Small, quaint, affordable, progressive, family friendly towns? (Corvallis, Roseburg: sales, real estate)

[Liz-Bri]

Hello,

We are looking for any an all info on smaller towns in Oregon that would be great for raising children. Ideally, we would like to find a quaint, historic town that has solid public schools and is fairly close to a college or university. It would be great to be within an hour or so drive of a metro area also - however, we want to avoid a suburb feel. Sunshine would be nice also! We currently live in Florida were living the cost of living is still relatively cheap - no state income tax, relatively low property taxes. Therefore, affordability would be a factor.

A progressive political climate would be nice as well!

Thanks for any info anyone would care to share.

L & B

[freedom]

Originally Posted by Liz-Bri

Hello,

We are looking for any an all info on smaller towns in Oregon that would be great for raising children. Ideally, we would like to find a quaint, historic town that has solid public schools and is fairly close to a college or university. It would be great to be within an hour or so drive of a metro area also - however, we want to avoid a suburb feel. Sunshine would be nice also! We currently live in Florida were living the cost of living is still relatively cheap - no state income tax, relatively low property taxes. Therefore, affordability would be a factor.

A progressive political climate would be nice as well!

Thanks for any info anyone would care to share.

L & B

This isn't the state for low taxes. No sales tax, but every other tax is rediculous. Our schools don't seem to benefit by them either.

Progressives tend to stay north of Roseburg, and they love the taxation, due to the entitlement's they receive.
Progressives in this state for the most part are Gov't workers, or career students.

The sunshine is primarily in So. Oregon and Eastern Oregon.

Why are you looking at Oregon. Other than the lefty bent, it's the polar opposite of Florida.

[Fiddlehead]

Small, quaint, affordable, and progressive, with sunshine is hard to find in Oregon.

I would probably recommend Corvallis,but it is very wet, as is Silverton.
Ashland is quaint and progressive, but expensive.
Baker City is quaint and sunny, but conservative.
Perhaps Sisters, Oregon is closest.
Hood River / Parkdale might also fit the bill.

[Silverfall]

I'd suggest Silverton but it is not the most affordable small town.

It might help if you define affordable.

[Liz-Bri]

Originally Posted by Fiddlehead

Small, quaint, affordable, and progressive, with sunshine is hard to find in Oregon.

I would probably recommend Corvallis,but it is very wet, as is Silverton.
Ashland is quaint and progressive, but expensive.
Baker City is quaint and sunny, but conservative.
Perhaps Sisters, Oregon is closest.
Hood River / Parkdale might also fit the bill.

Thanks so much, Fiddlehead.
We have actually researched each of the towns you have mentioned - some more than others. We are planning a trip out to OR in June and are trying to compile a list of towns to scope out. How wet is Corvallis, Silverton and Hood River?

Thanks again!

[Liz-Bri]

Originally Posted by Silverfall

I'd suggest Silverton but it is not the most affordable small town.

It might help if you define affordable.

Thanks, Silverfall!

We have done a fair bit or research on Silverton and will be visiting in June.

By affordable, we mean a place where you can get a decent home (3 bed / 2 bath) on a decent sized lot for around $250,000. Towns such as Ashland (although maybe ideal in all other respects) seem quite inflated in regards to real estate prices.

Thanks again for the info.

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by Liz-Bri

Thanks, Silverfall!

We have done a fair bit or research on Silverton and will be visiting in June.

By affordable, we mean a place where you can get a decent home (3 bed / 2 bath) on a decent sized lot for around $250,000. Towns such as Ashland (although maybe ideal in all other respects) seem quite inflated in regards to real estate prices.

Thanks again for the info.

Oregon has urban growth boundaries. As such our lots tend to be small in order to contain growth. All Oregon cities are required to have them. I'm not sure how you define "decent sized lot" but .17-.18 acres is considered a decent sized lot out here. Most new construction is on .10-.14 acres.

[Fiddlehead]

To be honest, I think Ashland might be close to what your are looking for in about a year. Prices are still falling, and I think they will fall until at least 2011. I know I have owned a home here since 2003, and we are very close to 2003 prices. Not necessarily good for me, but why pay an inflated price. It is a great little town, with good schools, a vibrant town culture, and quite a bit more sun than the Willamette Valley. However, the main negative is that Ashland is largely a transient town these day, dominated by exurban Californians. Good people, but not with strong roots in the region.

It is hard to beat Ashland, if prices keep falling. But it is well known and undoubtedly inflated.

[cd1212]

Originally Posted by freedom

This isn't the state for low taxes. No sales tax, but every other tax is rediculous. Our schools don't seem to benefit by them either.

Progressives tend to stay north of Roseburg, and they love the taxation, due to the entitlement's they receive.
Progressives in this state for the most part are Gov't workers, or career students.

The sunshine is primarily in So. Oregon and Eastern Oregon.

Why are you looking at Oregon. Other than the lefty bent, it's the polar opposite of Florida.

California is drier as is Reno, and Nevada has lower taxes in general, at least right now.

[Liz-Bri]

Thanks, Fiddlehead.
I am assuming that you live in Ashland yourself?
If so, how far to the nearest metro area?