Comparing Portland, Eugene, Corvallis, etc (Salem, Bend: job openings, school, university)

[chrissy1913]

Hi all!
I am looking to relocate to Oregon and was unsure of which city would suit me best. I would appreciate any help i can get! It has mostly come down to Portland or Eugene, but i have also been looking at Corvallis, Salem, Bend and Ashland. With Portland and Eugene, from what i can tell, Eugene is just a smaller version of Portland. Is that assessment correct?
I am a single white 24 year old female from Asheville and Wilmington NC. I am considering going back to school once i get out there, so a nearby university would be great. Some of my interests include, outdoor activities, the arts, beer, music and film. Also, although i am not a teacher, i do work with children, so those type of job openings are important.
If you could help me compare any of these cities on the listed criteria, i would greatly appreciate it!

--Feel of the city, what is the general outlook and feel of the city?
--Size, i realize Portland is much bigger than some of the others, but i dont mind the size as long as i can still find that small town feel (ie friendliness, trustworthiness,generosity, helpfulness, neighborly, etc.)
--Climate and rain.
--Topography, mountains, hills, plains etc.
--Water, distance and predominance of lakes and rivers.
--Amount of vegetation and literal greeness of the city.
--Predominance of forests or national parks.
--Affordability of the city, and surrounding suburbs. I do not need to live in the downtown area.
--Traffic
--Political disposition
--eco-friendliness

Thank you so much for any help you can give!