I'm Considering Moving From Seattle to Portland. Thoughts? (Beaverton, Tigard: middle-class, sales)

[Apathizer]

Currently I live in Seattle, but have been considering moving to Portland for the last few years. Seattle seems to be turning into a generic big-city, while Portland has maintained a more livable atmosphere because of better urban and regional planning, and more expedient municipal projects. While Portland and Seattle are both growing rapidly I'm more optimistic about the future of Portland because of better planning.

However, I'm hesitant because I've heard from several different people (friends who live in Portland, former Portlanders who now live in Seattle) there is a much stronger redneck contingent in Portland. I've heard there is a great deal of bigotry in the areas just outside the city (the areas outside Seattle are more conservative, but it tends to be a more greedy-economic type of conservativism rather than bigotry).

Is this a fair assesment? I'm not bashing Portland, I'd just like to get input on whether/how true this is or not. I'd also like to hear the pros/cons of both cities from people who've lived in both areas. Thanx

[Supernova7]

I would be interested in hearing about this as well but I doubt that it's true. No one would want to flock to a racist oppressive city. A city needs to offer a good mix of city vibe, cost of living and social atmosphere in order for it to have appeal. The redneck and conservative mentalities in both cities are in the far suburbs. The actual "city" BOTH Seattle and Portland are known to be VERY LIBERAL on social issues and tolerance. The only difference I know off is Seattle has a much higher cost of living, gets more rain and lacks public transportation compared to Portland. Seattle does have it's advantages though. Both are good cities. If I lived in Seattle I doubt that I would move.

[ilovesoup]

Funny you should ask about the red neck contingent here in Portland after 10 years of living here it really bothers me! I suggest living only inside the city limits of Portland and if you drive outside the city limits it can feel like you are in another state and this is a short 15-20 minute drive mind you! I have lived in Portland for 10 years and relocated here after growing up in the California Bay area. When I first moved here it really bothered me and it has changed a little, I've gotten used to it. There are more "white" folks here than in any major city I have been to on the west coast and that sits in the back of my mind since I am mixed race. That too has changed a little.

Having said that I must say that living here is very stress free and many neighborhoods have so much to offer that a car isn't necessary and it's a great place for kids. Portland has so much to offer for a city of it's size and the food here is exceptional. There is a traffic problem here, so living in the outskirts of Portland doesn't make sense to me and it is not culturally rewarding unless you like strip malls. I have not lived in Seattle but I have spent a great deal of time there. Our family is currently considering moving to Seattle because Seattle simply has more to offer and the job opportunities in Portland are minimal in comparison. Sometimes Portland is too casual for me in terms of dress and being laid back and at the same time it's one of the things I love about this place, people are friendly and pretense is seldom felt. Seattle does have a well educated population and a more ethnically diverse population than Portland and that is something that makes Seattle more appealing to me as well. Portland is a wonderful town to live in however I sometimes feel like I am living in a cocoon and I sometimes find that there are some ignorant folks living on the fringes of the city. I don't mean to offend anyone...just sharing my perspective. I personally would stay in Seattle unless you are looking for a more affordable place to live. Portland has no sales tax but you do pay state tax unlike Washington. Well, hope the input helps and hope to be in Seattle by summer!

[GB1]

Originally Posted by Apathizer

I've heard there is a great deal of bigotry in the areas just outside the city (the areas outside Seattle are more conservative, but it tends to be a more greedy-economic type of conservativism rather than bigotry).

Is this a fair assesment? I'm not bashing Portland, I'd just like to get input on whether/how true this is or not.

Yes. There is no bigotry within the city limits, but the people within a 10-minute drive are another species of human being entirely.

Kidding. But that's actually a prevailing mindset there; people draw the most (dare I say) prejudiced conclusions about other Oregonians based on their cities or ZIP codes.

As far as SEA/PDX goes: I've never lived in Seattle, but it seems like a nice place. I've heard more than one Seattleite visiting Portland to say "This is great; it's like Seattle was 20/25/30 years ago," so if that appeals to you, you may like it a lot.

Just beware of the paycheck disparity. Portland is less expensive than Seattle in housing, but nearly everything else is the same (you're swapping no income tax for no sales tax), and holy moly, the pay differential is considerable.

[roneb]

Portland in general is pretty progressive and open, but that is not to say there is not an element of real bigotry here. Suburbs on the west side (Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin, Wilsonville) tend to have some of the greedy-economic yuppie conservatism that the OP mentioned finding in Seattle. Outer SE Portland, however... It wasn't THAT long ago that skinheads tried making serious inroads to the area and an Ethiopian man was beaten to death. My folks lived in outer SE/Clackamas and I worked under two different managers at college summer jobs that were blatant racists. That was years ago now and things may have changed, but it did leave a lasting impression.

[Nell Plotts]

You can find jerks anywhere. I am a Portland native now living in the Seattle Metro area. No different. For some reason jerks are attracted to new arrivals, maybe because they have warn out their welcome with others.

I am in my late 60s, Mother once described me as a 'change agent'. In utter innocence I questioned bigotry of all types. It didn't take long before they were uncomfortable in my presence.

Unlike many communities, in all of the West Coast's major cities marriages between persons of different races are not uncommon. Same with different faiths. If it is noticed the glance is inquisitive, not critical.

[John Shaft]

The Portland west side is more diverse, racially speaking, than Portland itself. All the progressive white folks in the city didn't want the other kinds moving in and ruining things: "I'm all for racial tolerance; so long as they don't live in MY neighborhood."

[roneb]

Did you mean to say the westside PDX is LESS diverse? Your post makes more sense that way.

[brandonlee206]

Portland is more livable and walkable and blah blah, but Seattle is where you want to be if your into city life. Portland is mostly redneck meets hippie and with a little middle-class spread around the perimeter of town. Stay in Seattle...

Originally Posted by Apathizer

Currently I live in Seattle, but have been considering moving to Portland for the last few years. Seattle seems to be turning into a generic big-city, while Portland has maintained a more livable atmosphere because of better urban and regional planning, and more expedient municipal projects. While Portland and Seattle are both growing rapidly I'm more optimistic about the future of Portland because of better planning.

However, I'm hesitant because I've heard from several different people (friends who live in Portland, former Portlanders who now live in Seattle) there is a much stronger redneck contingent in Portland. I've heard there is a great deal of bigotry in the areas just outside the city (the areas outside Seattle are more conservative, but it tends to be a more greedy-economic type of conservativism rather than bigotry).

Is this a fair assesment? I'm not bashing Portland, I'd just like to get input on whether/how true this is or not. I'd also like to hear the pros/cons of both cities from people who've lived in both areas. Thanx

[John Shaft]

Originally Posted by roneb

Did you mean to say the westside PDX is LESS diverse? Your post makes more sense that way.

Sorry, no, I meant the west side of the Portland metro area (Beaverton, Hillsoboro, etc.). I'm not saying it's a melting pot with lots of races, but there are a ton more races represented than in the city of Portland proper. I expect I'll get flamed for this since the stereotype of Washington County is rich white suburbanites and/or "rednecks," but this is just my observation. The "tolerant" groups within the city of Portland tend to be pretty homogenous.