Relocating to Vancouver/Portland area (Seattle, Salmon Creek: Home Depot, public schools, income)

[edhchoe]

I will start working in Portland in 01/07 and thinking about losing $5K/yr on the state income tax makes me sick. That's $5K more I would be able spend if I work in WA. But there is no job like it in Vancouver. It sucks.

[GypsyHeart]

What is the job market like in Vancouver? It seems most people are commuting, but aren't there any job opportunities in Vancouver? Specifically IT/computer.... Also, what about hospitals in Vancouver?
Thanks!

[diggitydot]

Originally Posted by GypsyHeart

What is the job market like in Vancouver? It seems most people are commuting, but aren't there any job opportunities in Vancouver? Specifically IT/computer.... Also, what about hospitals in Vancouver?
Thanks!

It's not that there aren't any jobs in Vancouver, it's more that there are far more in Oregon and the pay is usually considerably higher for the same work.

And there are only two hospitals in all of Clark County. Southwest WA Medical Center and the Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital are the extent of it. But Portland has Oregon Health Sciences University Hospital, Emanual, Portland Adventist, Providence Medical Center, Deorrnbecher's Children's Hospital, Good Samaritan, VA Medical Center, etc...you get the point. (There are many more, but I'm sure you see where I'm going with this.)

There are a ton of clinics and private practices in both areas, though.

As for IT, most companies have an IT department regardless of their location.

If you'd like, PM me with the type of work you're looking for and I can send you a list of companies to check with.

[Andreahaha]

Hi there. I've been thinking about moving out West (I'm from Virginia) for a while now. I've loved Portland when I've visited, but haven't been so enamored by the school system there. Since I'm a teacher, this is pretty important to me! I really like the Evergreen School District though. I'm in my mid-20s and single and I'm wondering what kind of social life I'm going to have (or be sacrificing -- you tell me) if I move to Vancouver. Are there certain neighborhoods that attract a younger crowd? I've been reading that downtown pretty much shuts down at night. Do you think that the proximity to the city would compensate for this? While I love my 8 and 9 year olds (or younger, depending on what grade I'll be teaching), I do need some interaction with grown-ups. ) Plus, since I don't know anyone in the area, it's important to me to have opportunities to meet people. And if you think Vancouver isn't the place, do you have any other suggestions?

Thanks for reading and responding!

[diggitydot]

Originally Posted by Andreahaha

Hi there. I've been thinking about moving out West (I'm from Virginia) for a while now. I've loved Portland when I've visited, but haven't been so enamored by the school system there. Since I'm a teacher, this is pretty important to me! I really like the Evergreen School District though. I'm in my mid-20s and single and I'm wondering what kind of social life I'm going to have (or be sacrificing -- you tell me) if I move to Vancouver. Are there certain neighborhoods that attract a younger crowd? I've been reading that downtown pretty much shuts down at night. Do you think that the proximity to the city would compensate for this? While I love my 8 and 9 year olds (or younger, depending on what grade I'll be teaching), I do need some interaction with grown-ups. ) Plus, since I don't know anyone in the area, it's important to me to have opportunities to meet people. And if you think Vancouver isn't the place, do you have any other suggestions?

Thanks for reading and responding!

The Vancouver downtown area doesn't really behave like an urban downtown, even though Vancouver is fairly large. I guess it depends on what type of "night life" type of activities you're looking at getting into. Vancouver has a TON of bars and a couple places to drink and dance or see a live band, there are movie theatres, bowling...what have you.

If you're looking for more art shows, plays, funky bands, good bookstores that aren't part of a national chain, and some more upscale bars/grilles...Portland is a very quick car ride across the river and isn't too tough to get around.

I have LOTS of family who teach and not a single one of them will even consider doing so in Oregon. All of them have taught at one time or another in the Evergreen SD and have had good experiences. My aunt is also an elementary school principal in the ESD.

As for meeting people, I think it kind of all boils down to being approachable and how willing you are to talk to complete strangers. (Which, much to my husband's dismay, I seem to do with alarming regularity.)

Feel free to PM me about the area/people/schools, if you like.

[GypsyHeart]

Thanks for the info.....I did pm you!

Originally Posted by diggitydot

It's not that there aren't any jobs in Vancouver, it's more that there are far more in Oregon and the pay is usually considerably higher for the same work.

And there are only two hospitals in all of Clark County. Southwest WA Medical Center and the Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital are the extent of it. But Portland has Oregon Health Sciences University Hospital, Emanual, Portland Adventist, Providence Medical Center, Deorrnbecher's Children's Hospital, Good Samaritan, VA Medical Center, etc...you get the point. (There are many more, but I'm sure you see where I'm going with this.)

There are a ton of clinics and private practices in both areas, though.

As for IT, most companies have an IT department regardless of their location.

If you'd like, PM me with the type of work you're looking for and I can send you a list of companies to check with.

[StealthRabbit]

OR income taxes are a detractant...Worse case, working in OR (7-9% income tax) and living / shopping in WA (8% sales tax) Both states have pretty high property taxes. real estate market strong, and likely to endure. Jobs, pretty diverse and strong. Lots of advantages to being next door to each other (craigslist shopping...)

If you have to commute... consider a a swing shift job...

for schools, Vanc probably better, but, look at state published statisics, it is no suprise the 'homeschool' movement is very strong on PNW. We did it for academic necessity and cuz we moved around, both my sis's did too, tho my wife and sis's are all teachers. We worked as a family in the school sys as volunteers, (and to give our kids a 'reality' check) Fisher's Landing is good elementary, but is very hard to get into, as are most good schools. The 'running start' option for HS (Jr College instead of HS, for free...) is very worthwhile and highly utilized tho the Public Schools can make it painful.

Last week traffic was a bear, I-205 was backed up from I-5 (Stafford) to WA state 500 ~ 30 miles... but usually it is a 1hr commute. Unfortunately there is a movement to get the Portland style 'Light Rail' brought into Vancouver. While Mass transit is a good thing, surface street level use is hazadous and slow, and really screws up the street traffic. The 'corridors' where they run on segregated spaces are great (I-84 & I-205), but the 'interstate' line (will go to Vancouver city center) take 30-45 min to do a run that takes 10min by car...

[EricaInNJ]

Have there have been any improvements in the commute from Vancouver to Portland since this thread? What is the public transportation situation like?

We have kids, so we want great schools, but my husband needs a city for work-he's an art director.

Also what's a 3 bedroom starter type home in the Evergreen district or Fisher's Landing go for now? Is there anything available for around $250k with good schools?

[PNW-type-gal]

The big question mark on the Vancouver-Portland commute is the I-5 project. IF they decide on a solution and IF they find funding for it, you can expect the I-5 bridge to be under construction for the next several years at best. This will temporarily muck up the I-5 south commute the entire time.

Personally, I'd LOVE to see light rail in Clark County, and I'm willing to pay for it. A line that went up I-5, across Highway 500 and down 205, with spurs out to Battle Ground, the Cascade Park transit center and Camas and the WSU campus? Not only would it be great for me, but it'd be great for my children and their children. The bus system is totally inadequate and runs on schedules which are fine if you are an 8-5 commuter and lousy for anyone else. Plus, buses are caught in traffic just like cars are, and I happen to live just off the Mill Plain corridor, which is already gridlocked during the day, and set to just get worse as they lift the building moratorium.

For $275k, you'd get a house like mine in the Evergreen district - 15 years old, 1,900 sf on a fairly large (12,000 sf) lot. There are more expensive bits in the district, up off of 192nd, the Fisher's landing area, and over toward Camas, but there are other neighborhoods which are not.

[diggitydot]

Originally Posted by EricaInNJ

Have there have been any improvements in the commute from Vancouver to Portland since this thread? What is the public transportation situation like?

Eh, no real improvements, but they are talking about putting lightrail into Vancouver again. Having it meet up with the MAX in Portland. It's going over like a fart in church, though. There are a lot of people in SW WA who are not receptive to the idea. There is also more talk of building a third bridge across the Columbia River. They've formed some committees to look into both, but as of yet they all in the talking stage.

Originally Posted by EricaInNJ

We have kids, so we want great schools, but my husband needs a city for work-he's an art director.

Also what's a 3 bedroom starter type home in the Evergreen district or Fisher's Landing go for now? Is there anything available for around $250k with good schools?

The Evergreen SD covers about half of Vancouver so finding a home shouldn't be tough, it just depends on which area you want to live. There are some areas where $250K won't even get you in the door. In others, that's PLENTY for a decent home. You're really going to need to just look around and see which areas you prefer.

It might not be a bad idea to check out some of the smaller towns on the outskirts of Vancouver. The cost of living is usually lower and there are some fantastic schools. (And Camas has its own art gallery.)

If you find some homes but aren't sure about the area, feel free to PM me and I can give you the lowdown. Good luck!