Honest Opinion of Portland (Eugene, Gresham: unemployment, income, sales tax)

[SteveMark]

Originally Posted by Rhiannon29

I'm sorry, I have to respectfully disagree about this. What part of Wa are we speaking of? Eastern Wa? Because then, yes your money counts more in Walla Walla or Spokane, than it does here in Portland. But my husband grew up near Seattle and has several friends that live there or have lived there, and the cost of living there and in the surrounding burbs is higher than here. We considered living in Seattle and didn't for that very reason. An income of $100,000 is Seattle will not take you farther than $100,000 here in Portland.

Ok, I'm not sure if people here are reading what I'm writing. Please don't say you disagree with me, say you disagree with the website that stated those facts. If you will just look for yourself, you can then choose to disagree or agree with what they are saying. I don't think Bankrate put that wonderful cost of living calculator together based on nonsense.

As for the comment about $100,000 going farther anywhere in Washington, what I meant was this... If you make $100,000 in the STATE of Washington, you are going to have about $8,000 more at the end of the year than you will in the STATE of Oregon, because of the income taxes. For example, if you're single, no dependants in WA and make $100,000/year, you will take home $70,917 at the end of the year. In Oregon, you will take home $62,756. (By the way, if someone wants to argue that with me too, it comes from paycheckcity's website).

Those are simply the facts based on the two state's income tax laws. Therefore, your "check" will go farther in Washington. Now, if you couple that with Bankrates' statement that all in all, you can still enjoy the same quality of life by making .22% less in Seattle than Portland, I have to rest my case.

[Rhiannon29]

Originally Posted by JTJ1977

Secondly, I was wondering about race relations in the area. Is Portland as open minded as it espouses? Or is it merely tolerant, in a libertarian sense? I would like to live in a diverse neighborhood ( I am African American), and would prefer a 1-2 BR apartment for around $700-800/mo. Can anyone give me any advice? Thank you in advance.

Numbers wise, Portland is a majority white city. The odds of you encountering anything racial here are low, but not nonexistent. However, people are generally open-minded, so you're not likely to encounter anything overt. I'm African-American too, and my husband is white and interracial couples of all combinations are pretty much the norm, no one cares, or seems to care. I've personally never seen so many. We got looks and strange vibes living in Philadelphia, which is pretty much 50/50 between white and blacks.

Downtown rents are pretty high, but you should be able to find rent in that price range in an area that will be convenient to downtown. Check out Milwaukie. The main road there, Mcloughlin blvd. is a little seedy, but my mother in law lives there and never had a problem. Others may have additional sugg. Good Luck!

[SteveMark]

Secondly, I was wondering about race relations in the area. Is Portland as open minded as it espouses? Or is it merely tolerant, in a libertarian sense? I would like to live in a diverse neighborhood ( I am African American), and would prefer a 1-2 BR apartment for around $700-800/mo. Can anyone give me any advice? Thank you in advance...

Hi, Mr. Negative here, (that's me). I will be happy to answer your questions. First, I do AGREE 100% with Rhiannon that Portland is not very racist at all, at least the 3 years I lived there (I too am part African American). I think you'll find that even many suburban neighborhoods are very diverse with East Indians, Asians, African-Americans, Euro-Americans, etc. etc. Also, you should be able to easily find an apartment for that amount, but maybe not 2 bedroom. Get an Apartment Guide mag from any grocery store and look through it. However, please understand that almost NO apartment complexes have A/C (I once called 9 complexes in the NW suburbs and only 1 had A/C). Portlanders will say you don't need it, but when it's hot in the summer, it's hot!

Besides that, if you read my many other posts, you'll see I'm not a fan of Portland

[Rhiannon29]

Ah, I've wondered about the lack of AC here. I've visited here plenty of times during the summer months, but this will be first summer I'll be living here. My husband never had AC living in western Wa, and never needed it, but its a bit cooler up there than here. I'm not sure how I'll react; I am used to the humid, funky oppressive Philly summers. I'm talking heat where old people die in their homes. And the heat never lets up even at night. So a hot day here may not be a big deal for me. It may not be a big deal for you, JTJ1977, depending on where you're coming from and what you're used to.

[Leisesturm]

Originally Posted by SteveMark

As for the comment about $100,000 going farther anywhere in Washington, what I meant was this... If you make $100,000 in the STATE of Washington, you are going to have about $8,000 more at the end of the year than you will in the STATE of Oregon, because of the income taxes. For example, if you're single, no dependants in WA and make $100,000/year, you will take home $70,917 at the end of the year. In Oregon, you will take home $62,756. (By the way, if someone wants to argue that with me too, it comes from paycheckcity's website).

Washington has a sales tax does it not? Oregon does not. I don't know the exact numbers but I do not think Washington's sales tax is far from Oregon's income tax so, for every dollar that you spend in WA you will give close to 8 cents to the state... ... $8,000.00 out of a $100,000 gross. Income tax you can finagle, deductions and exceptions and such. Income tax is unavoidable for the most part. Six of one...

H

[SteveMark]

Originally Posted by Leisesturm

Washington has a sales tax does it not? Oregon does not. I don't know the exact numbers but I do not think Washington's sales tax is far from Oregon's income tax so, for every dollar that you spend in WA you will give close to 8 cents to the state... ... $8,000.00 out of a $100,000 gross. Income tax you can finagle, deductions and exceptions and such. Income tax is unavoidable for the most part. Six of one...

H

Yes, so if you spend $100,000/year in Washington on clothes, food, TV's, and other stuff you buy that has sales tax in WA, you will break even with Oregon .

Ok, I'm being a smarty pants, but I think you see my point. States that don't charge sales tax (like Montana too) aren't a better deal unless their income and property taxes are real low. It's not going to be, however, because the state has to run somehow.

Oh, I love these forums!

[oldtintype]

Originally Posted by SteveMark

Besides that, if you read my many other posts, you'll see I'm not a fan of Portland

This is not directed at you PERSONALLY because many people do this, but it's so strange to me that people leave Portland because they don't like it here, but still feel compelled to come back and go on and on about why they don't like Portland. It's so common on this board I'm just curious why people still feel drawn to come back and dwell on it. If one is happy in a new place, why dwell on the past? Sharing experiences is one thing but hanging out on a board writing post after post about somewhere you left because you were unhappy.....it just seems strange to me.

Again, NOT a personal attack on you Steve, which by the way, I got a laugh about reading you refer to yourself as Mr Negative

[Leisesturm]

But was that your point? I didn't think so and I don't think anyone else did either. You 'were' trying to make the point that Oregon sucks for having an income tax. But in your own words "... the state has to run somehow". I wonder what you would think of New York City that has both a ~9% city and state income tax AND an 8.375% sales tax.

H

[JTJ1977]

Originally Posted by Rhiannon29

Numbers wise, Portland is a majority white city. The odds of you encountering anything racial here are low, but not nonexistent. However, people are generally open-minded, so you're not likely to encounter anything overt. I'm African-American too, and my husband is white and interracial couples of all combinations are pretty much the norm, no one cares, or seems to care. I've personally never seen so many. We got looks and strange vibes living in Philadelphia, which is pretty much 50/50 between white and blacks.

Downtown rents are pretty high, but you should be able to find rent in that price range in an area that will be convenient to downtown. Check out Milwaukie. The main road there, Mcloughlin blvd. is a little seedy, but my mother in law lives there and never had a problem. Others may have additional sugg. Good Luck!

I am originally from Iowa, with a climate in the summer that's similar to Philly--minus the so-called "island heat". I think that's what it's called...lol. The heat that's exacerbated in places like Philadelphia, Chicago, etc. from all of the people residing in those places. It's weird how you said that you and your husband encountered many strange looks from Philadelphians; then again, Philly has had historically high segregation indices, correct? (I'm not all that sure myself)

[JTJ1977]

Originally Posted by SteveMark

Secondly, I was wondering about race relations in the area. Is Portland as open minded as it espouses? Or is it merely tolerant, in a libertarian sense? I would like to live in a diverse neighborhood ( I am African American), and would prefer a 1-2 BR apartment for around $700-800/mo. Can anyone give me any advice? Thank you in advance...

Hi, Mr. Negative here, (that's me). I will be happy to answer your questions. First, I do AGREE 100% with Rhiannon that Portland is not very racist at all, at least the 3 years I lived there (I too am part African American). I think you'll find that even many suburban neighborhoods are very diverse with East Indians, Asians, African-Americans, Euro-Americans, etc. etc. Also, you should be able to easily find an apartment for that amount, but maybe not 2 bedroom. Get an Apartment Guide mag from any grocery store and look through it. However, please understand that almost NO apartment complexes have A/C (I once called 9 complexes in the NW suburbs and only 1 had A/C). Portlanders will say you don't need it, but when it's hot in the summer, it's hot!

Besides that, if you read my many other posts, you'll see I'm not a fan of Portland

Now that is something to consider. I find it odd that Portland area apartment complexes would refuse to place air conditioners in apartments. You said it best...HOT IS HOT!! LOL