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So I am from Los Angeles but I moved to the suburbs to get away from the traffic, smog, crime, and homeless problem in LA and I lived here in the suburbs of CA about 15 years after leaving LA. But I got so sick of the rent prices and low paying jobs here so I relocated to WA for a year. Here in CA I would make $15-$20 hour but rent is $1800+ for 1 bedroom apartment or about $2500 for 2 bedrooms. I lived in Olympia and got a 2 bed 2 bath for only $1400 and loved it. I had some struggles there like trying to drive in snow (you never see snow where I'm from) and getting used to such a low amount of sunshine in the winter. I ended up coming back to CA and living with family to save on rent and I have been back for 3 years. My family is retiring and moving out of state next year and I just can't afford to remain living in CA as a single person. I don't want to be living with roommates at 40 and the jobs here just don't pay enough for the housing cost. I looked into moving back to WA and rent had gone up a lot since I lived there a few years ago. So Oregon is my number one choice I'm looking into. I visited Portland and didn't like it. It had the same big homeless problem and run down look as Los Angeles. I looked into the OR suburbs like Lake Oswego and Tigard. It was beautiful there and I loved it but the rent was a little too high. So now I'm wondering if Eugene or Salem would be a good match. I have not been able to visit either of these two cities in person yet like I did with Portland and Tigard and Lake Oswego. However I did find affordable housing in both cities so I know they are in the price range I need to stay in. If neither of those are a match for me I know I could be happy living in Olympia WA again IF I find an affordable enough place to rent. I know Eugene and Salem have slightly less snow and a little more sunshine than Olympia, which is good. Rain doesn't bother me at all so that's not an issue but I still have trouble with driving in the snow. I have never paid for snow tires but maybe that would make the difference. Obviously there are many, many cheaper places I could relocate to if I am just looking to get away from CA prices but I just love a lot about the PNW. I am vegetarian, very into health and animal rights, I love hiking and exploring and camping and being in nature, I enjoy rain and love the beautiful colors of fall in PNW, I have tattoos and I don't know about all of Oregon but almost every person I saw over in Portland was tattooed. I want to make this move back to the PNW but would love some input from locals on the pros and cons and which city might be the best fit. I've been reading many posts on this forum and I know the main advice everyone gives is just "get a job first" or "no don't come because there are no jobs". I am aware that Oregon has a high unemployment rate even though the minimum wage is "decent" like CA. I think Olympia WA has a slightly better unemployment rate. I currently own my own pet sitting business and I love it. However if I move I know I would need to find all new clients or get a whole new job. I've also previously worked at a mortgage company and a legal firm so I have some decent job experience, but no college degrees. When I moved to Olympia I did not line up a job first because its pretty impossible to interview there when you live here and no one will even give you the interview with a CA address. So I just saved up several thousand, got a rental, moved, then applied for jobs. And that's probably how I will do it again. But any feedback from current or former residents on Salem, Eugene, or Olympia would be so helpful. Thanks!!
I hate the hot weather in Sacramento. After years of researching and exploring I have narrowed down my search to certain places for a reason. Does anyone have info on the places I'm) actually considering??
I hate the hot weather in Sacramento. After years of researching and exploring I have narrowed down my search to certain places for a reason. Does anyone have info on the places I'm) actually considering??
You need to post your questions in the Oregon forums to get a better response.
I lived in Eugene for 4 years in college, and it, like most of eastern Oregon, is about exactly half as nice as everyone there thinks. It's a pretty basic college town, not much special or unique about it. Salem is an unmitigated dump. Can't speak to Olympia.
Spent quite a bit of time in all of them and I'd stick with Olympia personally. Better scenery, quick access to Tacoma/Seattle, and fairly good economy. I found nothing appealing about Salem at all, aside from it being the least expensive to live in housing wise. Eugene is indeed Olympia-esque.....definitely a college town. It's a little too isolated for my taste.
Spent quite a bit of time in all of them and I'd stick with Olympia personally. Better scenery, quick access to Tacoma/Seattle, and fairly good economy. I found nothing appealing about Salem at all, aside from it being the least expensive to live in housing wise. Eugene is indeed Olympia-esque.....definitely a college town. It's a little too isolated for my taste.
Isolated from what? We live in Oakridge, about 40 miles from Eugene. We have full services in Oakridge, but it's nice to go to Bi-Mart or Costco on occasion. The Ducks play pretty good football, there is also the Hult Center for arts.
Just meaning its a bit of a hike to get to other major cities in the area. Eugene/Springfield are definitely big enough to have what most people need on a day to day, I just prefer larger areas. The OP might not though, definitely understandable.
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