OK, I'll do it anyway:
(I'm doing Portland because that's where I'm from, I'm only in Corvallis for school)
1. The weather is very moderate. The lowest monthly average low is 35 and the highest monthly average high is 76. Truthfully, in the summer, we can go an entire month (or even more!) with less than an inch of rain and 80 degree days every day. We're in what is called the "Mediterranean climate" of cool and dry summers. Also, the humidity in summer is great, I think it hovers around 30%, not too dry or too humid. It's true, it rains a lot but it's only that we have a lot of days with rain, and not a large cumulative amount of rain. We're not even close to being the wettest city in the US. Also, the snowfall is so little. We're talking maybe 1-2 inches 1-2 times per year.
2. The bonus to having so many days with rain is that it's SO GREEN AND LUSH!!! This is a factor that is extremely important me. I hate driving through a lot of metro areas where all I see is concrete and garbage. Here, all you see is beauty, trees, flowers, and plant life all around.
3. Our parks are so amazing! I still think we're the top city in the country (or world?) with the most parks in its city limits. There's Forest Park that is a forest within the city. It's a good place to hike if you need your fix, or to start out on. Either way, you still have a cell phone signal! Washington Park is like the Disney World of parks, it's so amazing, I remember being beyond stoked as a kid to go there. Next to it is the International Rose Test Garden. You'll never see so many roses in your life when you go there. The zoo, the children's museum, arboretum, Japanese garden, Pittock Mansion, and much more are all super close to this as well.
4. Outdoors! This is my favorite part about the city. The beaches are 1 hour away, the mountain is also 1 hour away, there's endless forest and hiking at your fingertips, windsurfing in the gorge is one of the best spots in the world, TIDEPOOLS!, desert, mountain ranges (2 surround Wilamette Valley, where Portland is), oh... there's so much to list!
5. Wine country. Our soil is similar to a lot of the main wine producers in the world and therefore, we are along some of the top wine producers in the world. Lots of people go on wine tasting tours around here.
6. You're not far from quiet. In fact, some of the city is in an agricultural zone. Need to get away, it'll only take you minutes to get to a rural setting.
7. Intel, other technology companies and medicine. These are all in abundance here. Not only are jobs in these field of plenty but if your kids are looking to get into these fields, there's a lot of school programs to get experience or a lot a student (college aged) opportunities. We have what is called the Silicon Forest, like the Silicon Valley...
8. Disaster zone? NO! No hurricanes, no tornados, no big snow storms, flooding is extremely rare and non-existant in most areas, earthquakes happen but have little affect because of building codes and better soil situations compared to SF, no tsunamis (too far from the ocean and there's a mountain range in the way).
9. Also, I've mentioned this before in another thread: while Portland is a big city, it's bigness is trumped by neighbors Seattle and San Francisco who are bigger terrorist targets. While it's kind of weird to think about, it's a factor for me.
10. We have hills and mountains! I've been to places where there so little elevation change that it's actually very distracting to me. I love seeing mountain ranges.
11. No sales tax.
12. You don't have to pump your own gas! Actually, I don't even officially know how to.
13. It's hard to find Portland natives. Not because they all move, but because so many people from other places move here!
14. If you're a health nut, it's like health nut central. There are so many organic, natural, fresh, blah, blah, blah things that it's almost unbearable sometimes. Almost. It makes organic eating cheaper a lot of the time!
Cons:
1. Housing is expensive. What you can get for $300,000 here is nothing compared to what you can get in other places in the country. Also, it's one of the tightest renting markets.
2. The public education system isn't the best. It's usually ranked middle-low. But, if you manage to do private school or move to the Beaverton or Lake Oswego school districts, you'll be fine.
3. The rain can get to you. I love the rain but it was tough when it rained every single day in March except 1 this year.
4. I said it hardly snows but in the rare occasion it does snow a lot (the most I remember is that it was 12" one day. Otherwise, a lot only means 4-6"), the city is in shutdown. Not only are there only like 2 snowplows for the whole city, but most of the city is hills so it makes it hard even more.
"Keep Portland Weird" is a common saying. Ever watch Portlandia? It's not too far off, and Portlanders like to be weird.
Really though, I suggest a suburb of Portland. Either SW Portland, NW Portland, Beaverton, or Lake Oswego.
Good luck on your search!
