Where to live in oregon (Portland, Salem: rental, home, to buy)

[tmichael83]

My family is moving to Oregon in a couple of years,will be visiting portland in June, and I am wondering where is the best diverse, less expensive, safe place to live? My husband and I have three children so schools will be in consideration also. We would like to live close to Portland, maybe like an hour drive or so, for job purposes. Any information is greatly appreciated.

[bobmulk]

I'm not sure what your definition of diversity is. Oregon is, by and large, a white state. The biggest minority group is hispanics who tend to congregate in the rural areas of the mid-Willamette Valley, although they're coming in everywhere now.

As for less expensive, you don't give an indication of what that is. Anywhere within the Portland Metropolitan Area you're going to pay at least $250K for a house, although prices have stabilized. They've dropped in some of the pricier areas, doubt they have much in the "affordable" areas because that's what people want.

Moving within an hour of Portland gives you hundreds of options because that will put you anywhere from Longview, Washington to Hood River to St. Helens To Albany to McMinnville. In that huge geographical area you'll find tiny burgs, large suburban communities, mid-size cities, the state capital and rural areas.

Schools are best in Wilsonville, Tigard, Tualatin, Lake Oswego, West Linn, North Clackamas Hillsboro, Beaverton. Canby, South Salem.

That's about all the info that I have based on what your comment. If you'd like more, please ask.

[tmichael83]

Thank you for your response. My husband and I are looking to rent, don;t want to nor can we afford to buy right now. Some where safe, and when I say less expensive, I don't really want to pay 1500 for rent a month ya knoweek:. Um..... when I say diverse I mean I am black and my husband is white and we have three children. I don't really care to much if there are other blacks ya know I just want to know that I will see people that look like me more then once every 3 months or so, we live in Idaho now YUCK!!!!! So again, thank you for any information.

[EnricoV]

Wen you get out into the really rural areas, you are going to find much less diversity. I haven't lived all over the area, so I can't offer much from personal experience. But I'd suggest trying the North Clackamas area. It's suburban enough that you will find diversity, and it seems like there still is affordable housing to be had.

[suncat]

You might find what you're looking for in Beaverton. It's become pretty diverse over the past decade, and the schools are better than those in the Portland school district. There's a variety of housing available.

[Nell Plotts]

I think the original poster should share with us where they intend to work because the cost of commuting can be huge. If they are working out of their home there are LOTS of communities around Portland where schools are good and rental housing for families can be found for a reasonable price. I concur with the person who mentioned McMinnville because of the college in that town. Beaverton, Hillsboro are good places to look if their employer is out that direction or if transit is an option.