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| not what it used to be: - 2/13/2013
I've lived her now for over 16 yrs. We moved here because the schools were 2nd best in the nation. The cost of living was low, and it was a good place to raise a family. That has changed. Schools are now among the worst. Crime has risen. Jobs are sparse. Cost of living is much higher. Due mainly because of all the screwy laws and bonds that have been passed by the liberals. if you want to start a small bus., keep in mind we have the second highest minimum wage, at $8.95/hr
ON a positive note: it has fresh air all the time, and fresh water. Plenty of outdoor things to do if you don't mind getting wet. It rains here about 8 months out of the year, and gray much of that. Summers are great. Now that our kids are out of the house, we are planning on moving to some place nice and dry and lower cost of living! [read more...]
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| Love the Beav! - 1/19/2010
Everything you'd want in a Stepford style suburb.[read more...]
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| hypocracy - 6/28/2009
We've lived in Beaverton for 3 years. It is a beautiful area. There are some sad problems though. Even though Portland metro boasts its tolerance it is loaded with hypocracy. The tolerance is only for a handful politically correct topics. A lot of people are downright rude if you are outside of their expectations. The attitude is a bit cold and insincere.[read more...]
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| One of the best places in the US to live. - 1/28/2009
I'm originally from Texas and love the sun, but the crime in the south is terrible. You can still walk the steets in Beaverton without fear.[read more...]
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| Mt Olivet Baptist Church - 9/8/2008
If you want the word straight from the Bible and a no-nonsense approach to the Bible with a Pastor who is very comical, this is the church for you! They have many different classes as well as ministries. Really a good church. There are 2 different locations one in Portland off of Chatauqua and one at Southridge High school in Beaverton. I have learned sooooo much there in my time here. Unfortunately I have to give up my church because I am moving to NC.[read more...]
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| Beaverton Population - 3/25/2008
Beaverton's certified population is 85,560 as of July 2007.[read more...]
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| Very mixed feelings about Breaverton, not best pla - 1/2/2008
My husband, our son, and I moved to Beaverton for a bout 3 years (we just finally left to return to MN). I didn't think I'd miss it, but I do miss some of it. The convenient location of everything in town for one, I didn't have to drive into Portland for anything I needed. There are plenty of grocery and retail stores, as well as restaurants. The microbreweries in Oregon are amazing and beer any where else is just not good enough. The weather, while dreary, was very mild. Unlike my experiences in Portland, most people were generally nice. In addition, you were sure to find a great "special" on your pick of apartments. Plus, no sales tax!
On to the negatives. The schools were incredibly overcrowded, in my son's Kindergarten class, there were 32 students. No one wants to pay taxes, especially not for the children. One of the first articles I read in the newspaper was an article about why people don't want to pay to put fluoride in the water (which many cities around there don't) and that people who want them should buy drops. This is the general opinion seen on most subjects except for the welfare of animals, and trees.
It is next to impossible to get health care. Very few jobs offer anything that is affordable (they pay far less than 50%) and most that do offer insurance have very high deductibles and co-pays. There is a state health program for children, and if a family of 3 makes less than $1500 gross a month there is a small chance your child might be covered. Keep in mind that average rent for a 2 Br in the area is around 750 a month.
The State takes large amounts of income tax, but still doesn't make ends meet because no sales tax. So instead, the cost of moving violations is at least triple that of other states. All of this is a waste because the State can't manage it's money. They can't operate snow plows, and everyone uses chains so when it does snow, it is impossible to drive with out chains, and the roads really get torn up. This leads to year round road construction. Did I mention the hundreds of strip clubs on every corner? If all that weren't enough, there is a chance you may leaver Beaverton and go into other parts of the Portland Metro (I wouldn't advise it) where people are in general very rude (believing they are superior), often stoned, many times dirty and homeless (very often by choice rather than circumstance.) Meth is a serious problem in Oregon. Also, police officers have been known to shoot first and then try to justify why the pregnant black woman who was pulled over for speeding or the 15 year old kid who was suspected of being depressed (suicide concern) were seen as threats.[read more...]
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| Moving to Beverton Oregon! - 9/12/2007
I was born and raised in Long Beach WA. I was there for 19 years and I joined the NAVY 1 year after high school. I now and have been in San Diego CA ever since. 15 years here have brought me fun sun and I have found the love of my life. We are now selling my girlfriend's condo and then moving to Beverton. My Mom and my Sister are there. My sister and her husband had their first baby last May. We are both so excited to move. A different style of living and we can start our family in peace. Hope you all welcome us!!! See you all soon.
Jim[read more...]
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| Gem of the Pacific Northwest - 4/3/2007
Our family moved here 5 years ago from the Intermountain West. I won't mince words. Our first winter here was hard. It rained 30 days straight. Almost an all time record. Rainy weather aside, Portland has proven to be a wonderful place to live. There are beautiful parks, friendly people, fantastic restaurants and much,much more. The schools are great, the econony is growing and the atomosphere is very West Coast. We have the best bookstore in the country, Powell's Books and the best public radio/t.v. station OPB. People here are educated and very involved politically. Most people are quite active and we have some of the best sustainable produce in the country. The Spring, Summer and Fall are absolutelly glorious here! Don't let the nay sayers sway you. Portland is a gem.[read more...]
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| sunny weather at the end of Sept - 9/27/2006
It is surprising[read more...]
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| If you are considering moving to NWOregon/PDX, PL - 8/24/2006
We moved to Beaverton about 2 years ago. Since then we’ve experienced two winters, and two summers, and I feel like I can finally say I know what the Oregon weather is like. Bottom-line, it IS very grey in the winter, and it is long. But, I’ve never had a place with such beauty, with such clean air (almost burns your lungs), and so many nice people (they actually stop and waive you in when you want to turn into traffic). I moved from Phoenix, and lived in the Bay Area for several years as well. While each location has it’s wonderful points, I enjoy Beaverton/PDX more then any. Visited Phoenix last x-mas looking for some sun, and could hardly breath for two weeks (terrible pollution). Visited SF in late winter, and the traffic, busy people, and dilapidated infrastructure reminded me quickly of why I love it here. Beaverton schools are excellent. My kid can choose from several language immersion programs, from the kindergarten level no less. Mass transit is excellent (MAX), nice zoo, INCREDIBLE summer activities (free movies in the park on Friday’s, hiking, parks, coast, farmer’s markets, downtown). I can honestly say my favorite summer every was last summer here in Oregon. Hiking, camping, parks, and the coast is only one hour away (talk about beautiful). Hate to say it, but NW Oregon is wonderful. So, DON’T come…we want to keep it this way ?.[read more...]
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| 4 months of paradise - 8/15/2006
just moved here 4 mos ago and it's been a slice of heaven. limitless outdoor activities less than an hour away (any direction); bright sunny warm days with cool comfortable breezy evenings; very friendly people (especially in the service area); less than 20 min to anywhere I need to go; love the washington county library system. still prepping for the inevitable cloudy winters but after these 4 mos, any kind of winter seems bearable.[read more...]
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| 9 MONTHS OF GRAY!!! - 8/8/2006
DO NOT MOVE TO THE PNW UNLESS YOU LIKE 9 MONTHS OF COMPLETE GRAY CLOUD COVERAGE!!! I have suffered here for 11 years & the only thing worse than the chronicly high: unemployment,property taxes,housing costs,& meth use is the fact that except for 3 months of summer almost EVERYDAY will be completely gray & usually raining. You can literally go 4 months without seeing one speck of blue sky. No wonder North West Oregon has one of the highest suicide rates!
If you want to move to Oregon stay to the south!!!
[read more...]
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| Everyone is SO nice here! - 7/31/2006
I recently moved here to Beaverton/Portland, OR from the bay area California and everyone is SO nice here. Not that people are mean in California, but people are just really friendly here. I've lived here for about 4 months now, and still almost EVERYDAY I walk out of a store or restaurant going "Gosh... I still can't believe how nice everyone is here!"[read more...]
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| Outrageous increase in real estate prices - 7/14/2006
In the past five years, the real estate market in the greater Portland metro area has skyrocketed out of control. It is no longer feasible for the majority of people in this area to own their own home. A 3 bedroom townhome goes for at least $250K! It's crazy![read more...]
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| You need to know about Urban Growth Boundary - 6/17/2006
For anyone looking to more here you need to know about the Urban Growth boundary. a boundary set years ago to prevent sprawl. The boundary is moved when all land in the bundary is utilized. This is creating a tight city and row house are going up everywhere. Most new homes are VERY cramped together due to the land crunch. The Metro area is controlled by a group that wants to create a traffic problem so large everyone takes mass transit and commutes to nature outside or at the many designated parks. If the direction keeps going this area will become a concrete jungle in the midst of a beautiful wet forest.
Oregon rains alot, Few sunny days, National average for suny days is low and has been as bad as not a single sunny day until 4th or july in 1999 This year 2006 is a close second. It has rained and been very cold this year that most residents are not sure we will get a summer. Last year after a late summer, a wet winter set in right away. Our backyard which in 5 yrs has not flooded, flooded and had to be drained 5 times due to the excessive rain.
If you like being water logged, don't need much sun and love green areas and don't like urban sprawl then you will do ok.[read more...]
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| No beavers in Beaverton, it's misleading - 5/5/2006
I relocated to the Beaverton area from Detroit, MI about 2 years ago. I've found that the housing prices have been going up at an alarming rate. I could barely afford a home when I arrived here, and now I definitely can't afford a home. To top it all off I haven't been able to find a job since I got laid off a few months ago due to my dependency on alcohol, which I've just recently gotten under control after a short stint in jail for a minor traffic offense, but I don't want to get into that right now. I live in a crowded apartment complex and there's constant police activity here because of all the rowdy meth-heads that are always breaking into the cars here. The thin walls also let me hear all the suspicious activity they are participating in, but that's another story. I still don't know what the deal is with Aloha. Is it unincorporated? Is it a part of Beaverton? Why didn't they ever correct the name to Aloah, the Native American word it was initially intended to be? The name is a little silly, considering it's in grey-sky'd Oregon. I always picture sunny skies and pretty ladies in hula skirts, but I digress. Due to the increasing overpopulation, some of the neighborhoods are becoming extremely ghetto, but I will say that the Beaverton school district has excellent elementary schools compared to the schools back home. My 1st son from my 2nd ex-wife (I know I should learn my lesson by now) really enjoys the quality of the attention he receives in class due to the low teacher to student ratio. The schools really are top-notch. The high schools are average though, as my 3rd son from my 4th ex-wife is reporting to me. Then again, the problem might just be all the skateboarding he does instead of listening to his teachers. Beaverton does have skate parks for the kids, as well as an excellent public library. The weather here is a lot milder than what I've experienced back home. The MAX light rail system runs through town and connects Beaverton to the much hipper, and much more expensive Portland, which is known for the highest concentration of strip clubs of any city in the United States. I guess every city has it's part to play. Aside from the sleazier aspects of Portland, there is a nice zoo, and many nicer neighborhoods on the northwest side of the Willamette. It's sad to see so many new condos going up there, it's becoming less and less of a child-oriented city, and more of a adult-oriented metropolis. Still, there are many nice nei[read more...]
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| I haven't seen any Beavers in Beaverton, it's a li - 5/5/2006
I relocated to the Beaverton area from Detroit, MI about 2 years ago. I've found that the housing prices have been going up at an alarming rate. I could barely afford a home when I arrived here, and now I definitely can't afford a home. To top it all off I haven't been able to find a job since I got laid off a few months ago due to my dependency on alcohol, which I've just recently gotten under control after a short stint in jail for a minor traffic offense, but I don't want to get into that right now. I live in a crowded apartment complex and there's constant police activity here because of all the rowdy meth-heads that are always breaking into the cars here. The thin walls also let me hear all the suspicious activity they are participating in, but that's another story. I still don't know what the deal is with Aloha. Is it unincorporated? Is it a part of Beaverton? Why didn't they ever correct the name to Aloah, the Native American word it was initially intended to be? The name is a little silly, considering it's in grey-sky'd Oregon. I always picture sunny skies and pretty ladies in hula skirts, but I digress. Due to the increasing overpopulation, some of the neighborhoods are becoming extremely ghetto, but I will say that the Beaverton school district has excellent elementary schools compared to the schools back home. My 1st son from my 2nd ex-wife (I know I should learn my lesson by now) really enjoys the quality of the attention he receives in class due to the low teacher to student ratio. The schools really are top-notch. The high schools are average though, as my 3rd son from my 4th ex-wife is reporting to me. Then again, the problem might just be all the skateboarding he does instead of listening to his teachers. Beaverton does have skate parks for the kids, as well as an excellent public library. The weather here is a lot milder than what I've experienced back home. The MAX light rail system runs through town and connects Beaverton to the much hipper, and much more expensive Portland, which is known for the highest concentration of strip clubs of any city in the United States. I guess every city has it's part to play. Aside from the sleazier aspects of Portland, there is a nice zoo, and many nicer neighborhoods on the northwest side of the Willamette. It's sad to see so many new condos going up there, it's becoming less and less of a child-oriented city, and more of a adult-oriented metropolis. Still, there are many nice nei[read more...]
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| Beautiful flowers in springtime - 4/16/2006
After living in the high desert of Central Oregon (yes, Central Oregon has its own merits..), it is a joy to see the lush vegitation and gorgeous flowering trees around the Portland metro area, especially in the early spring. The rain can be a nuisance at times (particularly with two energetic kids who love to be outdoors), but take a walk around the neighborhood, or a drive to the country, and see what it does for the landscape.[read more...]
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| Traffic & Population Density - 7/9/2005
I've lived here for 25 years. It has become increasingly awful. If you like gridlock on the roads, rowdy and uppity neighbors, overpriced housing, low wages, constant job loss, then this is the town for you! Otherwise, would strongly recommend you look elsewhere. I know that I am!!!![read more...]
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