Good Areas to Live in Las Vages and Oregon

I live in Southern Utah about 2 hours North or LV, but I have some experience with LV, and had some friends that moved there, but then had to leave because they couldn't find jobs. Although the houses are cheaper there, unemployment is pretty bad, and they pay nothing for most jobs (same thing with the town I live in). I personally would never live in Las Vegas, too polluted, dirty, and it's all strip malls and housing developments off of the strip. I probably would never go there if not for the airport. We actually were looking at moving to Oregon or Utah a few years ago (from Virginia), and ended up here in Utah.

Go to http://www.findyourspot.com. They have a long quiz you take that asks you about what kinds of activities, weather, size city, etc you want, and then you get 20 towns/cities that most closely match your criteria. We did that, did a road trip of the cities we liked the most on the list, and then moved. We actually ended up choosing a place on the list that we didn't get to visit (bravely moved without having seen the city ever), but we're pretty happy here.

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Summerlin in the Las Vegas area is a very nice part of Las Vegas

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I know you have gotten a lot of responses but none have really mentioned that there is nothing for kids to do in Vegas. I have lived here for 10 years and just had a baby girl. As soon as we can we are moving out of here to Texas. In the summer, it is really too hot to do anything outside except go in the pool and the winters can be cold and windy. There is very little culture here, there are few parks to go to, only a few museums for kids and almost anything else you want to do you have to go to a casino to do it. Almost all of the movie theaters, bowling alleys, even ice skating rinks are inside the casinos. I would seriously look into other places to live. There are many other areas in the country that are not so expensive to live.

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Dear N M E:

You sound like you want good schools for your kids. Bottom line? They are NOT in Las Vegas! For cheaper cost of living, consider more temperate climates. In the past, I would have recommended California (my favorite state) because of its incredible beauty and huge amounts of things to see and do but there, the cost of the home/rent will eat you up. Also, it's not very friendly and gangs and crime are rampant. The state is almost broke so public services will begin to suffer soon. You might want to consider the less popular states.

I wish you and your family the very best. Keep doing your research, my dear!

Blessings,

M.

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If you and your family are used to the climate in Hawai'i, Las Vegas will be a huge adjustment. The desert sun can be brutal, especially in the summer. Las Vegans don't even consider it hot until it's over 115 degrees, and the humidity is usually below 10%. Oregon, near the cost or along the Washigton border, is more like the climate you're used to; except there will be snow in the winter, just about anywhere in Oregon except right alobng the coast. The cost of living, including housing costs, is much lower in Oregon than in Las Vegas. If you like a more urban area, Portland is great. Most of the rest of the state has smaller communities. The same is true in Nevada - Las Vegas is by far the largest city. Good luck on your move!

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We just moved back to Reno from Oregon! We absolutely LOVED IT in Portland! THere is so much to do, and the schools are decent. We lived in Milwaukie, which is just south of Portland, and in my opinion has the best schools in the area. Vegas is ok too, if you live outside the city proper, in my opinion. Henderson or even Boulder City are wonderful areas. I prefer BC because it is a much smaller community, no gambling is legal IN the town, and the schools are very good.

Good Luck

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Lucky you!! We're in SoCal now - but transplanted from the Pacific Northwest. I have to say - what a fantastic opportunity. I know a lot of Hawai'ians who transplanted to the Pacific Northwest and love it...so - if I were you, I'd totally look at the Portland area, or Bend, Oregon. My favorite areas by far! Portland does have seasons though - with gray days of rain. The communities themselves though, depending on what you're looking for (rural, or suburbs or 15 minutes from city center like the North Portland area, tons of little "known" neighborhoods, etc.) are amazing with amazing community resources (including things like "tool libraries"), great schools, amazing people, public transportation, lots of great parks and outdoor opportunities, great restaurants and entertainment...I miss it! Though the rain is tough, no doubt. Bend is also in Oregon, about 3 hours from Portland, in Central Oregon. Known as the "high dessert." Also known for amazing communities, and everything mentioned above about Portland, except it's a "big" little town - not a big city like Portland. They have sun something like 300 days of the year, though some of those days also have snow on the ground. Hot in the summer -80s, 90s and up. You should visit! Some great bed and breakfasts with fun locals. Our favorite: Cricketwood Country B&B. Now - Vegas - I hear is great - and if you're looking for sun - it's your place to go! I'm just not a desert person so much - and like to be within a few hours of the ocean - or closer! Best of luck!

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I've lived in several places in the United States including Oregon and I would say Oregon is one of my favorite places. I've lived in both eastern and western Oregon and both have very beautiful sceneries; there's the ocean, the mountains, the valley, the rivers and lakes...so much to see and do. And I'm telling you, the cost of living there is way much lower than it is in Hawaii and most other states. If you want to stay in a city that is somewhat busy like Hawaii, you can consider Portland. Otherwise cities like Eugene, Bend, Salem are smaller and quiter cities but still beautiful. I also like the coastal cities like Lincoln and Tilamook(cheese factory, very gorgeous there. I wish you luck in your search and hope its the right place for you and your family.

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I have read some of the responses and I think that Vegas gets a bad rap. I have lived here for 5 years and I have a sister that has lived here for about 17 years. We live in Henderson and it is great. We moved from So CA. We lived in the same house in CA for over 10 years and never knew any of our neighbors. Within the first year of moving here, we know all of our neighbors. We live on a cul de sac and it is great. I have not heard of any crime nearby, but I think it all depends on where you choose to live. My neighbor is a teacher and she said that there are a lot of great schools around. My daughter will be attending Elise Wolffe Elementary and it has received great reviews. (she attended Challenger for Preschool and it was awesome- except for the cost)

Anyway- Good luck whatever you choose. Vegas summers can be brutal- but only for 3 months. June July & August are very hot- so a pool is a MUST!
I have heard that Summerlin is nice too- but I love it in Henderson.

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I currently live in Henderson. We moved here before we had children and so I didn't even think of looking at the school system. Now that I have one in the school system and one two years away...I would never move here with children entering the public school system. We are ranked 49 out of the 50 states with only Alabama being worse! I agree with the last commenter...prostitution is not legal in Clark County. If you live away from the strip like I do then you hardly ever see it. I don't go to the strip unless someone is visiting. You do get exposed to a lot of advertising and such on cabs and billboards but its not on every single one! In Henderson, we have churches, libraries, grocery stores, etc. This area is more than just the strip! Anyways..I have lived her for almost 9 years and would move in a heart beat to another state that has better schools for my kids! Good Luck with your decision!

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Don't know anything about schools but some friends just moved to Henderson (outside of LV) and love it. Good luck!

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Just for fun, you might want to do a little homework on Nebraska and see all the employment opportunities they've got and then look at Missouri and see how inexpensive the housing is. I've friends who moved from CA to many different places, but those 2 locations have been surprising little gold nuggets.

Wherever you go, the entire country has Walmarts, Home Depot, all the typical stores and services. Just like your area in Hawaii has had expenses go up and new construction, the rest of the nation has done the same.

Good luck, wherever you wind up!

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We just moved to Vegas from Canada. We are living in Summerlin and we are really enjoying it! There are some good public schools in Summerlin as well as great private schools. Goolsby and Ober are rated very high (public elementary). they are near the garden's & willows neighbourhoods. They are a number of planned community events and classes which is great for the kids. Lot's of fabulous parks. Good luck with the decision!

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HI,
I know you already have some input from quite a few people here. I have lived in Vegas for 22 years. I grew up in the schools here, and they are horrible. The area of town you live in is slowly not mattering much. Yes, Summerlin is nice, but they are starting to get the same problems as other areas. My brother lived in the nicest area over there and they are starting to have muggings in broad day light. Everyone knows Summerlin has a reputation of being full of more well to do people, so the criminals are breaking in over there. There have recently been muggings outside of the new Albertsons over there. Also, if you decide to come to Vegas, factor in private school. The zones change all the time, so you could stay in one house for 10 years, and your child could literally be moved every year because they switch the zone. Good luck, if I had the choice I would have never come,when I was a kid we did, and now I can't seem to get out.

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I know this is a little late. But I hope my information is helpful to you. My brother's family was in the same situation as you 5 or 6 years ago. They chose to move to LV (Henderson) to have a nice big, new house for their kids. To make a long story short, they bought their huge brand new house, nice cars. SIL parents live with them and helped babysit. Everything seemed great. They never complained. I only hear brief comments about the heat and the eczemas the kids suffered.
Anyway, I visited them last spring (I only visit in the spring before it hits 90 degrees) and my SIL gave me an earful about how awful a place it is to raise kids. The school system is bad, awful crime rates, not a good environment to raise kids, etc. I always google for things to do with kids in Vegas, haven't found anything besides casino-related activities. People gave horrible reviews on the zoo there.
Did I mention the grandparents are addicted to bingo? 3 yrs ago, they swore it's just something they do when they're bored. On our last visit, we were there 3 days. The grandparents were never home - bingo.
BTW, my brother decided not to put a pool in for their new house. Pools are hard to get approval for, the city makes it very difficult to get permits to build. No green grass on new houses, water rationing. rock scape is the norm.
Their dream is to move to Maui now. I know it's just a dream. They can't even afford to move back to southern CA.
I have relatives who moved from here to Texas for the same reason; foreclosed on their brand new house and came back w/i 6 months. Another relative moved here from North Carolina in search of better jobs; left within the year. My take on this: life is hard anywhere you go. You're simply trading one set of problems for another. I think the most important thing to look for in a place is the quality of life for your kids and the school system. I'm glad you are researching and actually visiting a place before actually moving. Good luck to you.

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I lived in Vegas for 12 years and it's not a city that you want to raise your children in. You have a better bet looking to Oregon to move. Some people may disagree with me on here but my experiences are if you're under 25 and single Vegas is the perfect place, but if you are trying to raise a family you have to deal with a whole set of issues most cities don't face...24 hour drinking, gambling...

Besides Oregon is beautiful!! It's clean, it's not 100+ during the summer and you can be at the ocean within a few hours if you live inland :))

And whoever said that prostitution is legal in Vegas, that is untrue. Prostitution is illegal in Clark County (where Vegas is), it is legal in counties that are north of Vegas. All the girly adverts that you see on the Strip and else-where advertise "private dancers" or "escorts", we all know what that really means but Vegas does have regular sting operations to curb these businesses. Unfortunately the fliers that are passed out all over the strip and causes mass amounts of litter is protected under the First Amendment of free speech. The city tried to get rid of them to make Vegas more wholesome and family-friendly but it didn't work. Even living in Summerlin and Henderson doesn't exclude you from being subjected to the 24 hour lifestyle in that area. Don't get me wrong, I know people that raised well adjusted kids in Vegas but the percentage of kids that ended up with drug problems and behavior problems outweigh the good kids unfortunately. And it's not a case of bad parenting, it's growing up around the debauchery and thinking it's "normal".

Good luck on your move and best wishes!!

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Good Morning!

It looks like you've gotten a lot of great responses here today. I live in Northern Nevada, we moved here from New Hampshire about two years ago. The weather in Northern Nevada is very different from Las Vegas, much cooler. The Reno/Carson City area would be a great place to go. The schools and economy in general are having issues, but I'm afraid you might run into things like that wherever you go.

I grew up in Boise, Idaho and that is a booming, fast growing place with great schools.

However, all that said, I'd move to Oregon in a heartbeat. Coming from Hawaii, you'll hate the weather in Vegas, Northern Nevada is better, but still dry and cold in the winter. The Oregon Coast is by far the best choice. Central Oregon has tons to offer, Bend is wonderful. The weather on the coast is perfect, even the cold rain in the winter. Mild in the summer, green all summer long.

Best of luck to you in choosing your new home!

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Hi there,

I grew up in a small town about an hour outside of Portland, OR (now live in Southern CA). If it weren't for my husband's family all being here & his business, we would consider moving back up to Oregon. Oh & I don't know anyone the actually hunts, lol!

Personally, I think it was an awesome place to grow up. It's incredibly beautiful & clean but some people would not be able to adjust to the seasons so consider whether or not your family could enjoy the seasons. There's a lot less people, people are friendlier & more laid back, less concerned with what type of car they're driving & how clean it is (because it will probably get rained on anyway).

Yes, the schools are having funding issues, especially in Portland but that is problem everywhere right now. It varies district to district so you will have to do some research. Also, if you're going to be able to make enough money & cost of living is less, than you could consider private school perhaps.

Just to give you an idea of what it can be like growing up there - we did a lot of hiking as kids, camping, lots of outdoor things in the Summer. Along the Columbia River windsurfing is huge now too. In Winter, most everyone learned to ski (probably more snowboarding now). We were at the mountain most weekends. I think you do grow up with a real appreciation for the outdoors there. This is how my nieces & nephews & friend's kids are growing up living there (& in Seattle). We try to expose our kids to as much of that as we can when we travel up there for holidays.

I do have some specific suggestions for you if you're interested. Look up Wilsonville, just South of Portland. Schools are much better & your housing dollar will go a lot farther. One of my friends lives there with 2 young kids. Feel free to write me if you'd like to know more. I don't want to ramble on.

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Most of this is just hearsay, so take it with a grain of salt. I was in a class with a woman who worked for the Dept. of Education in Nevada, and she was just appalled with the state of education in Nevada. I think that like most states, there is a huge budget crunch affecting the public schools, and I know she did not highly recommend them right now. Also, I know a couple of people who moved to Oregon, one in southern Oregon, one in Salem, and both have complained about the school systems. I also have read articles about the school system that have not reflected highly on them. However, I do agree that Oregon is just beautiful.

My advice to anyone who is moving is to make sure that the schools in the area to which you are moving are as good as possible--look all the way to high school. You don't realize how much you really want that until your kids go to school. Go online to a site like greatschools.com and find out what the API scores are in the areas that you are looking into, or at least if there are good private schools nearby.

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Hi, I know the cost of living is crazy. I'm moving to Reno, Nv in a week, but I living in Beaverton, Or (close to Portland) for two yrs and it was great. It's family friendly, lots to do and the schools are amazing too!

i think it depends on the climate you are looking for, because oregon and LV are vastly different, you know? anywhere inland is going to be more affordable than near the water, too. phoenix AZ is having a crisis with overbuilding so you may be able to get a good deal there. if you were looking for a high price (less than H of course) then the central coast of CA is really nice and some places are a bit more affordable than others. good luck.

Hi!

If you're interested in Nevada, I would consider checking out Northern Nevada as well. I live in Dayton, a small town about 20 minutes east of Carson City. Since the housing crash, the home prices have been extremely reasonable and I love our schools. Dayton High School has met government standards (AYP) for the last five years. Of course, I must admit to a bias...I teach at DHS! <wink>

(If you'd like to discuss the educational front further, please feel free to respond to me privately.)

When my husband and I decided to bail out of California ten years ago, we started by looking at home prices and taxes (land and sales). Next, we did a "grocery run" at a few grocery stores to see if food costs were similar. While at the grocery stores, we conducted "man on the street" type interviews asking people of all ages (particularly school age kids, since I'm a teacher) what they liked about the schools, the area, what they would say to a family moving to town. Then, I called around about day care costs. Once we had done all our research, I created a spreadsheet and did a side by side comparison of costs. We moved six months later. It was a life decision my husband and I have never regretted.

Hope that helps a bit. Good luck!

Seems like quite a few are warning about the weather in Vegas, and with good reason. It's flaming hot summer and freezing cold in winter. Last year it snowed on the strip! But if that won't bother you, then I would suggest Henderson. It's a newer area with lots to offer, we have friends that live there and they love it. As for Oregon, the obvious choice is Portland and the surrounding towns. I know lots of people up there and they wouldn't live anywhere else. It's so clean you could eat off the sidewalk. However again keep in mind the weather...it's gloomy/rainy from about November to June. And we're not talking the warm rains of Hawaii! Many people there have to use full spectrum lighting in their houses to keep depression from setting in. For the kids, you have to make sure you have plenty of space to play inside. If you're open to CA, I would suggest Northern San Diego County or Santa Barbara County as alternatives you could probably afford.

Summerlin is a nicer area to live in, but the economy has hit it particularly hard, so keep that in mind. I would never leave there. I think it's a horrid place to live. Cold and windy in the winter, hotter that you know what in the summer. ugh! Oregon on the other hand is absolutely beautiful. I'd definitely move there. But California has beautiful areas too that are reasonable to live in. Be sure and check out the school system too - it won't be long.

My in laws live in Las Vegas for the past 20 years. Yes it is affordable but the schools are not very good. I have a girl friend who lives there and hates the school system would love to move away. It is very hot and if either of you have any desire to gamble it could become a problem. Not my idea of a good place to raise a family but I'm sure you could do it. My parents & brother's family lived in Bend Oregon but didn't like the winters too much snow. It was beautiful there they both moved because they didn't like the snow, the hospital was too far away and it was at lease a 1/2 drive into town just to get milk. My brother and his family moved to Az they love it there and housing is very cheap schools are ok too. It does get very HOT. My mom moved Az it was to hot for her and now lives in Alabama and loves it there. Also, check out Texas near Austin great schools, affordable housing as long as you don't mind the heat it would be great. We live in CA super great school Very expensive to live you always give up something if my husband could transfer I would move to Tx in a minute maybe when he retires. Hope this helps. Good luck

Hi! I've done that several times. It works out the BEST when you can rent for awhile and try out areas BEFORE you buy. Also get online and find the highest rated schools. I LOVED Bend, OR.

Consider your job options, also, and moving around where you will be working. Oregon is way more beautiful than Vegas, but more expensive. They have no sales tax, but they just raise the price of the items and have extremely high property taxes.

Las Vegas has nice outlying areas that are very affordable if you like the desert climate, like Henderson. Coming from Hawaii, it would be really hard to move to a place like Vegas! Oregon is beautiful, and so is Sedona, AZ and probably both are more affordable than HI.

I'd do some traveling and visiting first. Make several trips to check out each area. It will be worth the money 1000 times over!

We just moved from Las Vegas after living there for 2 years. My husband's job move us there. I have to say I really did not like it. Crime is pretty bad there. If I had to move back though, I would definitly live in Summerlin and in a gated community. I'm from Florida, so perhaps some parallels with Hawaii, I did not like the climate and found it not very pretty.
Portland is often on lists of best places to live in America. I would research that area. I've heard there are some nice suberbs in the Portland area. Good Luck!

If you move to Las Vegas both Green Valley and Summerlin are nice areas! Unfortunately (for current home owners), the housing market has really gone down, which is good for new home buyers. Good Luck with your move, I bet Hawaii is beautiful and difficult to leave.

N. E

I don't know much about Las Vegas or Oregan, however, I do know a great deal about Silversprings, stagecoach area. I live in one part of Stagecoach, and the home that are currently vacant are ranging from $97,000 to $200,000. Each home has an estimated 1+ acres where children can be very contented while playing outside. There is a great deal of wild life in the area that can be seen from morning to night (i.e. wild mustangs, coyotes, rabbits, and more). Each home has a variety of good points and peaceful settings morning and evening. The schools are good, and the protection from crime is very good. Some properties have a well others don't, some have propane tanks for gas, and others have electric. The neighborhoods are what you make it, so it is ultimately up to you as to where you live. I have personally found living out of town is better than living in town as the crime rate is not all that high. Children are too busy with nature to become involved in gangs, theft, and worse. I would attach a picture of parts of stagecoach, but there is not a place to do so. Nevada does have its drawbacks, such as gambling and the like but this is just as true of other areas. Good Luck with your choice on where to live in Nevada.

I totally agree with Jackie. I've lived in Vegas for 22 years. My husband was born here, as were his parents and grandparents. We don't hang out in casinos, nor do we have any friends or relatives who do. We have regular jobs, go to church, participate in community activities, etc. We live in Henderson, which has one of the best trails systems in the country as well as one of the highest number of parks per capita in the country. How good the school is depends on the area of town, but also how involved the parent is in their child's education. Vegas has a lot of magnet/specialized schools. My daughter goes to a Spanish immersion school where she receives instruction half the day in English and half in Spanish. We don't have the museums, zoos, etc., other cities have, but there are lots of opportunities for recreational activities. My daughter takes horseback riding and gymnastics through the rec center and loves it. Another thing no one has mentioned so far is that there is a large Polynesian population here, especially in Henderson. We have a lot of Hawaiian restaurants and Asian groceries. My husband lived in Laie on Oahu for six years and loved it, so he's happy he can get plate lunch here! You can even buy Portuguese sausage and Shoyu at the Walgreens here. Summers are hot, but at least you can still go out without shoveling driveways and defrosting the locks on your car doors like you would in the winter in Oregon. I think you should visit both places and see what you think, as they both probably have pros and cons. I just get tired of seeing Las Vegas getting such a bad rap all the time.

P.S. I've had one friend whose house was broken into and one nephew who got attacked in a bar (found out later he provoked it). In 22 years, that's the sum total of all the violence I've had personal experience with.

I agree that you need to visit where you are thinking of moving to and while you are there, talk to people.

For financial reasons I was planning on leaving CA for NV, I could have transfered within the company I worked for. And a friend had a nice place she would have rented to me. I went for a visit and was not happy with some stuff, but I could have lived with it. But then I talked to people who all told me the school system in the town I was looking at was one of the worst. The more I talked to them, the more I realized it wasn't for me. I needed a good school system for my daughter. I ended up staying in CA and while it has not always been easy, I do believe it was the right choice for us.

You may find out wonderful things and make a different choice. Best of luck to you.

I am not that familiar with those states, but I am with CA. I am a Realtor in California. I am not sure how the cost of living compares to Hawaii, but there are so many affordable homes here due to foreclosures and short sales. If you would consider CA let me know if I can help you. Good luck. : )

Well, I live in between Vegas and Oregon, I live in Reno, NV (Northern Nevada) here we have 4 distinct seasons, cold in the winter, hot in the summer,but not as hot as Vegas triple digits most of the summer, today we are 84 degrees, we have the mTst sunny days in the nation. Beautiful spring and fall months! If you're in your car in winter and the sun is shining, you will be warm in the car, we are 4500ft above sea level, snow skiing 30 minutes away, river in town, many local lakes... many people come here to retire. I come from sunny Redondo Beach, I love it here in Reno, air is clear and not too many people. The only negative thing I have to say is the air here is dry (high desert) I come from by the sea and was used to the moist air, you can help with using a swamp cooler vs. a.c. and a humidifier in the winter. I feel good about raising my kids here, not too many people and plenty of fun things for us to do. Lake Tahoe is huge, going there is like spending a day at the beach but all in the "big trees". My dad lives in Vegas, low desert. I love it here way more than I do Vegas... Mom lives in Grants Pass Oregon, very beautiful place, lots of rain, cold in the winter, definitely more moist there than here! I guess it depends on what type of work you do. Anyway good luck in your search. I just read most of the previous responses and I had to add one more thing. I am a teacher here in Reno and we have a very good school system, highly qualified teachers, teaching to district and state standards, I know we don't have a lot of money per pupil, but we do have a lot of the latest technology. There are certain areas of town where the schools are older, but the teachers are fantastic.

I don't know where you are thinking in Oregon. Vegas can be crazy hot, and so can Eastern Oregon. Also, Portland and Eugene are more progressive/liberal. And the rest of the state is more libertarian. Hunting is a popular pastime. Personally, if I were choosing-I LOVE Portland. the city has been named one of the best places to live year after year. Lots of outdoor activities-bike paths for miles, breweries, a chinese garden. Good luck.

I grew up in Oahu. I recently visited Portland Oregon and loved it so much that we're planning to move there in a few years after my husband finishes his job. He's originally from Vegas. I'm not a fan of the town. Its in the top five most dangerous cities to live in. The air quality is only getting worse. Over populated and over building. The mountains are beautiful but are the last redeeming quality to that town. Oregon has so much to offer a family. Beautiful and environmentally mindful people. Good luck!

I have lived in las vegas for 13 years and would not recommend raising a family here. You will probably get several people defending Vegas but the truth is in the statistics. Top five worst in all crime categories (no not all crime is on the strip actually most is in the residential areas) The second or first worst place for education. I have one year old twin boys and will be out of here before they are school age. I also am considering Oregon but am aware of high drug usage on the coast areas and not too excited about the winters. If you do chose las vegas look in the Henderson area. I have lived in Summerlin, Vegas and Henderson and Henderson is the best without a close second.

I didn't read all your responses, so I apologize if I'm repeating. My husband and I live in Southern California and sound like we're in the same boat as you... just too darn expensive. We are looking into relocating to Bend, Oregon. It's beautiful and green and I'd love to raise our son in a place where there are woods he can explore and play in (like I did growing up in East Texas). I'm not into skiing (or snow in general, for that matter) but there's a ski resort 20 miles away, a river that runs through the town, and the weather in Central Oregon is much milder (less rain) than Portland or the coast of Oregon in general. Best of luck in your search!