Vancouver/Camas VS Lake Oswego/West Linn, OR (Pacific: rent, employment)

[Transplant12345]

I am not sure that I have enough money to make the no state income tax worth considering. What are the cultural differences between the two places? Seems like both have great schools. What are the big differences? I work from home. Is Washington more conservative? Please advise.

[texasdiver]

Originally Posted by Transplant12345

I am not sure that I have enough money to make the no state income tax worth considering. What are the cultural differences between the two places? Seems like both have great schools. What are the big differences? I work from home. Is Washington more conservative? Please advise.

Both are way more liberal than TX. But WA and OR do have somewhat different flavors. WA is probably a little more outward Pacific Rim business looking. OR is probably a little more inward looking and insular.

But the real differences are between urban and rural. The urban parts of WA are mostly blue and the rural parts and eastern half of the state more red. Same thing in OR.

Places like Camas and the inner parts of Vancouver are going to be purple to liberal leaning just like similar suburbs on the OR side. But they won't be nearly as dysfunctionally liberal as some parts of inner-city Portland. This map is pretty accurate. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/...122.536/105333

Once you get out into the more rural areas of either state it is a sea of red for the most part.

[Gaylord_Focker]

Originally Posted by Transplant12345

I am not sure that I have enough money to make the no state income tax worth considering. What are the cultural differences between the two places? Seems like both have great schools. What are the big differences? I work from home. Is Washington more conservative? Please advise.

I think the tax rate is 5%, so on 100k, that's 5k, which could be 2 to 3 months of rent for most. So think about having a season of rent covered every year.

[texasdiver]

Originally Posted by Gaylord_Focker

I think the tax rate is 5%, so on 100k, that's 5k, which could be 2 to 3 months of rent for most. So think about having a season of rent covered every year.

Oregon income tax brackets for single filer (roughly double for head of household or married filing jointly)

5% $3,550 or less
7% $3,551–$8,900
9% $8,901–$125,000
9.9% $125,001 or more

Oregon Income Tax Tables here: https://www.oregon.gov/dor/programs/...es_101-043.pdf

Oregon Income Tax Calculator here: https://www.oregon.gov/dor/programs/...alculator.aspx

Tax on $25,000 income for single filer would be $2,006
Tax on $50,000 income for single filer would be: $4251
Taxon $75,000 income for single filer would be: $6501
Tax on $100,000 income for single filer would be: $8751

[Gaylord_Focker]

Originally Posted by texasdiver

Oregon income tax brackets for single filer (roughly double for head of household or married filing jointly)

5% $3,550 or less
7% $3,551–$8,900
9% $8,901–$125,000
9.9% $125,001 or more

Oregon Income Tax Tables here: https://www.oregon.gov/dor/programs/...es_101-043.pdf

Oregon Income Tax Calculator here: https://www.oregon.gov/dor/programs/...alculator.aspx

Tax on $25,000 income for single filer would be $2,006
Tax on $50,000 income for single filer would be: $4251
Taxon $75,000 income for single filer would be: $6501
Tax on $100,000 income for single filer would be: $8751

Right on What could one do with 8700 bucks?

[TheOrca]

Thats the fun part

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by Gaylord_Focker

Right on What could one do with 8700 bucks?

$8700 would cover about 6 months of my WA Property tax. (up from $800 / yr... same house, just older / more worn out)

Still covering it with no wage income for last 15 yrs.

WA kinda looses it's luster when income = zero. (for the 50 yrs following employment / 'w-o-r-k')

Retire early, retire often
(Especially a good idea when the kids are age 5-16.... you can always retreat to a J-o-b after they hit the road)

It's only a minute and POOF, they are GONE!

[Gaylord_Focker]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

$8700 would cover about 6 months of my WA Property tax. (up from $800 / yr... same house, just older / more worn out)

Still covering it with no wage income for last 15 yrs.

WA kinda looses it's luster when income = zero. (for the 50 yrs following employment / 'w-o-r-k')

Retire early, retire often
(Especially a good idea when the kids are age 5-16.... you can always retreat to a J-o-b after they hit the road)

It's only a minute and POOF, they are GONE!

Good point, but Oregon has the ole property tax, so no offset there.

[Transplant12345]

All really good info. I am definitely considering the Washington side.

[cdelena]

I spent a few weeks in both areas once I decided to look up here (leaving Texas). My experience talking with middle class people showed a strong liberal attitude in Oregon and less so in SW Washington. I liked some properties in Oregon but disliked some of the local politics. Financially the Washington side has a slight advantage for us. Vancouver is not perfect but we found the compromise we like. After over ten years we sometimes miss some Texas attitudes but are happy to be here.

This is a decision each has to make from their own point of view.