Hello, my husband and I are looking to relocate to another area of the country. We are both originally from larger cities (New York and the SF Bay Area). We currently live in Florida (and no, I don't feel at home here after many years) and we're looking for a new place to call home.
We are interested in getting some information on Portland. I've scoured the net, but would prefer *first hand* info. Things such as:
1. What are the best neighborhoods?
2. What's the transportation system like?
3. Diversity: Is there any? The numbers look small, but I'm more concerned about comfort among the various cultures.
4. What type of industries are there?
I'm sure I can find some of this on my own, as I am still doing research; however, it would be great to hear from those who have lived or are currently living in the area.
To assist me more effectively, please provide me with as many facts as possible and only *serious* answers. :>
Thanks for the help! Let me clarify what I'm looking for.. I'm very open to living anywhere within the Portland area. I'm used to commuting (via car) to work in both Sth. Florida and in California. I'm concerned with living in an area that is considered middle class (not too high end and not too low end), diverse re: families/singles, ages, and to a certain extent diversity, as I love to learn about new cultures. I've just heard that there are areas where I would not be as comfortable due to certain attitudes towards race. I've experienced it some here in FL (normally further north) and in the Bay Area growing up (I lived not far from the Grand Wizard of the KKK). So when I mention diversity, I'm also looking at cultural/ethnic diversity without a hateful mentality that can come along with it. Where all types are intergrated into the community easily. Hope that helps :> Portland is a very nice place to live.
There quite a few nice places to live. Within the city, pretty much anywhere west of the Willamette (the main river) is nice. The Western Suburbs of Hillsboro and Beaverton are great, but traffic can be a problem. Same goes with places in teh South, like Tualatin, and north, like Vancouver.
Transportation can eb a little rough, depending on your preference and your location. The west side is the best though. They added a light rail system about 10 years ago, and just 5 years ago they expanded the Sunset highway, so even in the heat of rush hour it will only take about 30 minutes to get downtown from Beaverton. The light rail is nice, but not as easy to commute on as the Bart or the subways. It's more suited to liesurely trips downtown.
There isn't much diversity. It's mostly white, but that does not mean that there aren't any minorities or that they will be treated worse. It happens, I can't deny, but there are enough people that welcome everyone with an open heart that the few outspoken racists you will inevitably find will fade away.
There a quite few industries. The noteable one is computers. Intel runs several gigantic factories. tektronix is based here. On top of that start ups are everywhere. Like any big city there are some manufacturing jobs, service jobs, and so on. However, Portland is not the city to MAKE a career in. Most companies don't rest enough importance. It is a great place to take the career you made elsewhere and settle down.
It is a very beautiful city which is very safe, very comfortable and extremely livable. If you're looknig for a place to settle down, do it there. It's big enough to have your career and support your family, but not so big as to lose yourself. What about seattle? I just returned from Fl. and I'm wondering whats wrong with you guys? I live in the San Francisco Bay area and I'm trying to find a way out of here to Fl. Don't forget the cold weather and rain when you decide were you are going. Check out the winters and rain amount in Portland. Check it out really good........ I didn't live in Portland but I did go there for work. I can tell you I like Seattle better than Portland. :) I love living in Portland!!! It is a fairly liberal and green city especially for it's size. (But you are use to NY and SF)
Depending on your budget there are some great areas to live in. There is some diversity here and there some areas/neighborhoods that seem to be sort of one group or the other. Even where there isn't alot of diversity... there is definately respect and tolerance of different races ,religions,sexual orientation, etc.
If I had to stereo type...
Close in S.E neighborhoods like Belmont, Hawthorne, Woodstock, Clinton and Mt. Tabor lend themselves to the more earthy, bike riding, prius driving, coffee drinking, community gardining, attatchment parenting, yoga class taking people.
Although some North Portland (traditionaly African American area) also has some of the "up and coming" neighborhoods like St. Johns, Alberta, Kenton, Albina, are also seeing the same types of new cafes, funky shops, and neighborhood renovations that the other Se areas were seeing 10 years ago.
There is a China town..a few restaruants, shops and a small but beautiful walled garden, but it majorly lacks in actual Chinese people.
There are so many other burbs... Gresham, Troutdale, Tigard, Tualatin, Oregon city.
Beaverton aka BeaverTRON has lots of engineering type firms Tetronix, Intel, lots more. also Nike lives here. (Columbia sportswear isn't far, and Addidas is near North Portland)
There is a pretty good public transit system that is always being expanded. Right now it just covers downtown, inner city and connects to a few outer suburbs Gresham, Beaverton, Hillsboro, , the air port, etc. There is a small downtown area called "fareless square" where all public trans is free.. busses, street car and Max light rail. If you plan to work or live in that area it is so great! (but there are rumors of this ending or being cut back)
Info at:
www.trimet.org
Not sure how much you have looked into it but here are some links that might help.
Neighborhood info:
http://www.portlandneighborhood.com
http://www.movingtoportland.net/portland...
Real Esate:
http://portlandmlsdirect.com/
If you need more info let me know, I might be able to help. Good luck in your new home search! Portland's cost of living is better than San Francisco or Seattle and the Transportation system is better. Seattle is a nightmare to drive around. We have a friend who moved here from Seattle. He was a Dr there ... he lived 2 miles from the hospital. When he was on call at the hospital. He said it would take him 2 hrs to go 2 miles. We have friends who live there, they tell us the traffic is getting worse.
Portland has the best light rail system in the country.
I would recommend any of the suburbs ourside of the city of Portland. The one you choose will depend on where you work. You will want to live close to your work.
Portland is very diversified. you wont have any problem at all. You will have a warm welcome. The only people who have any problems are the dead beats or criminals.
There are lots of the same old industries ... just like everywhere else. But we have a large amount of high tech industry here ... this is call the "sylicon forest" because there are so many high tech businesses here. Portland is NOT very diverse. Like a previous responder stated there are "traditionally" African American neighborhoods. For the most part areas are either populated by African Americans OR by white people, and they are not well integrated.
Portland tries to be cooler than it is. People sit around drinking coffee and acting like snobs a great deal.
Portland is also really cold and rainy. In fact there are severe weather warnings in effect right now. If you are used to San Francisco or Florida, you will not like the weather here.
The cost of living is pretty good, but the state income tax is also really high. People here brag about there not being any sales tax, but I would rather pay 7% for what I buy as opposed to 20% for what I earn.
Here is a link to a local news channel. They all over hype stuff here and try to make Portland seem more connected to everything than it is.
http://www.kptv.com/gooddayoregon/index....
Here's another:
http://www.katu.com/
Don't get me wrong, it's not ALL bad here, but I've lived in San Diego, and in Virginia Beach VA for a while, and I liked both places better. I've also spent time in several other places, and Portland is really a small city that thinks it's bigger than it is. |
