Best cities to live in?

dyyylan · Since 14 May 2014 26 Posts Hood River

Hey guys, I am trying to move up to the gorge next month from Florida in hopes of getting to kite more than a couple times a month.

I was trying to shoot for Hood River, but it's looking like a 6-12 month wait list on rental units pretty much every place I call, so I am looking for some advice on other cities that are worth checking out.

Hood River is kind of ideal because it looks to be the closest to both kiting and skiing (I don't really have any intentions of kiting in 30° water in the winter lol). Are there any other places that have this kind of setup? Not necessarily in the gorge.

I work from home and usually kite/ski during the day and work in the afternoon/evenings, so location isn't super important as long as they have fast internet and are the closest I can get to being able to ride, without being in the middle of nowhere.

Still trawling gorge.net classifieds and craigslist in hopes of finding something but my lease is up here at the end of the month so I'm on a bit of a time limit!

thanks

WindSki · Since 14 Dec 2012 411 Posts Portland Obsessed

The Dalles, OR

Low cost of living and so, so close !
Moving to the Hood River area and you'll be on the water 5 to 7 days a week !
Very Happy

I personally live in Portland, OR and love it. Have all the big city amenities and only 1.15 away, plus its much closer to the coast

Low tax, move to the Washington side !

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1734 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

hey dyylan I moved to the couve last summer. pretty happy being centralized right between the hood and the coast. I'm 15 minutes from the closest access to the columbia river. being from FLA you probably like big kites so you'd be pretty happy with the light shit winds close to PDX in the summer months. the couve is about an hour from the hood.

macgruber · Since 06 Dec 2011 490 Posts SE PDX volcano Obsessed

I live in Portland and love that it's between the coast and gorge, but would love to live in Hood River if my job permitted. It is 60min for me living at SE 54th and Hawthorne. Quite a bit longer if you live on the west side. Hood River is quite expensive too though. I would rule out Cascade Locks/Stevenson since they get a ton of rain, much more than Portland. White Salmon and Mosier are cheaper but a little small so you'd be driving to HR daily. The Dalles is cheap, dry, and just as close to many spots as Hood River. Odell and Parkdale are pretty nice. Definitely check out Mosier though. You might be able to find a summer rental in the Dalles then a permanent place in HR after the high season is over.

Nak · Wed May 14, 14 4:44 pm **Re: Best cities to live in?**

hilton · Since 15 Aug 2008 799 Posts Opinionated

I would suggest a short term rental on whatever you can find for this summer, then there will be many more (cheaper) options in and around Hood River by September/October if you are staying for the winter.
If you can work from home, living in the Gorge is ideal unless you crave the excitement of the city or want to be closer to real waves on the coast.
As mentioned, Odell, Parkdale, and Mosier are so close it's almost like being in Hood River. If you live across the river in Bingen or White Salmon, WA you shouldn't have to pay state income tax, but you will likely spend more on bridge tolls.

Windian · Since 28 Apr 2008 898 Posts Newport, OR NEWPORT OG

Wild horses couldn't drag me away from the coast. Tried living inland once and couldn't handle it. By the way the coast was 90 degrees and absolutely PERFECT wind and waves today with 15 to 20 north winds and long period west swell. A-frame peaks up and down the beach and only 2 kiters on the water. Yep, no reason to look elsewhere to live...

Justsmile · Since 20 Jul 2009 1527 Posts Not Portland XTreme Poster

jblum · Since 13 Jul 2008 306 Posts The Gorge Obsessed

I second The Dalles.

I've lived in both HR and TD for about 4 years each and I can honestly say I kited WAY more living out east. The wind is better. The weather is better. The sessions last longer (usually past dusk) while the wind dies reliably at 4-5pm in HR. There aren't a million kooks at your local launch tommahawking their kites into your business. Its close enough to cruise to Hood River if you want, but is also closer to Mosier, Lyle, Secret Spot, Roosevelt and Rufus, which are all better quality spots than the Sandbar. The "scene" is cooler in HR, but who gives a shit when there are 250 kiters at your spot on a July weekend. That isn't really that cool. Its a clusterf#$K.

A lot of people have negative things to say about TD, but none have actually ever come out to hang out. They just know its the "working class" sibling of HR where there is a Porn Store and a Home Depot (true). There are also some shady people, but there are in HR too, they've all just been pushed out of downtown because of the insane cost of living. Now they live in the upper valley instead, and are out of sight so no one talks about it. If you don't believe me, look at the US census data for median income in Hood River and TD and you'll learn that they aren't that different from a socioeconomic standpoint. From a social standpoint they are, but more and more people are moving east because they can't find/ afford living in HR.

There are a lot of cool things to do out in TD: The Sunshine Mill is the most interesting tasting room in the Gorge. The Baldwin Saloon is the oldest restaurant in the Gorge. The history in The Dalles goes way back before HR, back into the 1850s. There is a great frisbee golf course and huge park above town. The place doesn't fill up in the summer and die in the winter because everyone who lives in The Dalles actually lives there, and isn't just visiting for the weekend. Sure, there isn't a post canyon, skiing is 20 minutes further away, and the "scene" isn't as cool, but there is a lot to offer there as well.

I don't want to start a HR vs TD thread, but TD is underrated IMO. You should come check it out and see for yourself. If not, you can always get a vacation rental in HR for $1800/week.

moondog · Thu May 15, 14 6:46 am

White Salmon, Wa. across the river from the Hood and my neighbor has an apartment that is empty, they go quick. If you work and live in Wa. no state income taxes, just like Florida. Oregon is 8-9%

Jonpnw · Thu May 15, 14 6:52 am **Maryhill Area**

If your looking for some sweet land near Maryhill Winery hit me up. 20 acres / 80k or 80 acres / 320 k. Build your dream home with a vineyard & a winery.

Jon

WINDUDE · Since 10 Jun 2010 558 Posts GORGE! Addicted

THere are many towns near Hood River, and you can kite all up and down the columbia river, so many choices!

-White Salmon, WA (I live here, great town)
-Mosier, OR
-The Dalles, OR
-Stevenson, WA

Portland is also a good call

Sella · Thu May 15, 14 9:14 am

Glad to see The Dalles getting some love and jblum nailed it.

Wherever you decide to live doesn't really matter because once you walk out your front door you'll quickly understand it's a world class outdoor destination area with ridiculously beautiful views everywhere you look. Great vibe from every city all the way to the Coast and if you've traveled a lot it's really hard to think of another part of the world that provides so much variety like the Pacific Northwest for so little.

Come on people....where else can you live on the water for $65k?? Smile

http://portland.craigslist.org/grg/reo/4468499335.html

JeffT · Since 07 Jul 2012 238 Posts Deep Southern Portland Stoked

If you buy a boathouse, do you have to pay property taxes?
That place looks awesome!

Sella · Thu May 15, 14 9:41 am

its_kite:30 · Since 29 May 2009 108 Posts White Salmon/ Beaverton Stoked

jbeede · Since 15 May 2014 8 Posts United States Kook

I'm actually on the exact same journey as you. I'll be in Hood River June 1-13 and have an airbnb in HR for that time, plus I'm staying at the hostel on the WA side to meet some people. http://www.bingenschool.com/region.htm

Give a shout if you want to ride or check out surrounding towns. Ill PM my number.