- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Oregon Babies
Possilby moving to Portland or Bend
Dh and I have been talking about moving out of Texas and out to the Northwest. Jobs would be the deciding factor in where we ultimately move, but in the meantime, I was hoping people wouldn't mind give some pros and cons about these places.
I have lived in Texas my whole life, and I worry I'd be affected by the rain, but I also think I'd enjoy the diversity in cultures.
Wondering specifically about schools (public and private), traffic, bike friendliness, churches, and the like.
Thanks in advance! We are planning on making a trip out for a vacation just to see --- the last time I was in Oregan, I was 12 -- but I am excited at the thought of getting out of here.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Possilby moving to Portland or Bend
Hi! Well, Portland and Bend are completely different. I would post on the oregon nest board also, you will get more responses.
Portland it rains from October-April. Portland is very bike friendly. I've lived here for most of my life, and I love it. Schools, well it depends on the neighborhood. I would stay away from Portland Public Schools if possible. The surrounding areas, Beaverton, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Oregon City, Happy Valley, have much better public schools.
Bend is 300 sunny days a year. It does snow there, but it's "desert snow", it's different than Portland. I've never been to Austin, but the Bend/Redmond area reminds me of the areas surrounding San Antonio, just without the big city feel. I love Bend, DH and I talk often of moving there.
I would highly suggest that you visit both places for a week eachy, before making any decisions. And have jobs lined up, they are HARD to come by up here. Last I checked, Portland was 12% unemployed, and Bend was15%.
Thanks for your feedback! DH and I are planning to take a vacation to Pdx in the near future...I also heard Corvallis is nice. Any thoughts there? I'll try the Nest boards. Thanks again --- helps form a better picture for me.
I can't speak to Bend, but I've lived in Portland for about 5 years and lived in Corvallis my whole life prior.
Portland proper has a wide variety of public schools, public charter schools, and private schools. The public schools vary widely by neighborhood. I wouldn't make a general statement about whether they are good or bad, because it really depends on the school. In general, I'd say SW schools are the best. I live in NE, where the schools are probably the worst, but they are dramatically improving. And, for example, there is a public charter Waldorf school near my home. It's true that the schools are probably better in some of the suburbs... but then you have to live in the suburbs
I?m probably biased, but I think the schools in Corvallis are good. The influence of the university and parental involvement keep them pretty good. There are charter public schools and private schools in Corvallis as well, although obviously fewer options than in Portland because there are fewer people. For instance, I think there is only one private Christian school and one private academic/arts school.
Traffic in Portland may be similar to Austin (never been there), because it seems standard for a smallish big city. We live and work in the city, so most places we go are within twenty minutes; if you commute in from the suburbs, the commute will likely be longer, maybe 40 minutes depending on the route and time/day. Traffic varies by suburb. Traffic is nothing like the Bay Area or Seattle, but it?s certainly more than Corvallis. There is really no ?traffic? to speak of in Corvallis. I miss being five minutes from anywhere!
Portland does its best to be bike friendly. There is a very active bike community/advocacy group. Many people commute by bike if they can (my perception may be biased since I work in an area without free/easily available parking). The city wins awards, so it?s better than other cities although not perfect. The suburbs are definitely less bike-friendly, although again it varies by area. Corvallis is extremely bike-friendly. It?s not too big and it?s pretty flat. Lots of people bike and drivers are generally conscientious. I didn?t own a car when I lived there ? I walked and biked everywhere and loved it. BTW, the Portland metro area has a good public transit system, especially if you live in the city. Corvallis has one, but barely.
Not sure what you?re looking for in churches. Both Corvallis and Portland have a variety, though. Since Corvallis is smaller, there may only be one church for a particular denomination.
I enjoy living in Portland because there is great food, lots of cultural activities (concerts, museums, and such), and better job opportunities than Corvallis. But I really like Corvallis for its sense of community, lack of traffic, and space/sense of calm. My husband and I are happy here, but we want to move back to the mid-valley. Some people panic because Corvallis doesn?t have a mall, so you may have to drive to Albany, Eugene, or Salem ? but after living in both places, I?ve found that I have to drive just as long to go shopping in Portland as I did in Corvallis because of traffic and distance. So IMO, it?s a moot point. Neither town is actually as liberal as they *think* they are, but they are still more liberal than most of the US. Neither has much ethnic or racial diversity (welcome to Oregon). Portland has more than anywhere else in Oregon? but it?s limited mainly to certain geographical areas.
Oh, and the rain is tough on recent transplants. I won't lie. But it really pays off in the summer, because everything is so green and lovely. Most people do get used to it. You just have to buy a good coat and umbrella and perservere. Portland is windier than Corvallis, but that's the only real difference in weather.
Pear--Hi there! I read your response to my other post, too. Thank you so much for the insight. So helpful, and I know it takes a while to write it all out. I really do appreciate it.
When I'm honest about it, I don't think we'll be moving anytime in the next 3-5 years, so we've got time. But I do know we need to get out of Texas at some point...at least for a good stretch of our lives...Anyway, thank you, again! If you ever want opinions about Austin, ask away! lol
No problem! Sorry I couldn't say anything about Bend, but people seem to love it there. The temperature range is more extreme (colder in the winter, warmer in the summer) than the valley but still relatively mild compared to other areas of the US, and it doesn't get the rain like the valley does. The economy is in the tank right now, but I'm confident that will turn around well within 3-5 years.
FWIW, it seems to me like people who like Portland and Corvallis like Austin. I assume it would go the other way
GL!