Looking for new home in northwest (Portland, Eugene: low crime, employment, neighborhood)

[northern_moodeline]

We're looking for a place to start a family. We would like to stay on the outskirts of a large city, and are learning towards purchasing land to build a new home on (no less than 5 acres). Currently, we are comparing Oregon and Washington. We would prefer not to stay too close to Portland or Seattle. So far, we have been looking into the the Salem, Eugene, and Bend areas of Oregon. I love the way Salem looks, but the crime rates are too high. We really love Bend, but wish that it were closer to the coast, universities, and larger hospitals. We're also worried about the job opportunities in Oregon (we work in GIS and Marketing). We currently live in Ann Arbor, Michigan and would love a similar community. We don't plan to move for another 2-3 years, but want to research every possibility.

Here is what we are looking for:
Near hospitals
Good schooling
Low crime
Near a Target store
Within 1-1.5 hours from Ocean
Near hiking/national parks
Preferably near a major University

We would appreciate any suggestion!

[Nell Plotts]

Your challenge will be finding employment not close to either Portland or Seattle. There are small towns along the western edge of Portland metro with respected private colleges - Forest Grove (Pacific University), Newberg (George Fox University) or McMinnville (Linfield College)- that would provide access to the Portland employment market. Hard for me to know what you mean by 'major university'. Portland has the University of Portland, Portland State University, Reed College, Lewis & Clark College and the Oregon Health Sciences University.

Setting that aside, add Eugene and Corvallis to your list.

To want a home on 5 or more acres and be near a major university and a Target store is tough. Oregon has land use laws whose goal is to prevent small rural parcels because they are agriculturally untenable. You might find some 'horse properties' around Wilsonville that does both but they likely will have and existing residence and be pricy. I looked at a realtor website and did find land only listings along Cornelius Pass Road in unincorporated Portland. Those sites are forested. The K-8 school is Skyline, high school is Lincoln. Skyline offers an international school curriculum, Lincoln is a very strong high school. The nearest Target is in Beaverton.

[Steve Pickering]

Crime in Salem is very low compared to the rest of the country and much of Oregon. Best shot at what you want is outside Corvallis, Salem, Eugene, Cottage Grove, Veneta, McMinnville, Dallas, Independence, Junction City, and Monroe. All are a half hour or less from a University and the same for a Target Store. The Coast is only an Hour or less from all of them. Why Target?

[Nell Plotts]

She hasn't shopped in a upgraded large Fred Meyer. But honestly, I like Target too.

[gray horse]

Sherwood, or Wilsonville...both have Target.

[bler144]

Employment in Oregon is challenging. Not just jobs, but pay relative to COL. If you're both reliant on finding jobs in academia, it's going to be even tougher given the relatively smaller number of schools. Though the fact that your spouse is in marketing at least provides a bit of flex.

Also, in general, while there are nice things about raising a family here, there will be downsides compared to where you are. Eugene has a similar COL to Ann Arbor, and you may well take a pay cut - the UO has increased some salaries the past few years, but that's in part to try and catch up to peer institutions (like Michigan).

School budgets have been taking a beating, and while there are still some good schools, it's a gamble. In theory one spouse could work at OSU and the other at UO, but that's going to be a solid commute for one unless you split the difference and live out in Cheshire. In the Portland market there are more schools, but commuting around the metro is becoming a challenge. And realistically, the best school districts generally require living in higher end areas (Happy Valley, Lake Oswego, etc.).

The largest schools in the Portland metro (OHSU/PSU) are downtown and going to be tough to commute to from acreage. Also note that George Fox (prev. mentioned) and several of the other privates will require signing a 'Statement of Faith' for employment.

[bler144]

p.s. and I agree- living in the midwest I shopped at Target. Living in Oregon we shop much more at Fred Meyer.

[Nell Plotts]

You don't need to live in Lake Oswego, Happy Valley or Dunthorpe to find good schools in Portland metro.

[bler144]

Originally Posted by Nell Plotts

You don't need to live in Lake Oswego, Happy Valley or Dunthorpe to find good schools in Portland metro.

Oh sure, there are some good schools outside of those. I never claimed to be providing an exhaustive list.

But the number of areas in the metro that are relatively affordable and have good schools isn't exactly overwhelming imo. It's not like people are clamoring to get their kids into Reynolds or even Parkrose.

In general, school quality and neighborhood cost of housing are directly correlated, though there are a few exceptions on each side.

[Nell Plotts]

The OP is going to have a tough time finding a home site that meets her needs. 5-acres is a killer. There are only a couple listed under $700,000. By the time they buy an unimproved lot and build on it they will have more than that invested. Well, septic system, driveway, then house. Too many unknowns IMHO.