Which Oregon town has the highest number of California Refugees (per capita)? (Portland: real estate market, rent)

[Oregon Transplant]

As I travel all over my new home State (Oregon) I love talking to people in the various cities and towns all over the area. I find most people are very friendly and will tell you their whole life story if you let them.

I run into alot of California Refugees in cities and towns all over Oregon. I find two distinct type of people from CA.

The first is the people who came to Oregon to escape the massive problems that have occurred as a result of overcrowding and demographic changes to California. Many had lived in California for years and still remember the good old days of the 1950s, 60s and 70s when living in the State was a little more manageable and affordable. Many of these people sold their home at a huge profit and are using the proceeds for an early retirement while working part time for just a little income and an opportunity to get out of the house.

The second type of California refugee want to have the lower cost of living offered by Oregon but want to bring the California lifestyle, culture and demographics to Oregon. They are upset there are so many white people and country blue collar types in the State and are thinking of returning to California.

What City in Oregon has the most California refugees?

[PNW-type-gal]

Portland metro area, as the largest city, of course. It's just a matter of raw numbers. If you asked what city has the largest percentage, I have no idea, but I'd guess Bend or Ashland. Both those cities had years of double-digit growth.

And, really, the "California" thing has been covered to death, if you bothered to read back a few pages to older threads.

[davefr]

If it's "per capita" my guesstimate would be Medford and Bend.

[Bendite]

Things have changed since the turn in the real estate market, and recent statistics are hard to find. In 2006, 40% of the people who moved to Central Oregon using one of the three top moving companies were from California, but that only accounts for about 250 moves. I would bet that most people rent a truck and move themselves, but I also bet the 40% number is fairly accurate for self-movers. In 2007, about 27,000 people applied for Oregon drivers' licenses from California. Popular areas were Bend, Ashland, Medford and the southern coast. I read somewhere that retirees and those close to retiring choose those locations, and young professionals head for the cities where they can find better paying jobs.

[tablemtn]

Perhaps Brookings.

[iPwn]

My high school in Albany had few Californian refugees, my school in Eugene had a lot. It's more in the bigger cities.

[Arf Arf]

No one knows which city has the highest per capita of ex-Californians. I would venture like an earlier poster that it's probably Medford or Bend.

[laylarenee]

I would bet that Bend does

[Smiled]

Per capita? North Californians - Portland, followed by Eugene, then Corvallis, then Ashland.

South Californians (it really is a different state) - Medford, Grants Pass, Bend, Klamath Falls, Portland.


That's my guess and I'm sticking to it!

[Terryj]

Judging from the rate of growth of Bend in the last 10 years, I would say Bend would have the highest capita, then maybe followed by Grants Pass and Medford.