdrifter]

Originally Posted by davefr

You won't get "large city" and "sunny" in Oregon. I'd recommend Louisville, Colorado or maybe around Sacramento, CA.

Davis, CA?

[Steve97415]

It's important to understand that the only places that are affordable in this country are those that are possessed of some feature that turns a lot of people off: too cold or too rainy in winter, too hot in summer, too isolated, too blue collar, bad schools, horrendous traffic, high crime, etc. If you are looking for what everyone else is looking for, then supply-and-demand pressures will ensure that it will cost you a lot to buy into such a community. The key is to determine what kind of "imperfection" you can most easily live with. I can't think of any place on the West Coast where "sunny" and "affordable" both come together. Sacramento and surrounding areas are affordable only by California standards. Chico is a possibility, but at 80,000 I wouldn't really call it a larger city. You don't mention being a heat sissy, so based on the other criteria you've listed, my main suggestions would be:

1. Albuquerque
2. Tucson
3. Austin
4. San Antonio
5. Scottsdale