Salem baby (Portland, Beaverton, Bend: rent, neighborhoods, live)

[lantr018]

I am 21 with a B.A. and am thinking about taking in job where I would be working the Salem, Newport, Lincoln City triangle.

What are your thoughts about Salem? I have lived in Oregon for a year but have only driven through Salem on my way to the coast.

I have spent most of my time in Oregon in Portland, the Mt. Hood area and Bend, and really like all three.


I have heard that Salem is kind of an "industrialized" Portland with less culture and charm, but obviously don't know because I haven't experienced it first hand.

I would love to hear both praise and criticism. Thanks!

[Imperial1904]

From personal experience in Oregon, if someone offers you a job, take it!!! It's hard for alot of people here to get a job especially if they move here without one.

[Carol, Oregon coast]

First, that's not a triangle, it's a square. The drive from Salem takes from 45 minutes to and hour and a half, depending on the tourist traffic. The only way to get from Newport to Salem is hwy 20 to Corvallis (east) then EITHER to Rickreall up the 99 (north) and east to Salem OR go to the 5 (more east) and up the 5 to Salem (north) or back through Lincoln City and east on the 18/22. All of the east/west routes area clogged with tourist traffic weekends and summers. I like Salem. It's not as expensive as Portland. I don't know about the singles scene there...Portland has more to offer. I would definitely rent in Salem till you get the feel for the neighborhoods. There are good ones and bad ones. West is the most expensive and probably the nicest...Nob hill is VERY spendy as you go up the hill, where the govornor's mansion is. Salem has a great Art Fair in summer and a farmers' market. Easy commute to PDX. Doesn't have all the stores found in Portland, but it's an easy shot to Washington Square in Beaverton to shop.

[Larry Caldwell]

Originally Posted by Carol, Oregon coast

First, that's not a triangle, it's a square. The drive from Salem takes from 45 minutes to and hour and a half, depending on the tourist traffic. The only way to get from Newport to Salem is hwy 20 to Corvallis (east) then EITHER to Rickreall up the 99 (north) and east to Salem OR go to the 5 (more east) and up the 5 to Salem (north) or back through Lincoln City and east on the 18/22.

My favorite way is to turn left at Wren just west of Philomath and head up Kings Valley, which comes out in Dallas. From there, it's a straight shot on 22 into Salem. If you cut east just south of Dallas through Monmouth/Independence and go across the Willamette south of Independence, you can take River Road into Salem and miss all the traffic. There's a lot more scenery that way.

The better your map, the more ways there are to go.