Job opportunity - Portland area

[jumpman1989]

Midwest guy trying to finally make it out west. For those that live around Portland would you recommend WA or OR when considering housing and hunting? Coming from KY house prices are cheap in comparison but I knew that before applying. I currently live in the country and wouldn't mind a drive to and from the job in downtown Portland if it was less than an hour. Which state would you recommend when taking both into consideration? Past couple of years I've hunted in Idaho but don't have a job opportunity there currently.

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[KopperBuck]

Neither is the real answer, especially if this is elective. I couldn’t be more serious about that.

Are you working in OR or WA? That would frame the question better. If you’re working in WA, then I would try real hard to live in WA due to income tax ramifications.

Traffic is going to be bad on either side of the river, but definitely worse closer to Portland. It’ll take you some time to get into the city depending how country you want to be.

I’ve lived in WA/OR my whole life and on both sides, although primarily east. You couldn’t pay me enough money to live on the west side of the Cascades again. In each state you have less than 3-6 counties that decide the entire state politics. Depending where your politics lay, maybe that’s a good thing. It’s the most frustrating thing in the world for those of us that prefer a rural lifestyle.


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[KopperBuck]

Whoops. Seen downtown Portland for job. Depends how far you want to travel, but if you’re an hour or better away, I’m guessing most of your shopping is going to be closer to home. WA has a sales tax, OR does not. Something to consider. Hopefully someone more local can help you. My in-laws are in the Willamette Valley, but a little farther south than you’d want to go.


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[jumpman1989]

Thanks for your response, work would be in North Portland, OR area.

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[EastMT]

I lived in St Helens Oregon, 30 miles Northwest of Portland for 2 years, it was a nice small town. Reasonable housing, short drive to coast, on the Columbia River. Living in WA, working in Oregon doesn’t have much benefit due to OR tax laws, you pay income tax regardless.

The bridge crossings from Washington can be terrible in the commute hours so we decided on the small towns in Oregon. Easy commute to North Portland. I worked like a dog when I was there so didn’t do much hunting, Columbia fishing is great. I didn’t like the large population but had fun visiting new places. Nice thing is you are a short hop to most western states for hunting.




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[blackdog]

You're not going to get too far out in the 'country' if you're trying to stay within an hour of downtown, or North, Portland. Traffic is horrible and getting worse and ODOT has no plan to deal with the continued growth in the area. And Portland's wonderful mayor even made the comment not long ago that there'd never be another freeway lane added to his city as long as he was mayor. Wonderful solution.

I'd truly encourage you to visit the city of Portland before making any commitments. It's a hellhole these days. The homeless problem is real and the city doesn't appear to care. Tent camps everywhere. Garbage blowing in the wind all over the place. I used to be proud to be from Portland but now its a joke. Thankfully I live out west of town and don't have to go downtown often.

 

[jumpman1989]

I have visited. The goal would be to live outside of Portland. Trying to get recommendations into areas to look into for housing that's outside of Portland. WA vs OR, east of town vs west of town etc.

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[Oregon]

Scappose, St Helens, North Plains, Forest Grove. It all sucks for traffic if your job has “normal” hours.
Portland in general sucks donkey balls, but I’d rather live outside Portland than back east.
I live as far west as you can get in this state, but I can still get to Idaho in 8 hours or so.

 

[Magnum61]

Scappose, St Helens, North Plains, Forest Grove. It all sucks for traffic if your job has “normal” hours.
Portland in general sucks donkey balls, but I’d rather live outside Portland than back east.
I live as far west as you can get in this state, but I can still get to Idaho in 8 hours or so.

I lived on the edge of North Plains, worked in Beaverton for 8 years. Traffic starts to stack at 2 pm now out there. I live in the heart of LA now if that gives you any perspective.

 

[Oregon]

I lived on the edge of North Plains, worked in Beaverton for 8 years. Traffic starts to stack at 2 pm now out there. I live in the heart of LA now if that gives you any perspective.

Yes. I get to Portland on 26 from the west. Got a Vet appt Friday at 3pm in Tigard. I’m already mentally prepping for my visit. Stocking up on MRE’s, bottled water and ammo. Doing some cardio just in case.

 

[elkguide]

If you are a gun owner, Washington has become un-live-able!!!!!
As has been stated, traffic in and around Portland just plain SUCKS. Politics are so EXTREMELY to the progressive side that it's impossible to have a civil discussion. As to an hour commute, you are limiting yourself to 20 miles from Portland on most mornings and every afternoon at best. It's really a beautiful city but the extreme politics has made it very hard to see the beauty for all of the radical experiments that the politicians are throwing out there like no new highway construction.

 

[Sam's dad]

So you know by know that Portland is full of extreme progressives, transients, the traffic sucks, and the mayor is out to lunch. But here’s an alternative viewpoint: it’s a hell of a lot better than a lot of places. There’s great steelheading fishing and decent trout fishing if you drive an hour to two and a half hours. There’s decent bug game hunting opportunities and Oregon manages a lot of areas for opportunity hunts. It ain’t Montana but the beer is better. Portland has major league sports, draws good national talent, and has good food.

 

[jumpman1989]

So you know by know that Portland is full of extreme progressives, transients, the traffic sucks, and the mayor is out to lunch. But here’s an alternative viewpoint: it’s a hell of a lot better than a lot of places. There’s great steelheading fishing and decent trout fishing if you drive an hour to two and a half hours. There’s decent bug game hunting opportunities and Oregon manages a lot of areas for opportunity hunts. It ain’t Montana but the beer is better. Portland has major league sports, draws good national talent, and has good food.

Thanks, while it may not be the best town in the west, it sure better than the Midwest for outdoor recreation.

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[JakeB2010]

From a fishing and hunting perspective, OR is where its at for salmon and steelhead fishing. WA bows down to the tribes as they continue to gillnet all streams and WDFW cant even afford to plant fish. Oregon also seems to have much better over the counter Roosevelt elk opportunities despite a lot of it being pay to play with private timber companies. Also, OR doesnt make you pick east or west side for elk. In WA, either you put in for a quality bull tag for rocky MT elk and you are stuck with hunting cows or spikes OTC if unsuccessful, or you choose west side and hunt OTC 3pt or better rosys and buy a point unless you want a coveted rosy tag which are not worth it to me to burn points.

Politically, both states suck.

 

[7718Sallee]

I live in the Willamette Valley and travel to Portland for work about 20 years now. I’ll agree traffic sucks but some directions of flow are much worse than others. I’ve thought long and hard and did research on Portland area homes. IMO I’d look at Sandy, Estacada, Molalla, Canby type area south and east of Portland are best traffic wise. If you have any specific questions just ask.

 

[Jwvogt76]

I'd recommend SE of Portland. Molalla and Estacada are both rural and close to the woods. There is also plenty of other small towns (country living) in the area. Time of day for commuting will be your killer, unless like me, I live in Molalla and drive to NE between 3 and 4am (40 mins.), drive home about 1230 (50 or so).

 

[realunlucky]

I'm flying there tonight for work and stressed about getting a hotel close enough to job site to not be stuck in traffic for an hour.
I'd take a practice commute a few times before committing to buying a house that's for sure. Good luck

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[7718Sallee]

Use the MAX for an easy commute around town much better than rush hours traffic once you figure it out. Depending on time of day my trip to work is typically 70 min for a 6 am start if I have 7or 8 am start it’s easily 90-120 min My travel home is basically the same if I leave work by 230 it’s about 80 min if I leave 330-5 it’s more like 90-120 min. But I live 72 miles south of town

 

[jumpman1989]

Appreciate all the responses! When we visited we stayed in the Sandy area and we weren't driving during the typical hours which is why I guess we didn't see all the traffic.
Thanks for the heads up guys!

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[ilikeshootin]

Worked in Portland for 7 years. Bowed out just over a year ago. I lived in the west hills so it was quiet and a nice area, and super close to Downtown... but It got steadily worse from all perspectives. Traffic is unbearable. Housing prices are through the roof. You could not Pay me to be in that city. No offense.