Best areas with culture and shopping just outside Portland/Southern Orgeon? (Eugene: upper-class, to rent)

[Sandra2010]

We are moving from South Orange County in California. I was wondering where I might find some neighborhoods similar to here, just outside Portland or Eugene that had some good shopping and culture, transit to the city, and were middle/upper-class 3 bedroom homes that rent for about $1300 a month. In a perfect world it would have low crime and good high school.

Thanks for any advice you can offer!!

[philwithbeard]

Portland metro area is much, much smaller (size and population) than the vast sprawling LA metro area. Portland has strong, and enforced, urban growth limits in place.

You may not find exactly what you are looking for "just outside Portland," as meeting your wants exactly as you described; something meeting all your wants, may not even exist. You can easily meet two of the three, or three of the four, but not all of your specifications.

Maybe another poster will drop by with a suggestion for Lake Owsego, Oregon. But, transit to Downtown Portland from L.O...... maybe not so much fun.

Have you ever given any thoughts to not trying to duplicate you SoCal life, and try something more in tune with the Portland area? Say a huge old Early 20th century Post-Victorian on a medium plot in the city of Portland's Irvington district, or East Moreland? (smaller plot means less time cutting grass and yard work in the rain!) Or a late 20th large home near Mt. Tabor with a breathtaking view of our local active volcano, Mt. Hood
(actually Mt. Tabor is an old inactive volcano cone which is part of the Boring Lava Field, Google it.)

Oh, and don't forget to do your research on the weather in the Pacific Northwest. This ain't SoCal here.

[Sandra2010]

I lived in Seattle for 13 years as an adult but didn't spend any time in Oregon, so I'm perfectly in tune with weather and the Pacific Northwest feel. I just heard that So. Oregon was very much like So. Cal, so that's why I used that as a comparison. I don't want the maintenance issues of an old/historic home, especially when renting, as landlords don't always have the money to fix issues - been there before. That's why I wanted to rent something that was fairly new...not but overpriced. Thanks for the advice!

[philwithbeard]

Rent???
Sorry, I was thinking you were looking to buy a McMansion type home. San Clemente community type homes (I have never been to San Clemente, BTW) My mistake for misreading your post.

My previous post is now irrelevant and void. Please ignore it.

[PNW-type-gal]

The most OC-like place I can think of for the Portland area would be Beaverton - for the Portland area, a largish, sprawling-ish suburb with some upscale-ish enclaves.

I don't think there is any similarity to the OC in Southern Oregon anywhere.

[nanannie]

Southern Oregon and Southern California.
I cant think of two more different places.
Funny what people "hear" about Oregon.
I agree with the others, no OC in Oregon.