Interested in Moving to Vancouver, Washington? Here Are 8 Things You Should Know.
Vancouver, Washington has been experiencing explosive growth in the last few years, for good reason. The area is a hotbed of everything that makes a city a great place to live. We regularly make the lists of top places to live or retire in the US, and people are finally catching on! So, what makes this little city so attractive? Check out these eight facts and decide for yourself:
1. There Is No Income Tax in Washington State
You can save a bundle if you pop over the border from Oregon. There has been a mass exodus from Oregon and California to Vancouver, Camas, Ridgefield and even up into the Longview/Kelso area. One main reason is that people are tired of paying high income taxes. If you have the opportunity to live wherever you’d like and can remote into work, why not live where it doesn’t cost you as much?
2. It Doesn’t Rain Constantly
Yes, we live in a temperate rainforest. Technically, Vancouver, WA and Portland, Oregon are a part of the much larger Pacific temperate rainforest ecoregion of North America, which stretches from northern California up into Alaska. No, that does not mean that it rains all the time. You can expect an average rainfall of a little more than half an inch in the summer to a little over six inches in the winter. The rainfall is usually very light, but fairly constant. However, it is often easy to engage in regular outdoor activities despite the rain. Fun fact: it actually rains far more in New York City than it does in Vancouver USA.
3. We are Portland’s Largest Suburb
In light traffic, you can commute from downtown Vancouver to downtown Portland in 10-15 minutes, no problem. This is a fantastic advantage because we get all of the benefits of both cities while avoiding some of Portland’s less attractive features. There is no sales tax in Portland, so it’s easy to pop over the river and hit your favorite shops to save some cash. Portland is also known for its great doctors and hospitals, including Oregon Health and Sciences University and Doernbecher’s Children’s Hospital.
4. We Live In An Outdoorsman’s Dream
If you want to keep the comforts of your home while maintaining the ability to hit the sticks several times a week, Vancouver is a fantastic place to live. We have skiing, hiking, camping, boating, swimming, fishing and every other outdoor activity you could imagine, all at our fingertips. Vancouver Lake is a cool 10 minute drive from my home in the Lincoln neighborhood, and it is just as easy for me to take my family to Frenchman’s Bar, or another great spot along the Columbia River. Clark County boasts over 90 parks, each with their own unique features, and that doesn’t even include what Portland has to offer. It could take you years to hike every trail and enjoy every park in the area.
5. We Love Our Nicknames
The Couve, Vantucky, USA and Vansterdam are all nicknames we have adopted over the years to describe what living in Vancouver Washington is like. Tired of people constantly mistaking us for our Canadian neighbors to the north, many locals started distinguishing us from each other by referring to our city as “The Couve,” or “Vancouver USA.” And although Vantucky was originally used by outsiders to poke fun at our more rural residents, many in the area have taken it as our own. We definitely have a slower pace than is found across the river, but we aren’t quite the rednecks the name “Vantucky” is meant to infer. And Vansterdam came about when we adopted laws legalizing the use of marijuana. All in all, these nicknames do well to infer the type of easy-going, fun people we Vantuckians really are.
6. Our Farmer’s Market Is Epic
The Vancouver Farmers Market is a huge attraction in Southwest Washington. It takes place at Esther Short Park every Saturday and Sunday from mid-March to late October, and draws hundreds of vendors and thousands of people. You can find awesome food, fresh bread, local produce, other baked goods, plants and flowers, small handmade gifts, and even pet treats. It is quite the event! Shop the vendors and then let your kids play on the nearby play structure. It’s a fun event for the whole family!
7. The Fort Is Our Heritage
Fort Vancouver is a huge part of our city, because it is also our origin. Our sprawling city began as a modest fur trading post for the Hudson’s Bay Company’s Columbia Department in the 19th century. It was named for Captain George Vancouver, who was thought to have discovered the nearby Columbia River on behalf of Great Brittain. Today, a full-scale replica sits in its place, complete with internal buildings, cannons, gardens, and barracks. We also have Officer’s Row, which is comprised of gorgeous historical homes occupied by the officers of the time. These historical gems were rehabilitated in the mid 1980s and are now a prized part of our city.
8. We Have Award-Winning Schools
Schools in Vancouver come from two school districts: Vancouver Public Schools and Evergreen School District. Both have distinguishing programs that can help children gain a specialized education that fits their needs best. VPS offers the Highly Capable (Hi-Cap) program, a closed classroom comprised of only gifted students. Evergreen offers a comparable program known as EXCEL.
There is also the Vancouver School of Arts and Academics, which is recognized as one of the best secondary schools in the nation. Families from all across the nation come to the PNW strictly for the Washington School for the Blind, and Washington School for the Deaf. There are also technical academies, early college programs, and programs within each individual high school that could help put your kids right on track to reach their goals.
As you can see, Vancouver has a lot to offer, and this just barely scratches the surface! If you are considering moving to the area, I highly recommend you keep The Couve at the top of your list. Let me know if you have any questions about the area, or head to my website for more blogs and to get an idea of what’s currently on the market. Making a Difference.... Selling Southwest Washington and Northern Oregon with Keller Williams Realty.
1. There Is No Income Tax in Washington State
You can save a bundle if you pop over the border from Oregon. There has been a mass exodus from Oregon and California to Vancouver, Camas, Ridgefield and even up into the Longview/Kelso area. One main reason is that people are tired of paying high income taxes. If you have the opportunity to live wherever you’d like and can remote into work, why not live where it doesn’t cost you as much?
2. It Doesn’t Rain Constantly
Yes, we live in a temperate rainforest. Technically, Vancouver, WA and Portland, Oregon are a part of the much larger Pacific temperate rainforest ecoregion of North America, which stretches from northern California up into Alaska. No, that does not mean that it rains all the time. You can expect an average rainfall of a little more than half an inch in the summer to a little over six inches in the winter. The rainfall is usually very light, but fairly constant. However, it is often easy to engage in regular outdoor activities despite the rain. Fun fact: it actually rains far more in New York City than it does in Vancouver USA.
3. We are Portland’s Largest Suburb
In light traffic, you can commute from downtown Vancouver to downtown Portland in 10-15 minutes, no problem. This is a fantastic advantage because we get all of the benefits of both cities while avoiding some of Portland’s less attractive features. There is no sales tax in Portland, so it’s easy to pop over the river and hit your favorite shops to save some cash. Portland is also known for its great doctors and hospitals, including Oregon Health and Sciences University and Doernbecher’s Children’s Hospital.
4. We Live In An Outdoorsman’s Dream
If you want to keep the comforts of your home while maintaining the ability to hit the sticks several times a week, Vancouver is a fantastic place to live. We have skiing, hiking, camping, boating, swimming, fishing and every other outdoor activity you could imagine, all at our fingertips. Vancouver Lake is a cool 10 minute drive from my home in the Lincoln neighborhood, and it is just as easy for me to take my family to Frenchman’s Bar, or another great spot along the Columbia River. Clark County boasts over 90 parks, each with their own unique features, and that doesn’t even include what Portland has to offer. It could take you years to hike every trail and enjoy every park in the area.
5. We Love Our Nicknames
The Couve, Vantucky, USA and Vansterdam are all nicknames we have adopted over the years to describe what living in Vancouver Washington is like. Tired of people constantly mistaking us for our Canadian neighbors to the north, many locals started distinguishing us from each other by referring to our city as “The Couve,” or “Vancouver USA.” And although Vantucky was originally used by outsiders to poke fun at our more rural residents, many in the area have taken it as our own. We definitely have a slower pace than is found across the river, but we aren’t quite the rednecks the name “Vantucky” is meant to infer. And Vansterdam came about when we adopted laws legalizing the use of marijuana. All in all, these nicknames do well to infer the type of easy-going, fun people we Vantuckians really are.
6. Our Farmer’s Market Is Epic
The Vancouver Farmers Market is a huge attraction in Southwest Washington. It takes place at Esther Short Park every Saturday and Sunday from mid-March to late October, and draws hundreds of vendors and thousands of people. You can find awesome food, fresh bread, local produce, other baked goods, plants and flowers, small handmade gifts, and even pet treats. It is quite the event! Shop the vendors and then let your kids play on the nearby play structure. It’s a fun event for the whole family!
7. The Fort Is Our Heritage
Fort Vancouver is a huge part of our city, because it is also our origin. Our sprawling city began as a modest fur trading post for the Hudson’s Bay Company’s Columbia Department in the 19th century. It was named for Captain George Vancouver, who was thought to have discovered the nearby Columbia River on behalf of Great Brittain. Today, a full-scale replica sits in its place, complete with internal buildings, cannons, gardens, and barracks. We also have Officer’s Row, which is comprised of gorgeous historical homes occupied by the officers of the time. These historical gems were rehabilitated in the mid 1980s and are now a prized part of our city.
8. We Have Award-Winning Schools
Schools in Vancouver come from two school districts: Vancouver Public Schools and Evergreen School District. Both have distinguishing programs that can help children gain a specialized education that fits their needs best. VPS offers the Highly Capable (Hi-Cap) program, a closed classroom comprised of only gifted students. Evergreen offers a comparable program known as EXCEL.
There is also the Vancouver School of Arts and Academics, which is recognized as one of the best secondary schools in the nation. Families from all across the nation come to the PNW strictly for the Washington School for the Blind, and Washington School for the Deaf. There are also technical academies, early college programs, and programs within each individual high school that could help put your kids right on track to reach their goals.
As you can see, Vancouver has a lot to offer, and this just barely scratches the surface! If you are considering moving to the area, I highly recommend you keep The Couve at the top of your list. Let me know if you have any questions about the area, or head to my website for more blogs and to get an idea of what’s currently on the market. Making a Difference.... Selling Southwest Washington and Northern Oregon with Keller Williams Realty.
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