Disgruntled in Portland--is Denver any better? (sales, home, schools)

[Madame Defarge]

I have lived in Portland, Oregon for the past 5 years and am getting very tired of the dreary weather (hardly any sun so far in June!), hyperliberal politics (high water bills that fund politicians' boondoggles), and hipsters (the show "Portlandia" says it all). The cost of living is high, there's a very high income tax here (but no sales tax), and the schools are poor and going downill.

I'm trying to convince my husband to find a new place to live and raise our kids, but he is resisting because he's from the Pacific Northwest and doesn't want to uproot our family. Plus, it would be hard to find jobs in our field in Denver (law). If anyone out there has any experience with both PDX and Denver, do you think Denver is any better? I'm most concerned about my kids' education/quality of life than anything else. Thanks!

[goolsbyjazz]

Hmmm...I was wondering what Portland was like. I am probably not qualified to speak on what Denver is like since I've only visited. However, our visit turned into an awesome week!

[Dorthy]

A search of this forum for Portland threads:
//www.city-data.com/forum/searc...rchid=37506876

[JBPisgah]

Denver doesn't have the specific characteristics you dislike in Portland. But it may have just as many, or even more, characteristics you dislike. You're sick of Portland...fine. But is Denver right for you? That's the question you need to explore.

[Willy702]

I dont think you will find the education better, but yeah a lot more sun indeed. Disclamer, what I know about Portland comes from mostly a decade ago and from the Washington side of the river. I always thought people who lived and worked in the suburbs in WA had the best of all worlds as they get no income tax and then no sales tax when they go into Oregon. Plus they can occasionally get the amenities of Portland without having to be a hipster 24/7 and having to eat 3 meals a day off a food truck. I could be wrong.

[davebarnes]

Originally Posted by Madame Defarge

I'm most concerned about my kids' education/quality of life than anything else.

The answer is Weston, Massachusetts - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Trust me on this.
My parents live next in the ghetto that is Wayland.

[cityfilms]

Denver is a desert. Chicago is 30 degrees cooler right now. Summer is ruined if this keeps up...

Move to chicago or SF, better climate for you than here,imo

Everyone in denver looks homeless their skin looks so bad, very dry here.

[pkrn89]

I can't comment at the job situation here, as I'm a stay at home mom. There's plenty of excellent schools in Denver and the suburbs, and Denver/Colorado is a beautiful place. I've lived in Chicago, too, but they have a horrible winter, many cloudy days and there's no natural beauty, which you're used to in the Pacific Northwest. I suggest you take a trip out here and see how you feel about the area. It's a great place, as long as you don't mind the winters.

[livecontent]

If you main concern is "...my kids' education/quality of life than anything else..." then I do not think you have anything that is a concern about Portland in thinking that Denver would be a better place. So, Portland is "hyperliberal" as you say, why is that a problem for education of your kids. Those type of professional educated people tend to demand better education for their children. They advocate for more extensive public transit; they are concerned about the environment. All these leads to an improved quality of life for your children.

OK, these people may be arrogant and have that pedantic personality of narcissistic self importance. They tend to follow group think of the liberal mindset and didactically lecture those who they consider not their equals--which is everybody who does not dress, eat or behave like their flock of phonies. Yet, it is that so irritating that these annoyances cannot be tolerated so as to keep in mind what you have said, that your children's welfare is what is most important in your life.

Perhaps you spend too much time in obsessively seeing and knitting offenses in your mind as the Madame Defarge of that name; and are too ready to drop the guillotine and cut off the beneficial influences around you, which you will not find in such abundance in Denver.

Livecontent

[karlsch]

With the exception of the weather, moving to Lake Oswego and, if necessary, doing the short commute to Portland for your jobs would solve your problems.

No matter where you live, somehow or other, you have to pay taxes.