Considering relocation to Colville, WA (Spokane, Graham: insurance, employment, to buy)

[glenna]

Hi--considering the Colville WA area for highly active retirement. Have paper climate data, but want a good grasp of the day-to-day winter/summer realities. How does it compare, say, to Bend or Central Oregon area? Or Sandpoint, Idaho?

Thanks, gp

[Evap]

I have a question about Colville. I'm tired of Southern California's traffic, smog, and big city life. Last summer my wife and I purchased a property in Southern Oregon. Three months ago, we had a country living meeting at our Church, and Colville was mentioned. Since then, I began my research, and here are the reasons why we want to sell our property in Oregon and to relocate in Colville: Deer Park Hospital is a Kaiser affiliated group health (around 50 miles), Canadian border is about 42 miles, there's a Bank of America in Colville, a Hospital, SDA Church and a PK-10th grade School. Now, we want to buy a property at the foothills of Old Dominion Mountain. Can anybody tell me about Henry Rd, Charles Graham Rd, and Slentz Rd? Thank you.

[gerrycox]

We have moved to Colville from Alaska the summer of 2006! We found Colville by accident after searching for the perfect retriment property form New Mexico & Arizona to Oregon and Idaho, Sandpoint included... We wanted beautiful country, mountians, water, small town attitudes & atmoshpere, 4 pleasant seasons, little rain, horse country adn easy access to city ammenitites; airports, college, hospitals, supplies, etc... PLUS, it had to be affordable... COVILLE had it all! The economy is not what we are used to but folks seem to be surviving okay here...

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by glenna

H... How does it compare, say, to Bend or Central Oregon area? Or Sandpoint, Idaho?..

Colville is cheaper (housing) than your other choices, and not as 'cultured' (i.e., more locals, less immigrants bringing arts, theatre, SUV's & designer coffee) It is a bit further from civilization (if you call a big city civilized) and solid diverse career infrastructure is not in place, yet... also skiing is not 'next door' as in Sandpoint and Bend (you pay 'extra' for that)

If you have a lot of yrs to support in retirement, with limited income, taxes and 'real' costs might be an issue. WA seems to be getting pretty greedy on Prop taxes, and I'm gonna have to leave WA for ID, MT or WY (the best for taxes), just to 'sustain'. WA has a draw to those who have income (that would not include me, anymore) You might reconsider Sandpoint (and beyond for reasonable housing prices)
OR has a very low tax threshhold so even a widow's meager pitence will be taxed. OR also has a significant prop tax, but is a good place to shop if you are a consumer (that would not be me, either) We're done 'consuming', and drive a 25 yr old $35 car that gets 50 mpg, tough to improve on that!

[Simmers]

Colville sounds great! Can anyone tell me more about it? Is it just a retirement town? Are there places to work careeer wise or is employment slim? We are not retired but we're not into partying or the fast life either. Thanks for any input!

[chris]

employment is slim. It's a small town and is a good one hour plus commute from Spokane (traffic included in that figure).

I wouldn't consider it a retirement town but I guess one could look at it in that way. It's a beautiful area. The town itself is geared towards tourism (it's basically one big state park north all the way to Canada), in particular, hunting/fishing/camping. They have a good little farmers market on the weekends and the downtown is quaint.

Winter = cold. Summer - hot, like most of Eastern WA. It is a very cozy town though. It is *not* like Bend and is *not* like Sandpoint. Those areas would be considered upscale. Colville is blue collar all the way.

[alpine]

I highly recommend WY as cheapest place in Western US to live. Altitude is problem for many as are cold winters but living pace is slow and relaxed. Hard to get away from the 'us vs them' attitude in small towns though. People will be nice but they will not make friends easily with outsiders. But if you want to live cheaply, you cannot beat WY. I recommend the northern towns especially Cody. Housing is still reasonably inexpensive, schools are decent and people are friendly as all get out. Dry enough so that a little cold doesn't bother you as much as damp winters back east do. But watch out for medical care. Doctors are leaving in droves because of malpractice insurance so it is big cities (by WY standards) or traveling for health care.

[vigilance71]

Originally Posted by glenna

Hi--considering the Colville WA area for highly active retirement. Have paper climate data, but want a good grasp of the day-to-day winter/summer realities. How does it compare, say, to Bend or Central Oregon area? Or Sandpoint, Idaho?

Thanks, gp

I lived in Colville for 4yrs. Very depressed, economically. People are hard to make friends. Many companies have moved out of the area. Bosie Cascade and others. Hopital Mt Carmel is understaffed and their are not very qualified Dr's there. There seems to be cattle close to town and mills which put out a nasty smell thoughout town. Winters are alot shorter and seems to get more rain then snow fall at this time.
Sandpoint would be your best investment, seems to be growing steady and lake is really nice, so seem the people. Good luck.

[vigilance71]

I lived in Colville for 4yrs. Very depressed, economically. People are hard to make friends. Many companies have moved out of the area. Bosie Cascade and others. Hopital Mt Carmel is understaffed and their are not very qualified Dr's there. There seems to be cattle close to town and mills which put out a nasty smell thoughout town. Winters are alot shorter and seems to get more rain then snow fall at this time.
Sandpoint would be your best investment, seems to be growing steady and lake is really nice, so seem the people. Good luck.

[ORIGWOLFMAN]

Colville is a laid back, small town, with a slow paced life style. The biggest industry available, is the logging industry. Emploment leaves alot to be desired, but its typical of small towns.