I LOVE OREGON - Please help me choose a city to live... (Portland: home, job market)

[ExoticFish]

Hi Everyone,

I am going to be moving to Oregon soon but I am having a hard time picking a city to live in. Initially, I am not too concerned with the job market as I will begin doing volunteer work and go from there. Here's what I would like and if you would please make your recommendations, I would appreciate it.

1) No "extreme" weather in terms of snow, rain, fog & cold.
2) Small to mid size community with somewhat of a progressive attitude.
3) Surrounded by natural beauty - mountains, lakes, rivers, dunes, ect.
4) I am 40 and single so I want to avoid areas with a large retirement population.
5) I would love to be within a couple hour drive of the gorgeous Oregon coast
6) Would like a few bars & restaurants to pick from when I want to go out
7) It would be nice to have a major airport within a couple hour drive.

I know nothing is perfect but based on the above, what would you recommend? As of right now, I am considering Corvallis & Oakridge (which might be a bit small though) Thanks so much for taking the time to provide me with some direction.

Best!!!

[Leisesturm]

That was not as clear as maybe you might think. You'll probably get seven different picks from seven different people. None will be wrong. Only you can know whats right. I'll go first. Portland. As in somewhere in Portland (Beaverton, Hillsboro, Newberg, Tigard, etc.)

H

[ExoticFish]

Hi Everyone,

Please give me some direction....

Best!!!

[backdrifter]

Originally Posted by ExoticFish

Hi Everyone,

I am going to be moving to Oregon soon but I am having a hard time picking a city to live in. Initially, I am not too concerned with the job market as I will begin doing volunteer work and go from there. Here's what I would like and if you would please make your recommendations, I would appreciate it.

1) No "extreme" weather in terms of snow, rain, fog & cold.

Eastern Oregon gets pretty cold. The coast rains quite a bit in most places. The mountains get a lot of snow. The Willamette Valley will be the most temperate area.

2) Small to mid size community with somewhat of a progressive attitude.

Corvallis, Eugene, Silverton, Portland, Hood River, Newport, Lincoln City, Ashland, Bend...

3) Surrounded by natural beauty - mountains, lakes, rivers, dunes, ect.

Where in Oregon isn't?

4) I am 40 and single so I want to avoid areas with a large retirement population.

Southern Oregon and most of the Coast are highly retiree oriented.

5) I would love to be within a couple hour drive of the gorgeous Oregon coast

Anywhere in Western Oregon basically.

6) Would like a few bars & restaurants to pick from when I want to go out

Can also apply to most small cities.

7) It would be nice to have a major airport within a couple hour drive.

See above.

I know nothing is perfect but based on the above, what would you recommend? As of right now, I am considering Corvallis & Oakridge (which might be a bit small though) Thanks so much for taking the time to provide me with some direction.

Best!!!

Oakridge is too small (though very nice), and they get a lot of snow and cold in the winter. Corvallis isn't as surrounded by natural beauty, but it basically meets all of your other criteria. It's a close drive to either the Eugene or Portland airports, has a mild climate, a youthful zest to the community thanks to Oregon State University, a progressive and liberal bend (it's one of only two counties that voted against Measure 36, DoM legistlation, in 2004), and it's close to the coast.

Portland could work, but maybe it's a bit too big for you. Eugene is also a very progressive place, but maybe a bit too granola or big for you. It's a lot prettier than Corvallis, in my opinion, and has tons to offer people of all ages. I also wouldn't overlook Salem, even though it is a bit more "moderate" in terms of politics. It has some very nice neighborhoods and has cleaned up a lot from once being Oregon's murder capital in addition to state capital. Those days are the past. If Silverton isn't too small, they recently elected a person who is believed to be the nation's first openly transgendered elected mayor.

Also, judging on these criteria, Grants Pass would not be right for you in my humble opinion. The median age is probably 86. I am exaggerating for effect, but you get the idea--it was named one of the top 10 best affordable places in the world to retire by Time magazine or Newsweek or one of those big, famous magazines just a couple years ago. What it does have though, hands-down, is one of the most beautiful settings of any city in Oregon, literally surrounded by the towering Siskiyou Mountains that a friend of mine from Portland described as "dinosaur mountains that we don't really have in Portland" as well as having the Rogue River running right through town and being just up the road from the Redwoods and coast.

I hope this helps.

[Silverfall]

I agree with pretty much was backdrifter said. I think you should add Silverton to your list of places to consider. I also think Corvallis meets most criteria, but don't think it is really surrounded by natural beauty in the way that Bend is...as an example.

Salem and Eugene are about the same size, but maybe that's too big for you? Have you been to Oregon before?

[backdrifter]

^^ Oh yes, Bend. Bend could be a really good choice too if you can handle the somewhat more extreme climate, though their economy is in sad shape, even by national and Oregon standards.

[ExoticFish]

Hey backdrifter & Silverfall,

Thanks for taking the time to reply with great info. Yes, I lived in Eugene twice when I was much younger. I have visited Oregon several times - most recently drove North to South on Hwy 101 and then South to North on I5. I'm coming again in a month or so as I am looking for a city to settle down and Oregon is home to me - I'm just not sure of the right city. I would like a smaller city than Portland or Eugene. Bend is very nice but a bit too touristy for me and quite a bit of snow in the winter. I am looking at Corvallis as the size is right, hour from the coast and the energy of a college community. However, I don't want to overlook a possible smaller city that's more in the midst of Oregon's natural beauty.

Best!!

[ditchlights]

We live in Creswell and love it! We are 12 miles south of Eugene and Springfield and 8 miles north of Cottage Grove. Small town atmosphere and not a lot of commerce, but close to whatever you might want, provided you dont mind a 10-20 min drive. Your criteria is fairly restrictive. Oregon is a beautiful state, but compromises need to be made. NO area will meet all of your needs. Outside of progressive employment opportunities, Oregon has met the majority of our needs. DO NOT come here if you do not have a job lined up. I do not mean to sound hostile; just a friendly piece of advice, if I may.

[GeorgiaTransplant]

Originally Posted by ExoticFish

1) No "extreme" weather in terms of snow, rain, fog & cold.

Corvallis. As much as anyplace in Oregon. However, rain is pretty much a given in western Oregon and Washington in some heavier quantity than you are probably thinking.

Originally Posted by ExoticFish

2) Small to mid size community with somewhat of a progressive attitude.

Corvallis.

Originally Posted by ExoticFish

3) Surrounded by natural beauty - mountains, lakes, rivers, dunes, ect.

No dunes, but Corvallis.

Originally Posted by ExoticFish

4) I am 40 and single so I want to avoid areas with a large retirement population.

OSU. Corvallis. Jobs outside OSU are available, but getting scarcer and harder.

Originally Posted by ExoticFish

5) I would love to be within a couple hour drive of the gorgeous Oregon coast

1.5 to 2 hours to Newport. Corvallis.

Originally Posted by ExoticFish

6) Would like a few bars & restaurants to pick from when I want to go out

Corvallis. Downtown (2nd Street), 9th street for chains, area by campus for college bars. Nice little restaurants pretty much all over.

Originally Posted by ExoticFish

7) It would be nice to have a major airport within a couple hour drive.

Portland, 1.5 to 2 hours. Eugene not major but not shabby, 1 hour. Corvallis.

Originally Posted by ExoticFish

I know nothing is perfect but based on the above, what would you recommend? As of right now, I am considering Corvallis & Oakridge (which might be a bit small though) Thanks so much for taking the time to provide me with some direction.

Best!!!

Consider Corvallis. I spent a total of 21 years there in two stints (growing up and 4 years of college after military service) and LOVED it. Wouldn't go back, but that has more to do with my career having far more positions on East Coast than not liking the place.

[emathias]

Gaston. Or Yamhill.