Relocating from Cape Cod to Portland, ?'s (Gresham, Beaverton: sales, rentals)

[3lets]

We are a military family that will be moving from Cape Cod, MA to Portland this coming summer.

We're looking in the Beaverton area for rentals but I am also curious about Hillsboro. My husband will be working on Swan Island so i'm curious about the commute. We will have a 2, 3 and 4 year old so good schools are a must. Any other suburbs that you would suggest for raising a family?

We're originally midwesterners, transplanted to New England so if you have any advice about living in PACNW, i'm all ears.

[JayDick]

Originally Posted by 3lets

We are a military family that will be moving from Cape Cod, MA to Portland this coming summer.

We're looking in the Beaverton area for rentals but I am also curious about Hillsboro. My husband will be working on Swan Island so i'm curious about the commute. We will have a 2, 3 and 4 year old so good schools are a must. Any other suburbs that you would suggest for raising a family?

We're originally midwesterners, transplanted to New England so if you have any advice about living in PACNW, i'm all ears.

Because Swan Island is on the north side of town, you would probably be frustrated by the Interstate 5 portion of your commute from Beaverton to SI. You might consider living in Vancouver, WA, where (I think?) your income would not be taxable. You could do your shopping across the river in Portland where there is no sales tax.

I'd take Beaverton, Tigard, and parts of Hillsboro for a nice suburb to live in. I'd personally avoid Gresham. There are not many "nice" suburbs on Portland's northside, largely for geographical reasons, since Portland's city limits end at the state line.

[Dom1964]

Originally Posted by JayDick

Because Swan Island is on the north side of town, you would probably be frustrated by the Interstate 5 portion of your commute from Beaverton to SI. You might consider living in Vancouver, WA, where (I think?) your income would not be taxable. You could do your shopping across the river in Portland where there is no sales tax.

I'd take Beaverton, Tigard, and parts of Hillsboro for a nice suburb to live in. I'd personally avoid Gresham. There are not many "nice" suburbs on Portland's northside, largely for geographical reasons, since Portland's city limits end at the state line.

that is not correct, if you work in OR, you pay OR taxes even if you live in WA.

[JayDick]

Originally Posted by Dom1964

that is not correct, if you work in OR, you pay OR taxes even if you live in WA.

Hence the questionmark. I wasn't sure about that.

That said, if wife got a PT job in WA, there you go.

[Nell Plotts]

Reading between the lines here... the husband is in the Coast Guard.

Living in Vancouver isn't really the best choice. I am a cheerleader for NW Portland (Chapman Grade School) but neighborhoods such as Overlook and those around University of Portland could be great too. PM me if you are looking at my stomping ground. The one issue would be finding reasonably priced rental housing for a family with children.