As we try to narrow our search for a place to live, we’ve looked at Bellingham, Seattle, and Portland. Seattle is pretty much scratched off, as the housing prices are still too high. Bellingham is a nice community, but it lacks some things we look for, such as museums and jazz clubs. Also, the restaurants there aren’t all that hot. It’s a great location, with good hiking trails and proximity to Canada and we haven’t completely rejected it.
Portland has a lot going for it, but it seems that Vancouver has tax advantages over Oregon, and the benefit of being a very short commute to Portland. Problem is, we haven’t visited Vancouver yet and so are searching for opinions on living there. We’ll actually be in that area in a few weeks, as our plans to continue touring the US have been altered with the apparent bottoming out of the real estate market (we don’t want to be buying in an accelerating market).
Where else to seek opinions but the Dope, say I? How’s the quality of life? We have no kids, so schools are not important to us, and we’re pretty much retired. We’ll be looking for a house, not a condo, and have been checking out the market online. Is there an area to stay away from (proximity to airport, rail lines, high crime areas)? Thanks to all who respond.
My folks have lived there forever, I moved from there 15 years ago but visit regularly.
Vancouver doesn’t have much significant in the way of museums, clubs, music, etc. Most of the culture/events/nightlife gets sucked away by Portland. Restaurants are mostly average, a lot of modern “fusion” cuisine, very few truly good ethnic restaurants. The good side is that Portland is very close (usually under 30 minute drive from most areas) and has anything you could possibly want or need (and no sales tax!)
Vancouver has perfected uniformity and blandness (for better or worse :)). There aren’t really any bad areas or higher crime areas, likewise there aren’t any particularly appealing or attractive must-see areas. Most places are new-ish suburban and retail sprawl. It still retains its “rural” roots with many local fairs, 4H stuff, farmer’s markets, etc. Downtown retail is perpetually depressed due to Portland’s proximity and people avoiding Washington’s sales tax.
It’s a wonderful launching pad for all-things-Portland, that’s the best I can say about it Also, living there you can avoid the Oregon income tax while being able to drive to Portland to avoid sales tax.
Vancouver is a nice enough place, I’ve lived here most of my life. Close enough to Portland to visit but you don’t have to deal with their people and traffic if you don’t want to. No state income tax, but you get to deal with our 8.2% sales tax instead, of course you can just go across the rive to Portland to avoid that too. If you haven’t already checked out here is the City of Vancouverwebsite.
What parts of Vancouver have you looked into, if any? Try and stay away from eastern Hazel Dell(anything east of I-5) and Fruit Valley. The can look ok but are generally considered to be lower income and higher crime. Salmon Creek and Felida are nice, so is the northern part of the Lincoln neighboorhood.
Quality of life is ok, the economy has hit us hard though. Vancouver unemployment has gone up to 9.1%, Portland’s is about 11.4%. If you have money or are established though things are still good. Portland is a very liberal community, Vancouver is like Portland’s younger sibling in that aspect, there is a lot of liberal thinking but all the activists stay on the other side of the river.
Overall, I like Vancouver. Its close enough to anything I’d need either for shopping, night life (drive to portland) or recreation (1 hour from the ocean, local parks and driving distance to national forest and many hiking/walking trails) and has a good variety of people both liberal and conservative. Of course, your best bet is going to be to visit yourself and draw your own conclusions.
Also, living there you can avoid the Oregon income tax while being able to drive to Portland to avoid sales tax.