possible RELO to Oregon from Massachusetts (Portland, Eugene: apartment, house, job market)

[kalderfer]

My fiance and I are looking to relocate to Oregon. We are in the very beginning stage of our research, and I was hoping to find some help on here to help narrow down the process. We are interested in learning "local" takes on the housing and job markets, and which cities/towns rate desirable on the "places to live and places to work." I'm an Operations Manager and he is in sales/sales management, mostly in the financial sector. We currently live about 45 minutes west of Boston, MA. We like being close enough to head downtown, but far enough away to enjoy a house with a yard, and a small to mid-size town feel. We're expecting our first baby this April, so schools, saftey, healthcare facility options will all be at the top of our priority list. I know that my fiance is interested in the eastern part of Oregon, but we would be open to hearing about other places. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks for your help, and looking forward to hearing what you have to say!!

[Wicked Felina]

Well, congratulations on your little one and your potential move here. I live in Portland, so I can only address that. Excellent, first-class medical care here. One hospital is Level I trauma center, I believe it's called. Legacy Emanuel. At OHSU, Oregon Health & Sciences University, is Doernbecher Children's Hospital. Lifeflight air ambulance to both hospitals if need be. But services like that also equate to higher prop. and income taxes.

There're many nice neighborhoods all within a 45 minute commute to downtown Portland, if that's what you're looking for. Don't discount looking at the towns in Washington along the Columbia River. Beautiful, beautiful area. Gosh, there are nice small towns all over the place. Not a lot of help here, but maybe someone who knows about the schools will answer up.

[davefr]

Will you be transferred by your current employer(s)? Do you have new jobs lined up already?

If not, then employment needs to be your biggest concern unless you're financially able to be unemployed for a long time.

Unemployment here is a whopping 11.5% and your careers aren't in demand here.

[Wicked Felina]

OP..saw your same post in Montana forum. Two very diverse states. You should probably try to narrow your focus a bit more. Perhaps visit each state in mid-winter. MT's entire population is about the same as the city of Portland. That should be a huge clue for you.

[Silverfall]

Also Oregon's school system is significantly inferior to MA.

[sarahkate_m]

If I had a job in Boston, I wouldn't want to GO anywhere ELSE.

[sarahkate_m]

Originally Posted by sarahkate_m

If I had a job in Boston, I wouldn't want to GO anywhere ELSE.

If anyone is leaving Boston, can we trade places? Boston is delightfully wonderfully fun & cute with trains to go anywhere one needs to absolutely GO. I'll trade you my little hideaway in SE Eugene for a little pet friendly apartment in Boston or a nearby 'burb.

OR is lovely but... no work to be had & no mass transit outside of Portland that's truly amenable.

BTW, OP is posting the same thing for ID, WA, MT & OR. Not unlike many other people, looking at the cost of living... Gotta "figure in" that the lack of population density has alot to do with cost of living & job UNavailability...

*nodding ~yes~ smiley* WA has the best demographics & stability for what OP seems to need. Perhaps Seattle. Oregon has nothing to offer other than losing a job for an in-state person who was here "first"...

Kate