MiniBrit

Hi Everyone.

Have any of you lived, or currently live, in Eugene Oregon? Hubby may have a job opportunity there so I wondered what it's like, from a Brit perspective of course I did a quick search but most references seem to be about Portland.

Thanks guys.

MiniBrit

lisa67

Hi.....sorry but I can't help much. You could try looking at
www.city-data.com

Ray

Terri Irwin came from there ...

meauxna

It's a nice little town, beautiful countryside, an hour & a half drive to Portland when you need it, has its own airport (not international generally). An hour's drive to the Coast, and hour & a half to the mountains or desert.. a nice location but not a big town. The University and the hospital and the two big industries, forest products and other manufacturing is soft.
Not exactly cosmopolitan, but not the worst.

Anything more specific you want to know?

NB: not a Brit.

AdobePinon

I spent ten years there. What do you need to know?

Steerpike

Never lived there, but been on vacation. I was shocked by the number of 'fashionably homeless' young kids begging in the downtown area. I've spent many years in San Francisco, which has a pretty severe homeless situation, but the homeless in SF are old, destitute; somehow, 'understandable'. But in Eugene, Oregon, I seemed to be surrounded by kids who were perfectly healthy but choosing a life on the street - very puzzling. The downtown looked like an area undergoing a transformation; maybe I saw it at a 'low point'. I do plan to go back.

Other than that experience, I found the place attractive, and the suburbs were OK. The drive from Eugene to the inland city of 'Bend' was spectacular.

I would rate Oregon as a great state to move to.

Giantaxe

It's a big college town and thus attracts a lot of post-college "hangers-on". The fact that it's not particularly vibrant economically doesn't help. In this respect, the California equivalent might be somewhere like Arcata where Humboldt State is located.

I think the area around Eugene is more attractive than the town itself. The Willamette Valley is beautiful in places, an absolutely fantastic and unspoiled coast is within range, and as you say, going east into the Cascades is spectacular.

I feel pretty much the same way as you about Oregon, although possible downsides are its economy (the traditional industry of logging has been hard hit) and its relatively high rainfall.

cluedweasel

Whatever you do, don't move to Bend though. The place is dying. 12% unemployment, no major employers and more people moving out than moving in. Also, the local populace aren't very welcoming of outsiders. It's nick-named "poverty with a view" for a reason.

On the other hand, I like Eugene a lot when we visit friends there. Can't comment on living there though.

Steerpike

As you live there, I have to defer to your expertise! This surprises me; Oregon has always struck me as a very welcoming, friendly place. Do you have any theories as to why this is? Is this unique to Bend, or would you extend it to the whole of inland Oregon?

MiniBrit

Thank you all for your replies, very interesting perspectives. Turns out the job has already been filed so I guess we wont be moving there.. Still I'd really like to go check out Oregon one day...
Thanks again
MiniBrit

AdobePinon

It's largely because, at some point in the 90s, everyone and their dog decided to move to / retire in Bend.

meauxna

Bend had a bit of a (massive) boom largely fueled by our Southern neighbors (You People) who arrived with fistsfull of equity. Since these were folks retiring early, or working remotely, they didn't need to earn income locally. But everyone else who arrived as a result did, and there simply aren't many jobs over there outside of the service sector. We did have one client that's making these cool little airplanes, but it's mainly very small companies.
Since it was the locals who mostly got the short end of the stick, I can understand if the culture has changed.

I don't know if it's lively enough for you.. or has sufficient restaurant potential.

lansbury

Wasn't for a basketball coach was it.

chartreuse

Something similar happened in Denver. Lots of Californians paying asking price, drove up the market, screwed the locals.

I used to go there to visit friends. Local people didn't mind that I was a Brit, just so long as I wasn't a damn Californian.

scrubbedexpat091

And the same thing happened to parts of California years back from people moving from the east coast with their money.

California has just become too exspensive for many so there is no choice but to leave. I left for that reason, but would move back if I ever have the income to live comfortably there.