Advantages to living in Vancouver and working in Portland? (sales, appliances)

[stevepax]

I hear of all these people who live in Vancouver, WA, and commute down to Portland for work. But it seems to me that they get hit by sales tax in WA whenever they buy stuff there (which must be regularly - my wife is a stay-at-home-mom, so if I lived there, most of her shopping would undoubtedly be done at local markets in WA), and high income tax for working in Oregon. Seems like the worst of both worlds?

So, why do people do it? It doesn't seem to be so much cheaper to justify that, is it?

[davefr]

Most of them shop in Oregon.

You're right. There's not much advantage in living in Vancouver and working in Portland. The objective is to work in Vancouver and shop in Portland.

[PNW-type-gal]

At one point most WA residents shopped in Oregon, mostly because Vancouver was a very small community without a lot of shopping - if you wanted appliances, computers, Costco, variety in clothing stores, you really had no choice, because those options didn't exist in Vancouver. It's grown quite a bit since then (although for clothing you're still stuck with the horrible Westfield Mall).

The advantages, presumably, are: lower housing costs (actual costs and taxes), better school funding. The disadvantages would be: fewer employment opportunities, still paying Oregon income tax on income earned in Oregon, mediocre public transportation, sprawling suburbia (although much of Portland's suburbs are exactly the same).

When the spouse worked for a WA-based company, we lived in Washington because it made more sense.

[BLAZER PROPHET]

It's a pro & con type of thing.

With respect to taxes, I currently live in Vancouver and work in Portland. I pay full Oregon State income tax as well as WA sales tax whenever I shop here.

When I bought a new vehicle, I paid a 8.8% WA sales tax on $20,000. Ouch!

On the other hand, my property tax is 1/3 of my daughter's in Portland. So if you're going to own a home, you can save money here.

As far as a commute goes, that all depends on where you live in WA and where you work in PDX. If you live and work in the east side, that's OK. Anything other than that and it could get ugly.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by stevepax

- my wife is a stay-at-home-mom, so if I lived there, most of her shopping would undoubtedly be done at local markets in WA), ....

Markets? groceries are not taxed for WA sales. Prepared food is taxed.

for clothes, there are some nice 're-sell' shops in PDX and Vanc

for big items most folks pick them up in PDX

So, why do people do it? ..

better schools / funding, less crime, less busy, less bizarre politics, (tho we (left coast) are all CA clones with current splineless governors in OR & WA) gov funding, getting out of Multnomah county (VERY IMPORTANT for some, especially business owners). ...

I pay about 3x as much in WA Property taxes ($33/day) as my family / friends in OR. (be careful on which side of the street you live, as rates vary A LOT)

[PNW-type-gal]

Originally Posted by janb

I pay about 3x as much in WA Property taxes ($33/day) as my family / friends in OR. (be careful on which side of the street you live, as rates vary A LOT)

Your property must be valued at a high rate - when I lived in Vancouver, I paid about $11 per assessed thousand, which was half of what we paid when we live near Mt. Tabor.

[nephthys]

Im about to work in Vancouver. It's the same commute that I have currently..... and my pay will increase quite a bit.

Is it true WA doesn't take state taxes from residents?

Guess that won't apply to me.... since I can't see myself ever moving to Vancouver.

[PNW-type-gal]

Originally Posted by nephthys

Is it true WA doesn't take state taxes from residents?

Nope, and if you show your driver's license before making a purchase, they'll even drop the sales tax.

[nephthys]

Originally Posted by PNW-type-gal

Nope, and if you show your driver's license before making a purchase, they'll even drop the sales tax.

I mean't if you live in WA and work in WA they don't take state tax from your paycheck? ...

[PNW-type-gal]

Originally Posted by nephthys

I mean't if you live in WA and work in WA they don't take state tax from your paycheck? ...

Washington doesn't have an income tax, they have a sales tax. So if you live in Washington and work in Washington, you pay no state income tax. If you live in Washington and work in Oregon, you pay Oregon's income tax (with some limited exceptions). If you live in Oregon and work in Washington, you will pay Oregon income taxes. Most Washington employers will deduct Oregon income tax and send it to Oregon, but not all.