Honest Opinion of Portland (renter, crimes, house prices)

[EnricoV]

Originally Posted by SteveMark

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.

In 2005 Washington was ranked #24 with a rate of 10% of their income paid in taxes of all kinds. Oregon ranked #36, with a rate of 9.6%.

Washington had the second highest sales tax in the nation, of 6.5%.

[Tesaje]

Originally Posted by EnricoV

In 2005 Washington was ranked #24 with a rate of 10% of their income paid in taxes of all kinds. Oregon ranked #36, with a rate of 9.6%.

Washington had the second highest sales tax in the nation, of 6.5%.

And, just to make comparisons more difficult, most places in WA have a local sales tax tacked on so the actual rate is something like 7-9%. You really have to look at those tables carefully to find what they are actually reporting versus what would actually be coming out of your pocket.

I have yet to find any compendium that reports my current area accurately, so I suspect other areas are equally suspect.

[cdelena]

Originally Posted by EnricoV

In 2005 Washington was ranked #24 with a rate of 10% of their income paid in taxes of all kinds. Oregon ranked #36, with a rate of 9.6%.

Washington had the second highest sales tax in the nation, of 6.5%.

All of those rankings are done on a macro level and often exclude local taxes. I have looked at them nationwide and found them misleading at best. You can only know tax impact on an individual by modeling a specific situation for a given location and for comparison doing the same for another location.

Different levels of earned income, housing size and location, consumption levels, etc. decide what taxes for a specific individual will be. I moved from a state rated very low in taxation to one rated quite a bit higher but cut my tax burden.

[cyberdelicat]

Originally Posted by HeadWest

My wife and I are planning to relocate to the NW. Right now we're in the process of job hunting both in Portland and Seattle. We're looking for social science oriented jobs so research, etc. Anyway we had a chance to visit seattle and form an opinion, but portland seems a little harder to access.
Please keep in mind that we are coming from Kansas City (we lived in Providence, RI before that), which is as many may know one of the highest crime cities in the country. This is what is confusing us. We felt 100% safe in Seattle and the crime there is significantly lower than in K.C. But when I read some comments people act as though Portland is a scene out of 'Escape from New York' or something but when I've run the crime numbers they are lower in many ways than Seattle and certainly lower than where we've lived in the past.
I guess we're just trying to get the best view of the city from people who live there.
Are people nice? or combative? As a woman that moved here from NYC 1.5 yrs ago, I can say folks here aren't as nice as they are in NYC- they are pretty aloof and involved in their own worlds, but I've never been to Kansas City so I can't compare for ya...
What's the organics situation? you won't have any trouble with that here. In fact, organics and their environment is basically all they care about here- most folks basically equate progressive literacy here with environmental advocacy, and it ends there; as for being globally literate, Portland's not the place!
Can my wife commute to work and back on bus without being concerned about being raped or robbed? (frankly she can't in the city we currently live in) If she lives and works close enough to a transit stop, and her hours are flexible, then yes-she'll probably be safe on the bus (but there's sometimes attacks, robberies etc, unlike NYC where that does not happen)! Be aware that you really cannot live in Portland without a car- this place is deceptive in its public reputation for being mass-transit friendly.
How is the food? food's great, if you've got $$$. But, it is much more expensive to buy groceries and eat out here in Portland than it is in NYC.
Are there social activities? no. unless you are between the ages of 18 and 34, or very religious, there are none.
basically all that. Just trying to understand, sorry if any of the questions are too blunt.

good luck, and hopefully it'll be better than Kansis City- but I recommend NYC!

[oldtintype]

Hmm...I must be doing it all wrong given that I've been carless by choice for the last two years with no effort. I also have a five year old child so it's not like I'm the stereotype of a 20 year old hipster on a fixie (or however you spell it). You can most definitely be carless in Portland and let me tell you--it feels great! I get lots of exercise and save money.

No crime occurs on NYC public transport? Wow, that's amazing, and pretty unrealistic. Crime happens everywhere. Apart from some very publicized issues in outer SE public transport here is pretty safe. I ride it a lot and rarely have problems. Compared to living in SF, public transport here is a dream. The drivers here also don't enjoy seeing how quick they can take off and send everyone flying into the back of the bus the way they did in SF.

I find it interesting that it would be cheaper to grocery shop in NYC than here. It's sure not cheaper to grocery shop in SF than here and SF is cheaper than NYC. I'm sure NYC has cheaper quick food as does SF, but for its size, Portland has a lot to offer. There was a thread about people disliking Portland and moving to small cities elsewhere that fit them better, giving people the perspective that it was more about the person needing a different environment than Portland being bad. The same goes for people coming from large cities like NYC. Of course you can't come here from NYC and expect well, NYC. I think your unhappiness is more about wanting things to be like NYC and if that's the case, why did you leave? You can't compare Portland to NYC--it's a different world but there is plenty here to do and see, even if you're over 34 or not religious.

[lucero32]

You know what's amazing in all this is the fact that Portland is even mentioned, or is compared to, major world-class cities. Some friends and I were recently making a list of great cities to live in, and in the U.S. there were of course the usual suspects: NYC, Chicago, Boston, L.A., Seattle, (oh...and one person mentioned Miami!?!?) and Portland was right there among them. Portland! It's a testament to how great this city is when people are comparing it to such great world renowned cities.

Realistically, Portland shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath as any of these places...size-wise and economically, we are a second-tier/third-tire city. Yet, time and time again people on this board are trying to knock Portland for not being like Boston, or NYC, or some other huge city. Hey, you don't hear people upset that Sacremento isn't enough like NYC, or Chicago... The fact that we are even in the discussion means something good must be happening up here.

All in all, Portland has a lot to offer. Is it NYC? no... But it is Portland! Oh, and right now, I would take my little slice of the city in my wonderful neighborhood of Grant Park over any place in America.

[Jarndyce]

Originally Posted by cdelena

All of those rankings are done on a macro level and often exclude local taxes. I have looked at them nationwide and found them misleading at best. You can only know tax impact on an individual by modeling a specific situation for a given location and for comparison doing the same for another location.

Different levels of earned income, housing size and location, consumption levels, etc. decide what taxes for a specific individual will be. I moved from a state rated very low in taxation to one rated quite a bit higher but cut my tax burden.

I think the poster that you responded to quoted figures pub'd by the Tax Foundation. They rank Oregon (in 2006) at #36 but if you look at the info, when you click on the "City Taxes" tab..the Oregon picture changes. Portland is listed as the #9 ranked within "Big City Taxes." This is due to Portland's #3 position on Income Tax and #13 position on Property Tax.

Seattle is listed as #43 on the list and looks "cheap" comparatively due to the lack of Income tax and slightly better property taxes. Washington State is not as favorably ranked as Seattle is.

I could only find 2006 info and I haven't read every page in this thread..if someone mentioned these figs earlier...oops!

[EnricoV]

Interesting. I don't know what figures they're using on the city comparison, but something seems out of whack. The median housing price in Portland is 225K. My house is listed with a market value of 300K and my property taxes last year were 1,400. Nowhere near the $4,800 they're listing.

www.salary.com has a comparison between cities. When I put in the median salary for Portland vs. Seattle it told me that in Seattle you can expect a salary 6.9% higher, but that the cost of living is 11.2% higher.

But yes, I do realize that these figures don't apply to each and every situation.

[Minervah]

As a woman that moved here from NYC 1.5 yrs ago, I can say folks here aren't as nice as they are in NYC- they are pretty aloof and involved in their own worlds, but I've never been to Kansas City so I can't compare for ya...
What's the organics situation? you won't have any trouble with that here. In fact, organics and their environment is basically all they care about here- most folks basically equate progressive literacy here with environmental advocacy, and it ends there; as for being globally literate, Portland's not the place!
Can my wife commute to work and back on bus without being concerned about being raped or robbed? (frankly she can't in the city we currently live in) If she lives and works close enough to a transit stop, and her hours are flexible, then yes-she'll probably be safe on the bus (but there's sometimes attacks, robberies etc, unlike NYC where that does not happen)! Be aware that you really cannot live in Portland without a car- this place is deceptive in its public reputation for being mass-transit friendly.
How is the food? food's great, if you've got $$$. But, it is much more expensive to buy groceries and eat out here in Portland than it is in NYC.
Are there social activities? no. unless you are between the ages of 18 and 34, or very religious, there are none.

Gosh, when I read this, I thought this could be me posting about Chicago where I came from. Now I have to say I have lived in Portland for 30 years and it's both the changes and my getting older that make me unhappy with this city.

When I first moved here it bothered me that most people were unfriendly to transplants unlike Chicago where many people migrate and if not always welcomed with open arms at least are not scorned and bullied. But I am no shrinking violet and eventually found my own little group of friends with whom I did click. It was easier then because regarding social activities, I couldn't agree more with this poster. However, back then there were plenty of inexpensive interesting classes to take; a lot of experimental theater, readings and loads of special interests classes that included all ages. All at very affordable rates. It was a great way to meet people of like nature.

Now I see many things for kids but not so much for adults. realize my interests are not everyone's cup of tea and I am sure there must be many outdoor clubs to join if one is looking for that. The point is there was once a variety.

Safety on public transportation? It's all over the news how dangerous Max has become during off hours. I have coworkers who because of scary experiences will no longer ride the Max even during rush hour. Contrast that to Chicago where there are transit patrol police everywhere. So I feel safer riding the Chicago subway than I do the Max. I am sure it must be the same in New York.

I think a big problem with Portland is that it's trying to find it's identity. On one hand it wants to be a world-class city but on the other hand it doesn't know how to do it. There are those like me who mourn the "good old days" and those who are building an environment great for some but not so hot for others.

Food is more expensive here than in Chicago. Every time someone from Chicago comes to visit and we go grocery shopping they comment on it.
Chicago is too large for me now. I would like to move to a city a bit larger than Portland but not as big as Chicago. I will join my many friends who have left town as soon as I find a place suitable for me. And with that I am investigating as much as possible along with visiting places I have in mind.

One thing I do not see on other city forums is the passionate defense of other cities I see in the Portland forum. I think people who truly love it here and are successful in living the lifestyle are more defensive and protective of their little slice of heaven than other places. My feelings are that if someone wants to move here fine, I just hate to see anyone so caught up in the beauty of the area or the environment that they fail to see how difficult it can be for the average person to live here.

[oldtintype]

Originally Posted by Minervah

Safety on public transportation? It's all over the news how dangerous Max has become during off hours. I have coworkers who because of scary experiences will no longer ride the Max even during rush hour. Contrast that to Chicago where there are transit patrol police everywhere. So I feel safer riding the Chicago subway than I do the Max. I am sure it must be the same in New York.

Yeah, that's it--it's all over the NEWS, as in media frenzy of the day/week. Last month MAX became dangerous, the month before no one had anything to say. There are some problems on MAX, as to be expected, but I ride it all the time and rarely have problems, and the problems I've had have to do with loud people rather than crime. The system isn't perfect but it's not unsafe across the board. The media has gone overboard creating hysteria over issues with MAX. Interestingly enough we heard very little about Iraq this week/month but yes, we sure heard a lot about MAX! Most of the problems on MAX are from a small section of outer SE where the police are now patrolling. It's a shame that in the frenzy the whole system has now been declared dangerous. Anyone who regularly rides MAX has also seen that in response to the media frenzy there are visible transit "people" (since they're not exactly police) all over the place and in Gresham, where the problems were, the police are riding.