Possible move to the Portland area --help wanted please (Durham: best cities, how much)
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Possible move to the Portland area --help wanted please
Hello!
We are considering moving from New England to another state -- to a place with a milder climate than we have. A few people recommended that we look into Oregon, and the Portland area specifically.
My husband recently lost his job as a data analyst and a database administrator. He's been looking locally, and he'd even begun to look for short-term contract jobs around the country. We figured that would be a good way to bring in money and check out a few areas before deciding where to move.
I am an elementary teacher, and I work in a great school district. I'd hate to leave my job but I would if a great opportunity came along.
We'd love some help. We'd love recommendations of places to search and areas to focus on. Here's what we're looking for (in no particular order):
-- mild climate (frigid temps during the winter here in New England aren't fun anymore)
-- good job opportunities (there has to be SOMETHING, even now, with the economy the way it is)
-- good schools (for my job mainly, and although we have no kids, it's in our future plans)
-- lots to see and do (culture -- museums, parks, shopping, good restaurants, movies, theater...)
-- we're looking for a small to medium sized town or city. If we move to a larger town or city, that's okay too, but we're not looking for the big city feel. We would not like to see skyscrapers outside our window.
--ideally, we'd love to live near water of some sort -- a lake or the ocean (preferably). We're close to water now (well, within 30-60 minutes), and it would be hard to give that up.
If anyone could please help, we'd greatly appreciate it.
Have you considered the Raleigh/Durham area? Particularly if your husband is in data analysis, I think that area would have much better opportunities than Portland what with the state government, universities, and Research Triangle. You'd also get a milder climate, a mid-sized city without many skyscrapers, and several large lakes nearby. Also, should be plenty of fun things to keep you busy. The one thing I can't comment on is the quality of schools in that area. Anyway, just a thought....
Have you considered the Raleigh/Durham area? Particularly if your husband is in data analysis, I think that area would have much better opportunities than Portland what with the state government, universities, and Research Triangle. You'd also get a milder climate, a mid-sized city without many skyscrapers, and several large lakes nearby. Also, should be plenty of fun things to keep you busy. The one thing I can't comment on is the quality of schools in that area. Anyway, just a thought....
First why does everyone think the Raleigh / Durham area isn't being hit by the recession too??? I moved from Portland to Durham about 16 months ago. The 2 are very different places. The schools do have more stable funding in NC than OR. But in NC teacher's jobs are not unionized.... much of Portland area they are unionized.
Regardless of where you move have a job lined up for at least one of you before you pack up. Good luck!
First why does everyone think the Raleigh / Durham area isn't being hit by the recession too??? I moved from Portland to Durham about 16 months ago. The 2 are very different places. The schools do have more stable funding in NC than OR. But in NC teacher's jobs are not unionized.... much of Portland area they are unionized.
Regardless of where you move have a job lined up for at least one of you before you pack up. Good luck!
I never said it wasn't being hit by the recession. But the economy does seem to be doing better there then in Portland. And Business Week picked Durham as one of the best areas to ride out the recession:
Anyway, the main reason I was recommending Raleigh/Durham is that there are likely a lot more data analysis type jobs in that area than there are in Portland.
We are considering NC as well as OR. My sister and her husband live in Portland, which is the main reason we're thinking of relocating there. I'm a little concerned with the dreary weather there, especially in the winter. We did really like Portland when we went to visit once, but the weather is a consideration for us.
I know that virtually every state has been affected by the economy. It's not an easy time for so many people. If the economy is doing better in NC than in Portland, that's something we'll consider. My husband will probably look into short-term contract positions in both places. That will allow him to get to know the area and gain experience working there.
We wouldn't move anywhere without securing jobs first. We'll continue researching and see what we come up with.
You might also look a couple miles north of Portland, OR, in Vancouver / Camas, WA
No state income tax, but with well funded and high scoring schools; pretty similar weather to Portland (rain)
You know, I've read several times in these forums (and not just the Portland one) where people say don't move until you get a job. But on these same forums, people who try it always say that they can't even get an interview. Which makes sense. Unless someone has really unusual or hard-to-find skills, most employers are going to give preference to locals. I think it would be particularly unlikely for an employer in Portland to look at a candidate from New England. That's particularly true in a recession when there are likely more local candidates than normal.
Depending on how much you have in savings, it might be better to move where you want and then look for a job. My friend moved to Portland earlier this year without a job. She started off volunteering for an organization, they hired her for a part-time job, and a few months later gave her a full-time job.
I never said it wasn't being hit by the recession. But the economy does seem to be doing better there then in Portland. And Business Week picked Durham as one of the best areas to ride out the recession:
Anyway, the main reason I was recommending Raleigh/Durham is that there are likely a lot more data analysis type jobs in that area than there are in Portland.
Durham got this high rating because much of it's population is either hired by Duke University or the health care industry... neither of which are as affected as much by the recession. Many high tech businesses in the Triangle (including the big ones like IBM) have laid off people. I'm not saying they won't find a job here. But this area is more Bio-Pharmaceutical, Health Care, & University jobs, than high tech. Again not saying you won't find a job here. However, I do think it's easier to find a teaching job in The Triangle than in Portland. There is a deficit of teachers in NC. In Portland proper it is pretty hard to find a teaching job. But in the coming years w/ lots of baby boomers retiring this will change.
But Raleigh Durham is a very different flavor than Portland. I just surprised when people say they want to move Portland and someone suggests Raleigh Durham. To me they are very different places.
You know, I've read several times in these forums (and not just the Portland one) where people say don't move until you get a job. But on these same forums, people who try it always say that they can't even get an interview. Which makes sense. Unless someone has really unusual or hard-to-find skills, most employers are going to give preference to locals. I think it would be particularly unlikely for an employer in Portland to look at a candidate from New England. That's particularly true in a recession when there are likely more local candidates than normal.
Depending on how much you have in savings, it might be better to move where you want and then look for a job. My friend moved to Portland earlier this year without a job. She started off volunteering for an organization, they hired her for a part-time job, and a few months later gave her a full-time job.
Anyway, just a thought...
That makes sense. I am one of those who always says "Don't move here without a job." I was transferred by my company when I moved here. But either way you cut the cake jobs are extremely difficult to come by in hard times and not so easy in the best of times.
So barring not having a job, if someone really wants to come here they should have plenty of money to make certain they are not going to be joining the every increasing number of street people in Portland.
I plan to move from here in a few years. I may apply for a job in another city while I am still here but I am saving as much as I possibly can in order to live if I don't get a job in a new city right away. I am also a few years away from collecting Social Security so that will help.
In any case, no one should move to a town where jobs are as scarce as they are here (just ask Holly's mother) without money and a plan.
But Raleigh Durham is a very different flavor than Portland. I just surprised when people say they want to move Portland and someone suggests Raleigh Durham. To me they are very different places.
I agree that they're very different places. I based my recommendation on what the OP said she and her husband were looking for. In my opinion, Raleigh/Durham meets most if not all of their criteria.
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I moved from Portland to Durham about 16 months ago. The 2 are very different places. The schools do have more stable funding in NC than OR. But in NC teacher's jobs are not unionized.... much of Portland area they are unionized. 
(rain)
