Portland, OR, Austin, TX or Charlotte, NC (Corvallis: apartments, rent)

[alexandcami]

Hi everyone!

My boyfriend and I are considering relocating within a few months to Portland, Austin or Charlotte. I'm visual arts students finishing at UC San Diego and he is a surgical technician, and we are both looking forward to getting out of southern California. I will be going to a culinary arts school and he will be working and going back to school for a pre-vet program. We are interested in schools in those 3 cities, but can't decide!

We love Portland's weather and public transportation, but we are worried about the unemployment rates and both Austin and Charlotte have better public school options. We've been to Portland multiple times, but actually have not been to Austin or Charlotte! We did some internet research and it "appears" (based on what we've found on the internet) that Austin and Charlotte would be places we'd love living too.

We're interested in a city with a fun, creative, decently safe downtown for a young couple in their 20s. I would prefer a city with great food and neighborhood coffee shops. We do not plan to live together initially so we'd prefer rent under $800.

We'd definitely choose Portland if it was not for PSU being the only public school and the high unemployment and hipster rate.

Does anyone have any advice who's lived or been to any of these cities? Or provide us with some pros and cons of any of the areas?


Thanks in advance!

[Nell Plotts]

Oregon doesn't have a veterinary program for one and, yes, we have high unemployment. If the economy were better I would talk about the number of design, incl industrial design, employers...HOWEVER, we have a lot of folks with that talent looking for projects at the moment.

I know little of Austin or Charlotte's opportunities for you but were I you I would explore them.

[aroseinrain]

I drove through NC once. It looked very nice to me. Not much help, I know.

[figmalt]

Originally Posted by Nell Plotts

Oregon doesn't have a veterinary program for one

That's not true - OSU has a vet program.

[Nell Plotts]

Sorry, my info was probably 50 years old .. but that means they will be living in Corvallis, not Portland.

[DoctorRain]

Portland hands down for everything involving culture. I investigated Austin and tbh, sprawl is a big problem there and its really hot too. Also, the fact its in Tex-ass does not help. If you are into alternative country hugely like Langhorne Slim or Old crow medicine show, go there though. Portland is more well rounded for music I think and climate is surely better. See, the fact that some places like Austin or Charlotte have more jobs just doesnt intrigue me. Id rather save money or come with a job somewhere LIKE PORTLAND and know Id have a quality of life like saving the best for last instead of going for the quick fix where jobs are more common, but the quality of life suffers LIKE TEXAS.
Charlotte NC I investigated some too, heard some parts were ok, but Asheville seems better. I got a friend in NC.

[sausa]

Portland is a great town for people like yourselves. You could probably rent for less in either of the other two cities. Portland has a high unemployment rate and also a high under employment rate...meaning, people with master's degrees will work as baristas because they love living here so much. If it's a job you're looking for, I don't know that anyplace has good options at the moment. Good luck with your decision

[Yankeemama]

Austin has jobs and at your age, that is an important factor. Remember that where you go now to start careers is not where you need to settle. You may move all over and that just makes you stronger and more resilient... trust me on that one. I would go where opportunity is. Good luck.

[ACS_BKLYN]

definitely Portland. I've lived in Austin and worked a lot in Charlotte.

Austin is a nice city, but completely sprawled out. The downtown has made strides since I lived there, but still, it's got lots of Texas sprawl. The food in Austin is just okay. lots and lots of tex-mex, which for me is a once in a while ethnic food, not an every day eat. Other things to consider is that it is crazy hot there. Also, public transit and bike options are sorely limited. And finally, having spent time all over the country, I can say as a non-texan there is nothing more annoying than constantly listening to "texas pride" and "hook 'em horns" all the time and seeing everyone decked out in burnt orange. it's maddening after a while. Culture is a bit lacking but the University pulls some stuff in, but because there aren't any pro sports (some minor leagues only) the whole town just gets swallowed up in the University teams.

Charlotte is also a fine little city. The downtown is waking up a bit but it still sleepy, much more so than Austin. They're working on some transit option but they are still very limited. Culturally Charlotte is a bit quiet. Food scene is sub par. style and fashion, etc is way sub par (it is the banking capital of the south if that's any indication). And, in the summer, it is crazy hot and humid.

That leaves Portland. I know very little about because it's one of the few places I haven't been. I know we're considering a move there (seriously) and from what I have read the food i great, transportation is above average, summers are great (winters are wet and mild). Definitely sounds better than Austin or Charlotte.

[nimchimpsky]

Don't know much about Austin, but as someone who lives in Charlotte and has done a lot of research and visited Portland, I would definitely pick Portland over Charlotte. It has way more options than Charlotte, especially considering this:

We're interested in a city with a fun, creative, decently safe downtown for a young couple in their 20s. I would prefer a city with great food and neighborhood coffee shops. We do not plan to live together initially so we'd prefer rent under $800.

Charlotte is much more of a family town. It's the place to raise kids and go to church. Not much nightlife or life in general, at least compared to Portland. Portland food and coffee are both wonderful too. I've been searching for apartments in/directly outside of Portland and found a lot of options in the $500 area.