Hey, my travel lovers, today we are going to describe the pros and cons of living in Oregon. Some of the information presented here will be what we think, and some of it will be the first-hand experience of people living there. You will definitely enjoy reading this digital piece since it is opinion-based on research and firsthand experience.
Table of Contents
First-hand experience (Pros)
Insights from Oregon reveal some major highlights if you are visiting Oregon. She has lived there for 30 years, and we think her personal experience is worth a million. Some of the major perks are stated as follows :
1. Move in, and you won’t regret it
According to her, any person who is planning to move to Oregon doesn’t need to think twice. Oregon has a colossal number of stunning landscapes and outdoor adventures.
Outdoor activities will play a big role in your life if you are moving here. It has the deepest lake and deepest river gorge, so that means endless outdoor recreation. If you plan to live in big cities like Portland, Eugene, and Salem, then it would be a two-hour drive to any mountain, forest, or ocean.
2. Paradise for cyclists
This is a state that is known as a bike-friendly state and has more than 400 + bike lanes. Fun fact: More than 5.3 % communicate to work by bike. This means, as a cyclist, you will get a great adventure on bike trails. Furthermore, post-COVID,r5 the biking community leaped backward since the majority of people worked from home.
3. Seamless Voting
One of the first states in the USA to implement mail voting. So you don’t stand in line to cast your vote. You sit in the comfort of your home and vote for the ideal candidate, and that is a stunning advantage.
4. No sales tax
Hits the top spot when it comes to sales tax. It’s one of the five states that have no tax charged on anything you purchase. Imagine thousands of dollars that get deposited in savings when you don’t get charged for buying jewellery, computers, clothing, and furniture.
What we think (pros)
The previous list covers the first-hand experience of the user, but here is what we think. We agree on most of the takeaways discussed, but we wanted to add a few more. Here is the formulation:
1. People don’t rush for titles and money
Big cities like New York or Washington are all about name and fame, but not Oregon. Oregonians have a laid-back culture that means they take life one day everyday. They taste the ocean, they drink the wine, and they earn. There is no rush to determine who is earning more or who is winning in life. According to them, everyone has their own path, and we love that.
2. Care for the environment
Did you know that this is the only state that has the lowest carbon footprint? Yes, you heard it right, and because of this, the environment is so clean over there. There is literally zero litter, and everyone thinks about Mother Nature as their own mother. Hence, the surroundings you will notice are pristine.
First-hand experience (Cons)
Some of the major demerits highlighted by the blogger are stated as follows
1. Housing prices are off the charts
The pricing market has skyrocketed after the pandemic. As people continued their work from home, they were looking for homes in suburban, rural, and coastal areas. Furthermore, Oregon lowered its interest rates, making home stays more affordable. Due to this surge, the price in the housing market showed a high growth rate.
2. Income tax
Yes, Oregon allows tax-free purchase but makes that up through income tax. Currently, the state income tax ranges from 5 to 9 percent, which means every other state besides Oregon has a lower income tax. That’s a hard pill to swallow. So your paycheck can be less than your expectations. So, in layman’s terms, your income tax depends on how much you earn, your filings, and your deductions.
3. Schools are a no-go
Oregon reports the lowest graduation rates across all 50 states. This means if you are considering moving your kid to this area, we think you should give a second thought. The high school graduation rate of this region is 81.3%, so it’s better than you would consider private schools.
What we think (Cons)
1. The people usually keep to themselves
We researched multiple Reddit posts, and there is one common thing that we noticed. Most of the foreigners or migrants living there have a hard time making friends. This means they are not open to all and have a reserved state of mind
2. Cost of living
As stated earlier, since people worked from home, house prices skyrocketed, and hence the cost of living increased. This is the reason why most Oregonians remain frustrated. It shows a 17 % percent price hike across all other states of the USA. You can use this calculator to determine the cost of living before shifting here
3. Sports teams aren’t great
There are only two sports available in Oregon, and they are known as the Portland Trail Blazers and the Portland Timbers. So if you are thinking that you can join a team as you arrive here, then let us educate you: You won’t, and you might want to join the waitlist.
Make your choice
See, we have laid down all the facts and figures on why Oregon should be your top choice and the areas you want to reconsider while shifting here. We kept this completely transparent and fact-based so that you have no trouble while moving here. If you liked what we have presented here, make sure that you follow our newsletter for more travel updates
