What is your favorite city/town/suburb around Salem and why? (Portland: house, university)

[Katyia86]

Looking to move to the Salem area and would like to know what your favorite city, town or suburb is and why you like it so much?

Thanks for your help!

K

[Steve Pickering]

Dallas .... Small town, near a big city, and near an even bigger city and only 40 miles from the coast.


Independence ....... Even closer and smaller along the Willamitte River.


Both in Polk County, and much lower taxes.

[Katyia86]

Thanks Steve, I'll check it out. Ive been looking at Silverton and it looks wonderful but I like to keep all my options open.

[Silverfall]

All of the small cities surrounding Salem have a very different feel to them. Silverton is an artsy, highly community oriented town. If I was going to live in a small town outside Salem it would be my choice. I think rather than asking people what their favorite is, I think you might want to tell people what you want in a place to live and then have the group tell you which towns are most like that.

[Katyia86]

Thanks!

No, I don't think we fall into a category and I think it would be hard to label us.

We are a couple in our mid-late 40's. Hubby works for a large software company and telecommutes. He works a lot so needs a nice relaxing place to unwind, and relax.

We like to walk and watch sports but aren’t big camping people or into playing sports.

I’m recreating my life after cancer left me a bit disabled. I’m a writer & certified hospital clown.

We have one adult child out of the house and one in and out at college.
We’ve lived on the west coast, east coast and in England, in big towns, small towns and tiny towns where people go to die. (not by choice)

We want a community-oriented town that we can settle in for the long haul.
In a way, a place we can move to and when retirement age comes, were already home.

I describe it best as a little haven where I can write my books, enjoy the beauty God created, meet some nice people, give of my time and still not be too far from a big city for shopping etc.

I can't do a ton of driving anymore, (15-20 minutes tops before pain sets in) so a walkable community or a smaller town that I can get round in is best, otherwise I have to rely on others and I want very badly to be independent.

I have a caring heart for those who are sick and I LOVE to volunteer, meet people and get involved. But I'm not dead yet, so a place that is alive with opportunities to serve my community but also a place that isn't waiting for people to die.

We love music, concerts, museums, history, walking, beaches, rivers, parks, good food, wine & beer tasting. I LOVE farmers markets & healthy eating but I can’t grow anything. Plants come to my house to commit suicide. ☺

Our musical tastes vary from Peter Frampton to Poison, Warrant, The Beatles, Michael Buble, British Rock, David Bowie, Country etc and the only thing I draw the line at is rap.

We chose the Salem area for colleges our daughter likes and it’s not far from satellite offices if hubby needs to drive in.

These are the towns I’ve found that I like so far. Give me your opinions?

SILVERTON
MCMINNVILLE
DALLAS
KEIZER
ALBANY

Thanks,

K

[jjpop]

If your husband needs high-speed internet for telecommuting, maybe some of the locals could chime in to tell you which towns/areas have (or more importantly don't have that). Maybe they all do (?)...

McMinnville isn't quite as close to Salem as Silverton, Dallas, or Keizer (which is right next door), but the downtown is compact and very attractive. It would be my choice. Albany is kind of spread out and the downtown is somewhat dead, but it's highly affordable.

[Katyia86]

Originally Posted by jjpop

If your husband needs high-speed internet for telecommuting, maybe some of the locals could chime in to tell you which towns/areas have (or more importantly don't have that). Maybe they all do (?)...

Thanks so much. Yes High-speed internet is a must for us. Hopefully someone will let me know.

Thanks for the help.

K

[Steve Pickering]

You would be hard pressed to find anyplace in Oregon without high speed internet. A few of the desert towns, and some in south eastern Oregon, but otherwise the internet is common unless you live way out of the city.

[Silverfall]

Inside the city limits of towns isn't an issue for high speed internet. Outside city limits can be a bit more dubious.

[oregonbirder]

Monmouth is a cute little town that has high speed Internet from a local provider.Western Oregon University is there, walkable for day to day stuff and for entertainment or more shopping Salem is just 20 minutes or just over an hour is Portland.