Medford/Ashland/Bend/Portland/Vancouver, WA.-Cost of living

[tkheller]

Medford.....looking at taking a job in Southern Oregon region in social work field. Pay in the 60's. Divorced - remarried maybe one teenager coming with. I'm 38, she's 41. We are looking forward to life beginning at 40. We like clubs and night life, but don't get into swapping partners, etc.

Where would I consider moving to?

Thanks

[ChadPettingill]

I'm moving down to Pdx in less than a month and I'm very excited! After 4 years in a small college town I'm ready for something bigger. Considered Vancouver which definitely would be cheaper but then I realized I want to be where everything is at and not some sleepy suburb.

Also I'm wanting to teach in Oregon for a couple reasons. 1. No WASL (Washington Assessment of Student Learning) which in my opinion is a badly written test that some corporation in California is profiting off of right now. Teachers in WA are now practically teaching from the test and their is no room for flexibility. It was very frustrating and took a lot of the joy out of teaching. 2. Pay is better on average in Oregon. Measure that out with the income tax and it's about the same in both states but you get more in Oregon because of the lack of other taxes, etc.

[Thai]

To us, Bend has gotten too big and now has the air pollution and crime problems that go with that, and real estate really is high compared to the rest of the country. I was surprised to hear you found a very nice 3bed/two bath house for well under $300,000. When we spoke with a realtor friend there this year he said there are over 100 housing tract-type developments of various sizes approved for this year and the next. Where will it end? Remindes me of growing up in Silicon Valley and watching San Jose become devoid of its charm because city management encouraged growth at any cost. A big part of the charm of Bend was it's mountain character. Attitudes there are not as conservative (read red-neck) as they once were, which is a plus, but it is just so Californiaized now. I've been going there for almost sixty years on a regualr basis, know the neighborhoods and surrounding towns, lakes, and rivers well, and love them all.

Another thing for those of you considering a move to Oregon: Bend is quite isolated from the other cities, being on the eastern side of a large mountain range. It takes hours to get to another town of any size, and in winter the passes are much more difficult to traverse at times. Chains required, etc..

Hey, where are you from on the Calif Central Coast that you're used to serious nightlife??? I lived in SLO for many years and can't think of any towns except maybe Santa Barbara that have much in the way of nightlife.

For someone from cosmopolitan Atlanta Bend might still seem pretty remote and homogenous (? spelling). It does make an awesome vacation destination, though!

[Thai]

Ashland is very expensive, but very "artsy" with a lot to offer culturally. Nightlife of a "young couple/singles" type will probably not excite in Ashland or Medford. Portland has a mix of neighborhoods and a similar mix of nightlife to suit different ages and desires. It's a neat city and getting better all the time. Gets very hot in Medford-Ashland but is drier than the beautiful rainsoaked northern areas. The whole valley corridor where Eugene, Medford, and Ashland are located has air quality problems. Wood stove emissions are a big problem, which the city govts are working on, but it can be intense in the winter.

There will be young couples in all the towns and cities. Don't know if nightlife places are the best for meeting friends, though. Classes, churches, community volunteering are more likely to net friends with similar interests and values. Speaking from experience here :-)