Job in Longview (Vancouver, Kelso: to rent, houses, unemployment rate)

[dgarstang]

I have a job opportunity with a company in Longview, WA. After doing some research on Longview, I haven't been particularly impressed so far.

I'm single, and don't want to live in Longview, primarily for that reason. It seems like Longview would be social suicide. I could live in Vancouver, but then I have a 40 minute commute. The company's suggested solution to that was for me to live halfway between Vancouver and Longview, which isn't ideal either because then I appear to be in the middle of nowhere, with very few facilities etc.

So, can anyone recommend a city in the middle? What is St Helens like? Are there any great locations (with single women) between the two?

Doug.

[pw72]

St. Helens is really small. In fact, there really are no sizable towns between Vancouver and Longview. Not sure the social situation is that different between Longview and Vancouver, however with Portland right across the river it would be closer to vibrancy. One other thing to keep in mind is Longview/Kelso has one of the highest unemployment rates in Washington. Maybe you already knew that.

[dgarstang]

I'm sure the social situation is MUCH better in Vancouver than Longview. Problem is, the job looks great, but I am dead set against a 40 minute commute. How frustrating!

[pw72]

Originally Posted by dgarstang

I'm sure the social situation is MUCH better in Vancouver than Longview. Problem is, the job looks great, but I am dead set against a 40 minute commute. How frustrating!

Well, only because it is near Portland. Vancouver, while bigger than Longview, is not a singles place really. Made up mostly of families and 'burbs, with a small downtown.

[dgarstang]

Yes I know. I had a quick look at the singles on match.com near Longview, and whoa, slim pickin's. Much more women on match.com near Vancouver.

[Twub]

I'm assuming by now you've either accepted the job or decided against it. If nothing has progressed yet then make your decision very carefully. If you're from a big city with access to lots of night life, festivals, social events and you love the city lifestyle this is definitely "not" the place for you. My husband accepted a management job in the area and we relocated here a couple of years ago. We've traveled all over the world and lived in a variety of locations, from the small towns to the large cities, so we adapt well to a variety of situations. If you accept the job in this area definitely rent, absolutely do not buy; until you are sure you like the job, like the area, are sure your employers find you a valuable asset and are sure the company is going to be here for the long run. Although there are good deals on houses, it's because many people are loosing their homes. Houses that are on the market are not moving, so even if you get a good deal it will be difficult to sell if things don't work out. There are houses "still" on the market from when we moved here two year ago. The unemployment rate is very high compared to other areas in the nation. There are very little job prospects so if for some reason your job doesn't work out the prospects in this area are pretty bleak and there's a lot of competition from locals who are desperate for jobs. Meth is a problem so you will want to carefully choose what area in town that you plan to rent or buy. There's a strong union presence so if you aren't a fan of unions this isn't the place for you. If I were single this is the last place I'd want to live, socially there's not much to do and not many places in town to do it. From what I've seen there's a problem with quality dating choices for both men & women. This is not the place we would choose to live if it weren't for the job. My husband had offers in a variety of locations across the U.S. but he accepted this job because it was his dream job; we have each other so we're happy here. There are some good points to living here: If you love to fish the Columbia River is practically in your back yard and there's easy access. If you have a boat there are miles & miles of river to explore. If you love small town living it's a great place to live. There's a nice little lake in the middle of town that has nice walking paths & a nice park area all the way around the lake. Compared to other places the weather is mild, although if you come from a dry climate you might think it rains a bit too much here. It's an easy ride to the coast if you want to get away for the weekend. The town is nestled by the foothills, the river and there are lots of trees so I think it's very pretty here. If you can afford it come spend at least a long weekend, or longer, before accepting the job to get a feel for the area. The local newspaper is online www.tdn.com so you can get a feel for what the town is like; if you read the editorials and also read the comments on articles it might give you some insight. One last parting note is that you should consider living on the Washington side of the river, if you're an Oregon resident you will be taxed for Oregon income tax; which means you will have to pay Oregon for taxes on your Washington income. Also Oregon's Columbia County property taxes are very high... just something to consider if you decide to buy or reside on the Oregon side of the river.
In the end I guess what I'm saying is... if you're single you could do better elsewhere and unless it's your dream job I would think twice about moving here. Good luck and I hope things work out well for you.