More Ashland thoughts. (Portland, Eugene, Salem: middle-class, real estate, crime rate)

[White Mountain]

Seems like most of Ashland is mostly transient since it has the Shakespearean Festival and the college, so I wonder how many really live there year around.
Since there are so many people moving in and out of there, how is the crime rate there?
The college seems to bring a good energy but, I don't think of it as a party college causing trouble.
I hear about the town being full of snobs, are they town locals? or out of townees from Ca that are rich so they came to town as snobs. BTW snobs don't bother me as kindness is always bigger than snob attitudes.
What are police like? they overstep their bonds at times, or do they seem pretty cool?
City leaders? Are they big headed or do they make decisions because they are trying to do the right thing for the city?
If I were to decide to buy a two bedroom home there, what would be the average price for such a home?
My plan A is Ashland because from the times I have spent there it has a good energy feel that I hope is not my imagination.
Plan B is to look at GP as I do have a warm spot for it and I know the place a bit better
Thoughts?
Namaste
Jack

[Steve97415]

If you are a blue-collar worker with a high school education punching a time clock then white-collar professionals are "snobs." If you are a white-collar professional, then blue-collar workers are "rednecks." It's just a matter of understanding who you are and what your peer group is. In general, southern Oregon is an economically depressed area and educational attainment is lower than elsewhere in western Oregon. If you wanted a city in southern Oregon that best supports the kind of culture that prevails in Portland, Eugene, Salem and Corvallis, then Ashland would be it.
Ashland has changed quite a bit in the past two decades, though. It is increasingly more of a retirement community for the economically privileged and less and less a place where middle-class Americans can work in the local economy and make ends meet.

[White Mountain]

I guess I am lucky to have a business online so I don't have to worry about finding a job, regardless of where I choose to land myself.
I am not rich by any stretch of the imagination, but, it leaves my options open.
When I lived in GP at the age of 16 I do remember the heat, but, it was the gray skies that bothered me at the time...But now, I enjoy gray skies and cool weather.
I think working in the heat and living in heat can be two different things
I guess, I will say that when we drive up to SO and see all the beauty, it makes me feel like I am home and it feels real good.
I believe that everybody has "their" place that just feels right, and my wife and I feel this is the place.
The thing is that a place isn't what makes us happy anyway, her and I are very happy. We just want a place that we can call home and settle down
Take care...
White Mountain

[Fiddlehead]

I would agree that Ashland is largely an immigrant mecca, not as much transient. People move here and hope to stay a while. That said, Ashland is a draw for affluent people from the CA Bay Area and LA, usually who made it rich through real estate or other ventures. So, they come in at a high stratum and do not seem very interested in S. Oregon culture. They assume tha CAL or Stanford degree is better training than anything in S. Oregon, and they are probably right. But you can feel it, and it does not always help.

As someone who has struggled to build a life here in the middle class, who bought my first small home here, with no equity tail wind, it is hard to see folks living in mansions, driving brand new Volvos and Mercedes, putting three kids in private school when enrollment is declining in the public schools, and working part-time or telecommuting to Cali.

It is not that the people are not decent, it is that they are almost ALL from that background. It is truly a California expat ghetto, and opportunities ot assimilate into Oregon are inhibited by that. It think it has to do strongly with the real estate bubble. The people really do want to contribute, and they are no better or worse than anyone else, but it contributes to a cultural disconnect between Ashland and the rest of S. Oregon. Since many of the environmental groups are based in Ashland, it also sometimes seems like the exurban wealthy whose bread is buttered are also telling everyone else what to do. So a cultural divide and resentment are endemic.

If these things concern you, GP is a better bet. But Ashland is a beautiful place, and if you have equity money and telecommute to California, you will fit right in in Ashland. Medford is a bit of a blend.It is certainly a beautiful area, and you are wise to do your research. Good luck!

[backdrifter]

Originally Posted by Fiddlehead

I would agree that Ashland is largely an immigrant mecca, not as much transient. People move here and hope to stay a while. That said, Ashland is a draw for affluent people from the CA Bay Area and LA, usually who made it rich through real estate or other ventures. So, they come in at a high stratum and do not seem very interested in S. Oregon culture. They assume tha CAL or Stanford degree is better training than anything in S. Oregon, and they are probably right. But you can feel it, and it does not always help.

As someone who has struggled to build a life here in the middle class, who bought my first small home here, with no equity tail wind, it is hard to see folks living in mansions, driving brand new Volvos and Mercedes, putting three kids in private school when enrollment is declining in the public schools, and working part-time or telecommuting to Cali.

It is not that the people are not decent, it is that they are almost ALL from that background. It is truly a California expat ghetto, and opportunities ot assimilate into Oregon are inhibited by that. It think it has to do strongly with the real estate bubble. The people really do want to contribute, and they are no better or worse than anyone else, but it contributes to a cultural disconnect between Ashland and the rest of S. Oregon. Since many of the environmental groups are based in Ashland, it also sometimes seems like the exurban wealthy whose bread is buttered are also telling everyone else what to do. So a cultural divide and resentment are endemic.

If these things concern you, GP is a better bet. But Ashland is a beautiful place, and if you have equity money and telecommute to California, you will fit right in in Ashland. Medford is a bit of a blend.It is certainly a beautiful area, and you are wise to do your research. Good luck!

This is a brilliant post. So eloquently and accurately put. Good on ya!