Oregon vs. Washington (which is better for a poor recent grad?)

[Frostbit-biker]

Lol. I wasn't really considering Seattle... Or Portland, really. The housing prices are outrageous.

I was looking at Eugene, Oregon, maybe? Or Salem, even. Maybe a smaller city in Oregon. I'm from a small city (population of 7,000, originally!) so I'm used to small towns.

[jacqueg]

Originally Posted by Frostbit-biker

Lol. I wasn't really considering Seattle... Or Portland, really. The housing prices are outrageous.

I was looking at Eugene, Oregon, maybe? Or Salem, even. Maybe a smaller city in Oregon. I'm from a small city (population of 7,000, originally!) so I'm used to small towns.

I lived in salem for many years and really liked it. People from portland and eugene are prone to sniff at salem as boring, but there are times when boring is good - not all excitement is edifying. Salem has a a small liberal arts university that is well-respected, a great park, a coffeehouse scene, an OK-bus system, and is very bikable.

You might check out hood river too. Not as bikable - it's very hilly - and not cheap, but cool culturally.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by Frostbit-biker

Right now, I'm living in Madison, WI. Living isn't exactly cheap here either. However, I would consider a smaller town anywhere on the coast if I could find a job. Thanks for your honesty though.

You mention only Oregon towns?

I would still focus on Portland / Vancouver. I don't think you will find more opportunities for history grad employment with reasonable housing costs (in outlying area and select parts of in-town Vancouver).

on the Coast... Newport would be my only suggestion, and it would allow reasonable access to Salem.

Quality of life on the coast would not be great without a car. Jobs pay very low, as locals will work for cheap to stay there.

Find a skill / career and pursue some earnings.
Left coast is not cheap.

[Arushan]

Originally Posted by revelated

I'd say for your position, Portland is the better of the two evils.

As far as Seattle/Western Washington (but mostly Seattle):

IF you don't own a home here, or don't plan to, you will find it frustrating.
If you don't make at least $90k/year as a single person with no kids or $200k as a couple with no kids, or don't plan to, you will find it frustrating.
If you are a car owner, you will find it frustrating.
If you have kids you will find it frustrating.
If you have or plan to get pets you will find it frustrating.
If you like football but don't like the Seahawks or don't care that much about them, OR you're not so into football like a cult, you will find it frustrating.
If you don't smoke weed, you will find it frustrating.
If you don't like rain, you will find it frustrating.
If you don't like the sight of homeless, you will find it frustrating.
If you don't have TSA PreCheck, you will find the airport frustrating.
If you don't like Alaska Airlines, you will find the airport frustrating.
If you don't like tolls you will find it frustrating.
If you bank at a credit union other than BECU you will find it frustrating.
If you actually like walking into your credit union to perform transactions you will find it frustrating.
If you dislike ATMs that swallow your debit card while you use it rather than the insert and remove type, you will find it frustrating.
If you like real Greek food you will find it frustrating.
If you like real Italian food you will find it frustrating.
If you like real Mexican food you will find it frustrating.
If you like to stargaze you will find it frustrating.
If you hate potholes you will find it frustrating.


Other than that, it's fine.

[revelated]

Originally Posted by Frostbit-biker

Lol. I wasn't really considering Seattle... Or Portland, really. The housing prices are outrageous.

I was looking at Eugene, Oregon, maybe? Or Salem, even. Maybe a smaller city in Oregon. I'm from a small city (population of 7,000, originally!) so I'm used to small towns.

Well in that case, all bets are off.

Aberdeen, Port Angeles, Brinnon (only if you must)...just a few off the top of my head, in Washington. There are other places that are essentially "the left side" of the state, very small, low population areas.

For Oregon Salem is ok but it's not nearly as small as you describe. Maybe Boring? Although the home prices are rather silly considering.

Boring, Oregon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[PanapolicRiddle]

I'd like to live in a smaller area, but jobs are extremely limited. Unless you have a highly practical skill like health care, your options are probably limited to retail, restaurant, and other fairly low-paying service jobs.

An English degree isn't all that practical to begin with unless you have some practical experience that goes with it, so ultimately it depends what kind of work you can and want to do.

[M3 Mitch]

All along the Columbia, you have the choice of Oregon to the South and Washington to the North. To me, the fact that Washington has no state income tax, (so, you not only don't pay it, you don't even have to fill out the form) is the main reason I prefer Washington.