Oregon is my jam - PDX area, specifically. I enjoy Seattle, but it's far more overpriced (last time I checked CoL calculators, anyway, and as a visitor). It's so beautiful!
I think you have to definitely not be a person who has seasonal affective disorder or anything! We've visited Seattle in May, and Portland multiple times (only in winter) - I love that it's not 100 degrees below, but gets rain and a bit of snow. I don't mind the weather at all, but it likely would be hard to plan events that are entirely outdoors!
For sure Oregon here. I've never been to Montana, but it looks like I would love it. I like the PacNW's moderate temperatures that still have lots of green. I do love city life, have always wanted to live in NYC for a few years - the NW has some good-sized cities that give you big-city amenities with easy access to a gorgeous coast, mountains, waterfalls, etc. I mean, if it was good enough for the Goonies...
We've looked quite a bit at housing in PDX over the past couple of years - it's not terrible at all, price-wise. There are definitely some schools that are preferable to others, but the CoL isn't much different from here. And so many tech opportunities.
Same. PDX is my happy place. Great music, sports, food and bar/brewery scene, lots of variety. I know it's considered hipster, but I think more they just embrace their weirdness and offbeat interests.
I'm so jealous! There really is everything there. We've discussed moving out to PDX several times, as we just love it (and have only been in winter, not even when it's nice out or anything). The whole thing just is my sweet spot!
From everything I’ve ever heard or read Portland is like Austin but not hot in the summer and no good bbq.
I wasn’t real sure about the cost of living though. Just looking at houses it didn’t look like I could get a similar house for the money there but that could be just me not knowing where to look too.