Hello Everyone!

My name is Nick and I’m new to the forums, my fiancé and I are both 24 years old and we’re currently living in Myrtle Beach, SC and we’re looking to move somewhere in Colorado/Oregon in 2019. We’ve spent some time in both states as we took a cross country road trip that lasted roughly 2 months so we know we absolutely love it in both places. Specifically we’ve visited Denver, Estes, Parachute, Boulder for Colorado and for Oregon we spent time in Portland, Eugene. Just to clarify because I’ve seen it come up on threads here as a common assumption that people are just moving to Colorado for legal pot, that may be true for other people however that is not our motive at all. We’re huge outdoors people and are beyond ready to leave the east coast because we fell in love with the Midwest/West coast.

Anyways, we currently live in a 2 Bed/2 Bath that we pay $1,075/month for, we have no kids, 2 dogs and currently both serve at nice restaurants. I’m currently interviewing for a few jobs with the lowest base salary of 35k as well. We’re not high maintenance people whatsoever and don’t need anything lavish by any means. We’re looking for a family friendly town/city that is preferably not a college town.

Thank you all in advance!

I suggest looking at Longmont, Co; there are many new rental accommodations in your current price range, it is a nice town with a mix of historic main Street and downtown with lots of shopping and facilities, and is an ok commute to Denver, if that's the job (Denver rents are sky high right now). It is an easy distance from Rocky Mountain NP and the mountains, too.

Depending on how you feel about the "High Desert" of Oregon, look at Redmond and Prineville. Facebook has a huge facility in Prineville and other tech companies are coming in as well. With that much new growth, the restaurant business should be booming as well. The Cascade mountains are only an hour away and Portland is only about two hours.

Try city-data.com, it is a forum dedicated to relocation,

Corvallis Oregon
Eugene Oregon
Portland Oregon (would have the best opportunities for restaurant work)

You will very likely be paying more for rent than you are now for a similar situation.

Rent is getting high in Portland. On the other hand you could work for some award winning restaurants.

We did a fall weekend to the Gorge, and our B&B owner commented that it was a real problem for restaurants in Hood River to get enough servers. Not sure you would find housing in Hood River. The Dalles is bigger and not far, so check there before deciding. The Gorge does get ice in the winter.

Redmond, mentioned above, is also a great idea. Medford and work in Ashland is another thought.
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Redmond Washington or Redmond, Oregon? Redmond, Washington has very high housing costs. Oops, just realized it was Oregon being referred to.

I think the first priority would be finding the job. Denver has a lot going for it BUT there is a price to be paid. Core rents are expensive.

,,,it was a real problem for restaurants in Hood River to get enough servers...... What should be added is --- At the level we are willing to pay. The could be a problem anywhere.

If they don't want a college town, Corvallis is definitely off the list and Eugene probably is.

Yakima Valley ..eastern WA..
Rents/cost of living much less than Portland/Seattle .
Jobs on "service areas "in demand especially if experience
Brew pubs with restaurants, are on the rise..
This valley is one of biggest producers of hops in US...also lots of apples and cherries..
Very scenic...hiking, fishing areas all with in 2 hr. drive in any direction..
Weather: definitely ..4 seasons but the winters are usually
mild..1-2 feet of snow Dec. to Feb.
Very friendly communities ..does have "rural" feeling.
WallaWalla, very southern part of valley, is fast becoming
"wine country" but of course that goes along with housing


at a prei


.

lcuy~ While I realize both those towns do host a college campus neither really feels like "college town" to me. Do you think so? (re Corvallis & Eugene)

if they both want to continue with restaurants (or in most any field really) i do think Portland is a better practical choice for Oregon because of employment opportunities.