Questions About: Oregon & Washington

[MsSarah]

Hi all,

I will be graduating the community college this spring and will be taking some time off to save up money. But soon after my little break, I will be applying to university. I don't have anything against California, but I've been living here all my life, and I want a change. With that said...I have looked into Oregon and Colorado.

Those states all seem like good candidates as they all have the university I'm looking to go to. But, I've never been to them so I'm asking for your help!

Specifically, I'm looking into:
Portland, Oregon
Denver, Colorado

This is what I'd like to know:
Crime rates, cost of living, weather, ect. Anything will help, I just need more information about these states. I don't mind the rain, I can stand the cold, but I want somewhere not super expensive and safe.

Thank you for all and any help!

[Evil Step-Mom]

re: Questions About: Oregon & Washington

I have know several people who have lived in Portland or have friends/family who do and they love it. Here is a link to the crime statistics for Portland.

Police Bureau

And here is some housing info

Portland Oregon Housing Information and Statistics

[DisneyIPresume]

re: Questions About: Oregon & Washington

Why so far from Disneyland?

I suggest the four major universities closest to DL: Cal State Fullerton, Chapman University, UC Irvine, or Cal State Long Beach.

Oh I forgot to add that the city of Irvine, while the crime rate has increased from last year (and with this economy that isn't surprising) has still been selected as the nation's safest city with a population of 100,000 or more.

[knittingknerd]

re: Questions About: Oregon & Washington

Not to toot the WA horn, but you don't have to pay income tax and UW or WWU are great schools. Plus WA micechat people rock.

Okay getting to the subject:
Oregon you don't have to pay sales tax. Portland has Vodoo donuts. Yay!

[DarthDucky]

re: Questions About: Oregon & Washington

I love, love, love Oregon but I will be honest. There is a meth problem here. I do not think that it is as bad in Portland as it is in other areas though.
But yeah, no sales tax and Voodoo donuts.

Portland also has many good restaurants, and one of the best public transportation networks.

[MsSarah]

re: Questions About: Oregon & Washington

I have know several people who have lived in Portland or have friends/family who do and they love it. Here is a link to the crime statistics for Portland.

Police Bureau

And here is some housing info

Portland Oregon Housing Information and Statistics

Thanks! Those sites help a lot!

Why so far from Disneyland?

I suggest the four major universities closest to DL: Cal State Fullerton, Chapman University, UC Irvine, or Cal State Long Beach.

Oh I forgot to add that the city of Irvine, while the crime rate has increased from last year (and with this economy that isn't surprising) has still been selected as the nation's safest city with a population of 100,000 or more.

I grew up in Gardena and Torrance. I have very little patience and I'm not willing to battle the traffic again. I'd love to see another part of the country, outside of California. I'm sure I will return though...I couldn't stand being away from Disneyland for too long!

Not to toot the WA horn, but you don't have to pay income tax and UW or WWU are great schools. Plus WA micechat people rock.

Okay getting to the subject:
Oregon you don't have to pay sales tax. Portland has Vodoo donuts. Yay!

I've looked into Washington too. And it seems like a great state! How's the weather? Any pros and cons?

I love, love, love Oregon but I will be honest. There is a meth problem here. I do not think that it is as bad in Portland as it is in other areas though.
But yeah, no sales tax and Voodoo donuts.

Portland also has many good restaurants, and one of the best public transportation networks.

Voodoo donuts? LOL. The name sounds familiar, maybe it was on tv. Thanks for the help!

[knittingknerd]

re: Questions About: Oregon & Washington

Weather in WA, depends on where you are. I live in a "banana belt" which means I get about as much rain as Central California (20 inches) and the rain here is different than CA. Rain in California is all drenching insane. Rain where I live is like happy mist with a little drenching rain. Right now we're in the cold season and it's frosty. I think in my part (again I live on an island, so we're weird), it gets at the coldest 14 degrees. So there's frost, we get like an inch of snow and it melts right away. The only downside about where I live is around February I went kinda' nutty because it was a little too gray for too long and I started to knit in hot pink and neon green, and then painted my bedroom neon/lime green. Eastern Washington is different though, a lot colder and a lot more conservative politically. One big con I will say is the lack of Mexican food. Dude...and when it gets cold and gray I instantly go for hot and spicy food.

[MsSarah]

re: Questions About: Oregon & Washington

Weather in WA, depends on where you are. I live in a "banana belt" which means I get about as much rain as Central California (20 inches) and the rain here is different than CA. Rain in California is all drenching insane. Rain where I live is like happy mist with a little drenching rain. Right now we're in the cold season and it's frosty. I think in my part (again I live on an island, so we're weird), it gets at the coldest 14 degrees. So there's frost, we get like an inch of snow and it melts right away. The only downside about where I live is around February I went kinda' nutty because it was a little too gray for too long and I started to knit in hot pink and neon green, and then painted my bedroom neon/lime green. Eastern Washington is different though, a lot colder and a lot more conservative politically. One big con I will say is the lack of Mexican food. Dude...and when it gets cold and gray I instantly go for hot and spicy food.

:lol: I know how you feel about the Mexican food! I live in a mainly Hispanic town, and there is no good Mexican food joints. Pfft! The school I'm looking into is the Art Institute. I went on their website and there is one in Seattle, Washington. The thing I was really thinking about in Oregon was the rain and the cloudy weather, but I don't think I'd mind it too much...so maybe Washington might be a good candidate too.

[DarthDucky]

re: Questions About: Oregon & Washington

Seattle is rainy too. Unfortunately, this year has been fairly dry. (wetter than Cali, but not Oregon wet)

[DarthDucky]

re: Questions About: Oregon & Washington

A picture of some of my backyard. Of course Portland is more city than Rainier.

[knittingknerd]

re: Questions About: Oregon & Washington

It's a different type of wet than California though... I'm bias. I fell in love with Western Washington. My only kvetch/complaint is in my town everyone is like 55+ years old, meaning the dating scene sucks. But in Seattle everyone is young.

[MsSarah]

re: Questions About: Oregon & Washington

Seattle is rainy too. Unfortunately, this year has been fairly dry. (wetter than Cali, but not Oregon wet)

I like the rain, even if it's a light mist - I'm a happy camper! That's part of why I want out of California, I want to experience a different weather type.

A picture of some of my backyard. Of course Portland is more city than Rainier.

Wow! That is amazing! SO pretty.

It's a different type of wet than California though... I'm bias. I fell in love with Western Washington. My only kvetch/complaint is in my town everyone is like 55+ years old, meaning the dating scene sucks. But in Seattle everyone is young.

Good to know! Thanks!
Have you ever been around Belltown? Or do you know anything about it? From the apartments I can see online, it doesn't look like that great of an area. And that's where the institute is, in Belltown. Or even Eastlake?

[MsSarah]

re: Questions About: Oregon & Washington

If any mods come though here, could you please change the title to "Questions About: Oregon & Washington" Thank you!

[Evil Step-Mom]

re: Questions About: Oregon & Washington

Any neighborhood downtown can be 'iffy' for a female (a lot of homeless people sleeping in doorways, etc). Apartments downtown are very expensive so you may want to look at a suburb of Seattle for affordable housing.

[DarthDucky]

re: Questions About: Oregon & Washington

Portland is pure awesomesauce.

[MsSarah]

re: Questions About: Oregon & Washington

Any neighborhood downtown can be 'iffy' for a female (a lot of homeless people sleeping in doorways, etc). Apartments downtown are very expensive so you may want to look at a suburb of Seattle for affordable housing.

Oh, good to know! Maybe I'll stay away from downtown apartments. The last thing I need is anyone hanging around my windows or my doorstep. I don't want to have to carry a taser and a can of pepper spray around. When you say the suburbs, do you have any particular recommendations?

Portland is pure awesomesauce.

It really looks beautiful in Portland. Does it snow?

[knittingknerd]

re: Questions About: Oregon & Washington

Portland is pure awesomesauce.

Western Washington founded Starbucks, has Microsoft, Amazon, and I think even Nintendo. I think DD and I are going to be fighting over which state is the best.

I will say this: moving out of California was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

[MsSarah]

re: Questions About: Oregon & Washington

Western Washington founded Starbucks, has Microsoft, Amazon, and I think even Nintendo. I think DD and I are going to be fighting over which state is the best.

I will say this: moving out of California was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

:lol:
Hey, if there's a Starbucks...I will find it!

I had planned to wait a while and save up money in California, then move to another state, and come back after a couple years. But ya'll are making it sound like California isn't worth moving back to...now I'm even more intrigued!

[DarthDucky]

re: Questions About: Oregon & Washington

Western Washington founded Starbucks, has Microsoft, Amazon, and I think even Nintendo. I think DD and I are going to be fighting over which state is the best.

I will say this: moving out of California was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

I won't argue over which state is better, I just have experience living in Portland and not Washington. I have visited Seattle on several occasions, and prefer Portland, but to each there own.

Also, yes Nintendo of America is in Washington. And you forgot to mention the Seattle Mariners.

[knittingknerd]

re: Questions About: Oregon & Washington

Also, yes Nintendo of America is in Washington. And you forgot to mention the Seattle Mariners.

That's one of the hardest things about moving to WA. Going from the Angels to the Mariners...