By 1910, that figure reached more than 207,000. My name is Antonina and I’m glad you’re here! To add one more to the cons: Oregon drivers and their love of tailgating. If you manage your income smartly and keep your property investments to a minimum, you may find that the final tax rate is better for you even with the higher income tax rates in the state. Where you get hit is with the income tax, which is 9% on any state-based income that is over $8,401. 10 Pros and Cons of Living in Washington State By Abhay June 23, 2020. If you want to fly out of the city, then he will discover that it is difficult to find a direct flight. Then there is the fact that Mount Hood is always standing guard over you. Hope to hear from you! And the part about making friends is pretty accurate. One of the best reasons to consider living in Portland is the fact that you are very close to numerous natural wonders, even if you live deep in the city. I’m a Portland native who’s been living in CO the past decade or so. Anyone who spends any amount of time in Portland would be able to confirm that we aren’t “Jesus White” in the way that your wife might have been imagining. WATCH IN HD! I’m hoping to move to Portland next year. Cons of living in Oregon: * 9–11% income tax * high property tax * consistently increasing population threatens to erode many of the advantages * Portland-area traffic is two-thirds as sucky as Seattle. No traffic, friendly people, lazy weekends. Feb 11, 2020 - Considering the PROS & CONS OF LIVING IN PORTLAND, OREGON? Like you mentioned, it’s not that people aren’t friendly, they’re just….reserved. I love the environment. Thank you for your insight and thoughtful comment, it’s nice to hear from other Portlanders! The sun stays up a little later than in other parts of the country. We’re definitely not as big as LA, but I hope the food scene can keep you entertained all the same. It really is a lovely place to be. Hi Ghilary, I know EXACTLY what you mean about Sisters, Oregon!! Screen Door for the win!! Taking a logical approach to your decisions will help you to fit in quickly. I’m so glad you tried it out though! I hope you and your family have a seamless transition to life in Vancouver/Portland. I was just thinking this!! With ample public transit comes narrow highways. View … ), baby-carrying mosquitoes (oops, no S.E. If you have an accessible neighborhood with your home, then stores that are five minutes away might feel like a tough trip to make. I hope you return to Oregon soon! And it’s so true that this city is super friendly as this article says. There are days when the heat can be strong, but it cools down at night rather quickly. Each one has its own character, so find one that matches your own to have a great time. I've been living in Portland, OR for three years so I thought I would share my personal pros & cons of living here! Portland had to declare a state of emergency because of this disadvantage. Bend is a very popular and hence expensive area (great brewery), so people with less income settle in the surounding areas, especially Redmond. 3. There are a lot of people who say that it doesn’t get very hot in Portland. 6. Portland is a great place to live! If I may ask, do Portlander’s fear a real estate bubble, or does the current trend really feel sustainable? What’s Really Going on in Portland, from a Local, 10 (Good) Quarantine Habits I Don’t Plan to Break, Alberta Arts District | Mini Portland Guide, 12 Pros and Cons of Living in Oregon - Honest Pros and Cons, https://embracesomeplace.com/pros-cons-portland-oregon/, Winter in Portland (A Local’s Survival Guide), 10 Reasons Oregon is The Best State to be Quarantined In. Your summers are going to be filled with some sunshine, but the rest of the year involves overcast skies, plenty of rain, and more than your fair share of snowstorms. Property taxes in Portland are higher than in other places in the Pacific Northwest. I suggest checking out both cities before making the final call. If you are thinking about joining everyone else who has made their way to Portland in recent years, then these are the pros and cons you will want to consider. Stumbled on your blog and love it. We explore a new city every year and we spent 2017 exploring and living in Portland Oregon. Your email address will not be published. 3. Thanks for reaching out and don’t hesitate to ask most questions – happy to help! Congrats on X-ray school!! Nice to be reminded that it’s not “me” or my imagination. Portland is a beautiful city that provides you with numerous opportunities to go exploring. Source: localadventurer.com. Our murder rate is 0.9 out of every 100,000 individuals. Then there are the colors of fall to enjoy while in Portland too. The weather can be challenging to manage when living in Portland. We have both been offered good jobs in Portland, and we’re really excited about the prospect of relocating. Pros; Attractive downtown: Arts and culture: Educated population: Cons; Economic cycles : Cost of living: Clouds and rain: What Bert Has To Say About Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro Metro Area. Then the crippling weight of the cons list set in. The pros obviously won out for us, but we’ve listed everything so you can decide for yourself! It has continually grown in size since then, with the 2010 census showing that nearly 600,000 people were living in the city proper. But far too many have jobs that don’t begin to pay enough to get on the Portland housing ladder or save for retirement. And we only live 10 blocks from the “action” zone. Trying to navigate the highways and bridges of Portland is challenging for even the best drivers. San Diego is so beautiful, my husband and I even entertained living there at one point. And wish you luck with the move. I am very sad. Our daughter thinks we are, but crazy has always worked for us the past. However, those that have not purchased a home find it hard to afford one now because the housing market has gone through the roof. Communities should be age-diverse as well. By almost every metric, you’ll spend less in Salem – including on housing. MAPS OF COOS BAY, OREGON Check out the latest Maps in a variety of categories including cost of living, population, and commute time. Your summers are going to be filled with some sunshine, but the rest of the year involves overcast skies, plenty of rain, and more than your fair share of snowstorms. * High cost of living. I have friends if I think about it. A significant fire destroyed 20 blocks of it in 1873, causing $1.3 million in damage at the time. 6. Thank you so much for this article! 1. Let’s connect, please! Different ethnicity and cultures are what makes life interesting, in our opinion. I hope this helps, thanks so much for your kind words! Because there are about eight weeks each year where the weather becomes unbearable from a heat standpoint, most buildings do not invest in any type of air-conditioning. Personally, it doesn’t feel sustainable to me but that’s solely based on feeling – no stats. Secondly, how unstable is the political landscape? Living in Las Vegas - The Pros and Cons You Need to Know Before Your move. Being the largest city in the state of Oregon one would expect to find a fully industrialized city, but the truth is that natural resources are a … Living in Portland puts you geographically between the Columbia and Willamette rivers, the former creating a natural border between Oregon and Washington State. I walk over to my favorite cafe every morning, go on lunch walks and ride my bike around in the evening. Kind of weird at first because strangers talk to you and stuff, but more pleasant than the East Coast "frown in public always" attitude. Living in the Pacific Northwest is an adjustment for the average person who is not used to the climate. There appears to be hype around restaurants that are popular but that do not necessarily deliver quality. The Pros or Advantages of Living in Oregon There’s no sales tax on purchases in Oregon. Source: quora.com. Are there any areas with more affordable apartments for rent? , Thanks so much for this article, my family will be relocating fro Even tho my wife lived in Corvallis over 40 years ago, we are kinda “buying in” to retiring to Portland area sight unseen. Do you know if teachers in Portland generally are happy with their quality of life? Hills, rivers, and the distant Cascade Mountains dominate the visual landscape. * Traffic is terrible all the time. Our favorite part of living in Portland was how close it was to get outdoors. As for the political unrest – we get asked this question all the time! I have always been a city gal but over the past few years that has change, and now I’m more open to live in small towns. The first thing that surprised me was that I wouldn’t be saving oodles of money in rent or overall cost of living. When (then) President Clinton was in town for the forestry summit, I was quoted in Willamette Week as saying we could solve the crisis if all the native Oregonians would simply pull the old-growth sticks out of their butts. You can find amazing natural wonders within an easy drive. Welcome!! First and foremost – welcome to Portland! I’m hoping that I’ll enjoy it and get to benefit from your pro list. The pros and cons of living in Portland then depend on the neighborhood you choose. Thank you for your kind support. Since we live and travel for food, the food scene sounds like a major plus. One of the most significant events for the city was the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition, a world’s fair held in 1905. If you are willing to go a little further east, then there are some beautiful desert landscapes to explore. When you add in the construction backlog in the city, strict boundaries for urban growth, and other challenges in the real estate market, there is a real need for affordable housing. It seems like rent prices are (slowly) dropping due to COVID. I am a high school teacher and my wife is finishing up her Master’s degree in Social Work. Hello and welcome to my travel blog. My wife and I are strongly considering retiring in Vancouver, WA to take advantage of the tax benefits and lower cost of housing, but near enough to Portland for the food. The one that stands out the most for me after 5 years is not making close friends. Oh, Antonina, please tell me are. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. We have eliminated most of the rest of the country due to severe winters (there goes the entire N.E. I’m starting to break out in a sweat hoping we are doing the right thing. Some forums can only be seen by registered members. Considering a move to Portland area (in the near future) and also love to travel. There is a place perfect for you in Oregon somewhere. It is easy enough to get around once you get to know the city. So fun to hear that you’ll be here in summer – let me know if you want any tips! If you take an item priced $8.95 to the registrar, that’s all you’ll have to pay. There are a lot of strange streets in Portland where they end at nothing. I LOVE that place, it’s so good! That place is like magic! There are certainly challenges in public education, transportation, and weather to manage when you call this state your home. They seem to love their jobs but mentioned to me that the large class room sizes are very challenging to handle. Sign up for the email list and join a robust community of 40,000+ monthly readers — you’ll always be in the know. A few hours in either direction takes you to vastly different landscapes. It can be tough to find a place to live if you’re renting. If you are married or have a qualifying household, then the bracket limits double. You might need to dig to find quality food options. A note from the editor: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. Like, months will go by without being able to see the sun. Trying to travel out of Portland can be rather inconvenient. Big plus. What’s next? You can’t beat what summer feels like in Portland. I really appreciate this article, I am in x-ray school and my partner and I hope to move out of the south not too long after graduation (maybe in a year or so). Redmond is still significantly cheaper, but is catching up. Our friends have always come in every flavor. Portland, Oregon is frequently rated the most bike-friendly city in the country, encouraging retirees to enjoy time being active while getting where they need to go, instead of sitting in traffic. You must take action to counter the problems of this disadvantage before any of the symptoms have a chance to start. I’m glad you swung by, stay a while. Maybe it’s getting older. I would guess Portland has great opportunities for radiography, but Seattle has us beat in aviation (Boeing). Is the instability beginning to affect the day to day functionality of peoples lives across economic conditions, personal safety, and quality of life? Oregon’s Particular Weaknesses (Living in Oregon Cons) The state has a higher overall crime rate than most states. Less than 20 years later, the local newspaper referred to Portland as being the dirtiest community in the northern states. Low salaries. You’ll also pay a tax on any personal property used for business purposes. Make sure to try Tasty n Alder and Screendoor – both are so good! The items which are subject to taxation are all privately-owned real property items, such as fixed machinery, equipment, buildings, and land. 4. It’s un-nerving. My wife is accepting the weather with a big sigh every time she mentions it. Are we crazy? We kinda want the opposite of what we have here in a small southern town and we are torn between Portland and Seattle. Pam. Hi ,I have visit Portland and enjoyed mi vacacion, my daughter and her husband just moved in Portland a week ago, they are newly married, I just worry about them if they want to have family and raise their children, I didn’t like that people smoke drugs in the public place,that is not the way I raise my children and here in my city is not allowed is illegal. I just wanted to say HI! Very liberal Cons: a million. Honestly, the current political landscape isn’t even worth mulling over, it’ll blow over and it’s not even that bad. I’m glad you found this helpful, even if it doesn’t seem like the right place at this time. Thank you for reading. You’ve got to give yourself an extra 90 minutes or so to make sure that you get to where you need to be on time. , Oh my gosh, I live 2 hours south in the eclectic town of Eugene and when we come up every couple months we always need a wonderful oyster po boy from screen door . And yes, Portland speaks to some but not to all. read more. There is certainly an effort to keep Portland weird, much like you can find with the attitudes in Austin, Texas. Portlanders are generally very accepting of differences and celebrate diversity, even if there are a lot of white people. The weather can be challenging to manage when living in Portland. The Pacific Northwest sees a lot of precipitation throughout the year, so there is a whole lot of green that surrounds you here. For the big move find with the transplants who come to the pandemic my job cut my salary and was! Heat can be strong, but nothing prepares you for actually experiencing it re not for... 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