Move from NYC to Portland, Oregon?

Question

I got a job offer in Portland, OR. I have wanted to leave NYC for about a year now, as I am really over the whole aspect of it.

I use to live in San Diego and really liked the West Coast attitude and miss the Pacific.

Anyone think this is a good move? Any advice out there?

Answer 1

definitly a good move! Portland is very cool while maintaining a small town vibe. I love all of the beautiful wildlife there is to see here. ( i live there) advice: be prepared for rain. it may not rain as much a seattle but it still is up there. still, its a great place to live and has great neighborhoods like vista, lake oswego, forest heights, and much more. It's an especially great place to settle down and start a family becuase the schools are great. portland has a cute green vibe and is earthy but still has a great city life. i hope you enjoy it as much as i do if you decide to move here!

:D

Answer 2

It's not a bad place to live. It's a lot crappier weather than SoCal, but probably better than NYC. There isn't as much to do in Portland, compared to either of those, but it's not like a cow-town or anything. It has it's cool points.



The greatest plus would be that outdoor recreation is easier to access. Especially skiing, snowboarding, hiking, hunting and fishing -- they are all very close to Portland.



Housing will likely be more affordable than either SD or NYC. It is not really fallen dramatically like some places, though. I have a friend in Las Vegas and the housing market there has really tanked.



A lot of people move to the NW and like it, but it is slowly becoming more congested. The Portland area doesn't lend itself very well to the influx of people and the city planners are not big on expanding the roads and freeways, just trying to add to the commuter transit (light rail, busses) even though only like 5 percent of all commuters use those. When it snows, even an inch, the whole town goes ito a massive panic. Extended storms become major problems for most of the city.



I have been to San Diego and if I could live there, I probably would instead of Oregon. It's a great area. I haven't been to NY, but from what I have read it seems pretty expensive.



If you can deal with 4-5 months with a lot of gloomy weather and rain, it's not bad and I would recommend it.

Answer 3

You seem to have received quite a variety of answers!



Okay, here is the gist on Portland.



I recently had to move back to San Francisco, where I am from, and am counting the days until I make my way back to Portland, Oregon. It is, in my opinion, the best city on the west coast.



However, that's only my opinion, and we (obviously) are not the same person.



Like anything it depends on what you're interested in. For example, I'm a 32 year old female who is creative and likes things a little ... different. As the motto says, "Keep Portland Weird", and what a fitting motto indeed. My hair is a mixture of pinks, blues and greens, and while it may cause more than one eyebrow to raise in other cities, it's barely even noticed in Portland. Everyone is a little punk rock in Portland. It's what makes the city so killer.



For instance:



Oregon has the most liberal free speech laws in the country, and because of this Portland boasts the most strip clubs per capita in the nation. The Bar Fly bus even does a tour of nudie bars, complete with discounted entry fees and lap dances.



Portland has more micro-breweries than anywhere else in the nation.



Portland has more bike commuters in the country (we're bicycle friendly here!)



Portland has the largest independent book store in the world, Powell's Books (the best place on earth).



According to a recent NY-Times article, Portland is the most affordable city on the west coast by a large margin (over 100k!).



If you're into outdoor sports you won't be disappointed either, as snowboarding, rock climbing, surfing, skateboarding, cycling and more are either right outside your door, or a close drive away.



However, all of this being said, the move from NY to PDX will likely come with a few speed bumps. A friend of mine made the same move and likened it to "hitting a wall" as far as his personal life goes. Not for lack of people, but for lack of the same sort of "City that Never Sleeps" lifestyle. Portland rocks, but it's still small. Keep that in mind.



One more thing: it's best to be open minded, queer friendly and art hungry when moving to Portland. It's a creative city with like-minded individuals and they locals would like to keep it that way.





I hope this helps, and remember to try Stumptown coffee when you finally make it to the Great Northwest--it's to die for!

Answer 4

There are a ton of people from NYC out here!

So you will feel very welcome....I have even thought of starting a NYC- PDX meetup group on the web so my NYC friends can all meet up for drinks and be NY for a day. Good thing you have a job before coming out here. The population is going to reach 1.3 million more people in just a few years time. Cause this is the HIP place to be. People are

moving faster than jobs are being made out here! West Coast attitude is a bit of adjustment as service here is uber friendly but the peeps move very slow

Good luck! bring me a bagel and a pizza maker!

Answer 5

Be ready for a big shock coming from NYC. I have traveled there, (I live near Portland) and it is a world apart.

You have heard all the good things about Portland from the magazines and other posters, so just to make sure you are aware of a few things, keep in mind:

Lots of outdoor recreation - but except for skiing you wont be outdoors much from Nov - April. Reason = rain.

Cheap public transit - but slow. (mostly buses)

Plenty of micro-brews and coffee shops - but how much can you drink?

Stodgy social scene - a few active groups but options are limited and things move slowly in general.

Crowded roads, traffic jams, unemployment higher than the rest of the country, are the norm here. You'll notice a lot of younger people come here but don't always stay more than a year or two. The reason: lack of good paying jobs.

Of course the pluses are the natural beauty and people are more laid back than back east or even in California. But for someone from New York, that may begin to bother you.

Good luck.

Answer 6

I don't live in Portland, but I have spent alot of time up there. I can tell you for sure that Portland is one of the nicest cities that anyone can live in. The sky is gray and it rains for about 5 months in a row, but in the summer it is very nice. Very green, lots of water, many great restaurants. Alot of things to do no matter what you like to do.

Answer 7

and where are you going to rock climb in NYC, central park? I choose Portland 15 years ago and have been pleased with my choice. 2 vacation trips to NYC have proved my choice to be correct

Answer 8

I have a cousin who lives there.Would not that be kind of laid back compared to NY. And did they not get a lot of snow and rain. i have herd it is nice. If you don't mind these changes I would go for it. Great seas,Great seafood

Answer 9

Hey I live there! You can move here too, I guess there enough room for both of us. Just don't move downtown is all I'm sayin, oh, and bring an umbrella.