Looking for a nice small to mid size town in Oregon (Portland: apartment, rentals)

[KIMBER129]

Hi, I am posting this again, in the Portland forum. I am a single mom moving from Scottsdale AZ, to Oregon. I was looking at Salem, however I am not too sure about the huge school sizes there. I like what I have read about Beaverton, and was wondering if someone could tell me what the middle school is in the best part of town, and what middle school is in a not so great part of town. I am looking to rent at first to make sure we like it there and am looking to spend about 1000 a month on rent. Is that doable in a nicer area for a 3 bedroom home? NOT an apartment. Any suggestions would help. I have been looking on CL for rentals, so I can figure out if the area is nice by asking which middle school it is, that is why I am asking the name of the middle school in the best part and part to stay out of. I have heard awesome things about Beaverton, so I am hoping I can afford a nice area. Thanks!!

[Élan vital]

do you already have a job lined up? Transferring with a current employer?
Is that the reason you decided on Beaverton?
Just wondered.

Originally Posted by KIMBER129

Hi, I am posting this again, in the Portland forum. I am a single mom moving from Scottsdale AZ, to Oregon. I was looking at Salem, however I am not too sure about the huge school sizes there. I like what I have read about Beaverton, and was wondering if someone could tell me what the middle school is in the best part of town, and what middle school is in a not so great part of town. I am looking to rent at first to make sure we like it there and am looking to spend about 1000 a month on rent. Is that doable in a nicer area for a 3 bedroom home? NOT an apartment. Any suggestions would help. I have been looking on CL for rentals, so I can figure out if the area is nice by asking which middle school it is, that is why I am asking the name of the middle school in the best part and part to stay out of. I have heard awesome things about Beaverton, so I am hoping I can afford a nice area. Thanks!!

[KIMBER129]

I have no job lined up as of yet, but have income. I am not stuck on Beaverton, and the more I read it seems very much like Scottsdale, more upscale, and that may not be what I want. I want something laid back, like Salem, but not as big.

[KIMBER129]

I hate AZ, and have always wanted to move to Oregon. We are going to drive around a couple weeks around the state and see what we like the best, but I dont want to waste my time in areas that I know I will not move.

[Élan vital]

I like this entire area;but live in Newberg. It's a nice,not too large,quiet, low crime, pretty area. I have no clue about the schools as I don't have young children. The job market is really bad right now unless you're in a healthcare field.

Originally Posted by KIMBER129

I have no job lined up as of yet, but have income. I am not stuck on Beaverton, and the more I read it seems very much like Scottsdale, more upscale, and that may not be what I want. I want something laid back, like Salem, but not as big.

[Todd.LA]

Originally Posted by KIMBER129

Hi, I am posting this again, in the Portland forum. I am a single mom moving from Scottsdale AZ, to Oregon. I was looking at Salem, however I am not too sure about the huge school sizes there. I like what I have read about Beaverton, and was wondering if someone could tell me what the middle school is in the best part of town, and what middle school is in a not so great part of town. I am looking to rent at first to make sure we like it there and am looking to spend about 1000 a month on rent. Is that doable in a nicer area for a 3 bedroom home? NOT an apartment. Any suggestions would help. I have been looking on CL for rentals, so I can figure out if the area is nice by asking which middle school it is, that is why I am asking the name of the middle school in the best part and part to stay out of. I have heard awesome things about Beaverton, so I am hoping I can afford a nice area. Thanks!!

Salem and Beaverton are pretty different. Beaverton is a Portland suburb and one of the more central suburbs at that. It's not as ritzy as Scottsdale (Lake Oswego is a better parrallel), and in general, I think you'll find most Portland area suburbs and small towns are pretty laid back.

Salem is more of a city in its own right than a suburb of Portland, though some people do commute both ways. Salem is the capital of the state, and state government is the main employer in town. Otherwise, there's not much else going on there economically. Salem is also home to many of Oregon's prisons. In my opinion, it's really not that pleasant of a place. It's too close to Portland to really have its own entertainment and cultural stuff going on, yet the drive to Portland is still an hour or so. (Eugene has a similiar population, but it's a much more vibrant city). Salem also has about twice the poverty rate of Beaverton.

I don't know too much about middle schools specifically, but my impression is that Beaverton has better schools overall.

[EnricoV]

I don't, and haven't, lived in either. But to me, Beaverton feels more "big town" than Salem does. If a job is not a consideration, I'd go for a truly smaller town, and look at McMinnville, Silverton, Newberg, Estacada, Forest Grove. Towns about that size. You'll get a lot more for your money, and the school's going to be smaller.

[KIMBER129]

Originally Posted by EnricoV

I don't, and haven't, lived in either. But to me, Beaverton feels more "big town" than Salem does. If a job is not a consideration, I'd go for a truly smaller town, and look at McMinnville, Silverton, Newberg, Estacada, Forest Grove. Towns about that size. You'll get a lot more for your money, and the school's going to be smaller.

Thanks! Can you tell me something about Forest Grove and McMinnville? I have not looked into them. Are they like Silverton? I am familiar with Silverton. Are the other towns you listed close to Salem? Thanks!

[EnricoV]

Originally Posted by KIMBER129

Thanks! Can you tell me something about Forest Grove and McMinnville? I have not looked into them. Are they like Silverton? I am familiar with Silverton. Are the other towns you listed close to Salem? Thanks!

Forest Grove and McMinnville are west of the Willamette, but similar to Silverton, especially in its terrain. They're all in the valley, but to the outer edge, closer to the mountains. Further from Salem, though. Forest Grove is pretty much just west of Portland, beyond Beaverton and Hillsboro. McMinnville is probably about halfway between Portland and Salem. Silverton is very near to Salem.

But both Forest Grove and McMinnville differ in that both are "small" University towns. The universities probably would bring more "culture" to the towns. More educational emphasis. My only downside on McMinnville would be that it's on a major highway leading to Lincoln City (and casinos), so it's pretty well traveled. Both Silverton and Forest Grove would be a bit quieter.

[emh]

Originally Posted by EnricoV

Forest Grove and McMinnville are west of the Willamette, but similar to Silverton, especially in its terrain. They're all in the valley, but to the outer edge, closer to the mountains. Further from Salem, though. Forest Grove is pretty much just west of Portland, beyond Beaverton and Hillsboro. McMinnville is probably about halfway between Portland and Salem. Silverton is very near to Salem.

But both Forest Grove and McMinnville differ in that both are "small" University towns. The universities probably would bring more "culture" to the towns. More educational emphasis. My only downside on McMinnville would be that it's on a major highway leading to Lincoln City (and casinos), so it's pretty well traveled. Both Silverton and Forest Grove would be a bit quieter.

I really like McMinnville. Very walkable downtown and lots of nice houses.