Nice to visit but not a great place to live - 11/30/2021

Our family moved to Medford in early 2017 and we cannot wait to leave. Every summer since we arrived has been filled with oppressive and persistent smoke to the point that we have to wear respirators if we want to go outdoors without risking our health. We apparently get an inversion layer over the valley that traps the smoke in. Air quality monitors during these seasons are often well over hazardous levels. Sometimes the smoke lasts for weeks or longer at a time; then when we do get a reprieve, it is only a temporary one before the wind shifts and it settles back in. Even with the best air filters and aircon filters, you can still smell the smoke in the house and it causes symptoms for all of us in our household. As avid gardeners and outdoorsy people, the inability to enjoy the outdoors all summer and often into the fall is horrid. With all the local hemp farms, it always smells like skunks in the otherwise pretty fall evenings now - another thing that puts a damper on our ability to enjoy being outside. The air quality is also poor in winter according to air quality monitors. The continually rising property costs do not reflect the increasing lack of livability in this area. I would never recommend that anyone purchase property here. Libraries and quality of education are much poorer than what I was accustomed to in our old hometown. Violence and property crime seem to have dramatically gone up since we have been here. We also have a major problem with illegal pot farms and the crime that brings. The houseless population has also increased in recent years. Availability of normal things you might take for granted in other states is subpar here. Many normal things are simply not stocked even in local big box stores (or are supposed to be stocked in that there is a place on the shelf for them but it just remains empty for weeks and weeks on end) and must be ordered online instead. Selections are more limited than they are elsewhere. Our mail system seems to take twice as long or more than what we were accustomed to in our old home state for incoming mail (outgoing seems to be at a fairly “normal” pace), which means you have to plan ahead more. You get used to this after awhile but it can still be frustrating sometimes. This is not just a pandemic issue. We noticed it when we first arrived in the area. There is a noticeable lack of diversity. The positives: there is a great community of lavender farms, organic farms, farmers markets, vineyards, etc. here. Local events hosted by them can be a lot of fun and getting to know the people who grow your food is awesome! The Medford Food Co-Op and Ashland Food Co-Op are awesome (fantastic quality of produce and product selection; wonderful employees) and we also have a Natural Grocers here, so if you are used to having access to a Whole Foods or Mother’s Market or the like, you will not have trouble finding good sources of organic / natural foods. We also have a Trader Joe’s if that is more your thing. If you are close to town, grocery delivery is varied and accessible via Instacart (though more expensive) and curbside pickup is readily available at some stores (Target, Albertsons, etc.). When the weather is nice, it’s beautiful here and there are so many lovely areas to explore. The table rocks quickly became one of my favorite locations but I also love some of the more mountainous areas and the local rivers / creeks. Most people are generally friendly. There’s a great yarn shop in Ashland and there are some local clubs / guilds / community groups that offer opportunities to connect with people with similar interests. There is an awesome pottery show / market in non-cov years. Unfortunately, the downsides of the area far outweigh the positives for us and I would not want to raise children here. We don’t plan to stay in the area.

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Medford is a Lovely Town to Nestle Into and Enjoy - 9/4/2021

My husband and I semi-retired here in 2014 after considering several around the same size in terms of population. We love the four seasons here as well as the gorgeous surrounding mountains as well as the easy proximity to the coast. Everything in Medford is about a 10 to 15 minutes drive away. We looked for homes in Ashland but they were extremely expensive for a small home so we broadened our search to southwest Medford and found a gorgeous 3-bedroom home on a half acre of land, which we landscaped for privacy. Jacksonville is only 15 minutes away; Ashland 25 minutes. We found it easy to make new friends here, which we deeply appreciate. There is as much or as little to do as you wish. We tend to enjoy cooking and having friends over but there are some delicious restaurants, too, like La Reyna Monarcha in Medford and Kobe in Ashland — two of our favs. Medford has a GREAT airport when we want to visit friends plus it’s a fun drive trip to the San Francisco Bay Area (5 hours) or Portland (3.5 hours) or the beach towns along the coast (3.5 hours). There are lots of beautiful hikes as well as really nice horse people for those inclined that way. Of course, there is skiing up on gorgeous Mt. Ashland and theatre in and around Ashland. All in all it’s a sweet, welcoming community.

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Kiss the ground in Medford - 6/15/2021

We have lived here for 12 years now and find it to be a great place to live. When I read a post that blames Trump for the homeless population and how, "things will be better since he is no longer president"... I dismiss the foolish comment as coming from someone who depends heavily on the government for their living while dismissing the fact that Medford, Phoenix and Talent had devastating fires last summer, leaving thousands without housing. Try living in Portland for about 3 days... you will kiss the ground when you return to Medford.

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Grateful to be leaving my home of several decades - 2/1/2021

I moved to Medford in 1978, so I've seen the city evolve. I raised my children here. I moved to Grants Pass a year ago, and cannot believe the change in Medford since then. I feel I need to warn potential residents, esp those who plan on raising kiddos here. Much has changed in just the past 12 months since I left. Drive between Central Point and the south Medford exit of the freeway now, and enjoy the view of all the homeless camps, complete with their accompanying trash. A year ago, you could find a couple tents scattered about here and there, but not what we see now. Many of them are camped along the bike trail- the same one my children and I used to enjoy riding along when they were growing up. You wouldn't want to take your children there now. Another reason I do not recommend this valley in general, is because of something we all hate- the smoke that fills our valley, our businesses, our homes and our lungs every summer now. Poor forest management has caused a whole different kind of forest fire than used to exist when I was a kid. So we are forced to spend our summers indoors. Sometimes visibility is so poor you cannot see a half mile down the road. This is EVERY summer now. Several new businesses have arrived in the past few years that are a welcome addition to the community, but the negatives outweigh the positives, in my opinion. I plan to leave the state for a place with clean air and a safe environment for families. I know not everyone will agree with me, but many have already abandoned once delightful Oregon before me, so I'm not alone.

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A changing city - 12/13/2020

I’ve lived here for 15 years. While it is changing slowly, the area is heavily a 45 supporting area. Also, there is pretty overt racism. While there are of course kind people living in Medford, there is definitely an overall temperament of political conservatism. For example my neighbor next door has a bumper sticker saying, “Make Liberals Cry Again”. People refuse to wear masks in stores. ...This is a great place to live if you look and act like a 45 supporter... otherwise you may feel out of place. ...but again, it is changing!

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medford is wonderful - 8/20/2020

im so glad I moved to this beautiful city,

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I love medford - 8/20/2020

I have only lived here for two years but I love it, its beautiful and so many wonderful things to do and see. Like most places to we have homless, but only sence trump has been in office once hes gone I know it will improve.

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I’ve lived here my whole life... - 6/22/2020

I’ve lived in Medford my entire life. I now have 2 children of my own and Medford is nothing like it was growing up. There are transients and people strung out on drugs EVERYWHERE. My kids can’t go to the park. The parks are flooded with homelessness. There is trash all over the streets and under bridges. The bike paths aren’t safe. The crime rate is through the roof. Theft is so bad people will scope out our house in broad daylight with us right there. It’s sad. It is a beautiful area with lots of mountains and lakes - but it’s a boring town with a lot of drugs and high crime rate. I’m sad to see my hometown turn into what it has.

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“Lurked out bro”, commonly used there, sums it up. - 3/15/2020

If you’re into drugs and shady business of that nature, this is the Mecca you’ve been searching for. Most of the people I came across in my 11 years there, absolutely hate anyone moving there from out of state, especially California, despite the fact 99% of them have never actually left the valley, let alone Oregon. The weather isn’t terrible, especially if you prefer to spend your summers breathing in smoke that limits visibility to about 20 ft. every year, and winters hoping to avoid people who somehow perpetually drive like it’s their first time encountering snow, ice, possibly even other drivers on the road. The cost of living is great if you can convince Walmart or whatever retail/fast food job you’re at to give you 100+ hours a week, as the lack of rentals has prompted realtors to require you to make 3x the rent. Don’t worry about lack of sleep working those kind of hours, as previously stated there are drugs in abundance to make sure you never need to sleep again. If you have a hard time finding work at all, they also have drugs to help you sleep all the depression away, as everyone there seems to be constantly depressed. When I first moved there, I had come from Davis, CA, witch understandably had a very good educational system, so good in fact, I learned what they were trying to teach me in High School in about 4th-5th grade? I didn’t go to school for two weeks, came back on a test day, and did better than the kids who studied for it for a week. So in my sophomore year I told them I just wanted to get my GED, witch took some convincing as they didn’t think I would pass it. One week worth or pre-tests and one week of actual tests later, low and behold, I had finished and passed all of the OR state GED tests, for a grand total of two weeks worth of my time. Not saying everyone there is unintelligent, but you get a lot of primitive, caveman type talk like “That needs done.” around there. The point is made, and you understand it, but you question how much activity, if any, is going on in the their brains. There is also a statewide requirement that all trucks must have the highest lift kit available with the brightest possible LED headlights, and all Honda’s Subaru’s and Acura’s must not have a muffler. That is a fact. I am 28 and never met too many people my age who didn’t want to get away from that area, old people seemed to like it from what I can tell, it was a retirement community after all. So overall if you’re into a pleasant mix of old folks who don’t really care for you existing in that area what so ever and refuse to accept that times have changed? Medford for the win. Younger drug addled homeless or about to be homeless criminals who would sell their grandma and her wheelchair in a package deal for money to buy heroin, or wish to become one yourself? Again, Medford is your destination. Great weather for developing your Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and freezing your tits off all winter? You’ve found your place in Medford, OR. Is education, in particular grammar, or the English language in general not your cup of tea? All your people have already congregated and await you in Medford, so what are you waiting for!

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Beware of Sociopathville - 10/27/2019

Medford - the city that could have been. Unfortunately it's a noise-pollution fest. The city is filled with sociopaths, who choose the loudest mufflers and gigantic trucks that you can possibly buy. When you go to the ER with excruciating sciatica, they assume in the most evil way, that you are a drug seeker, and run drug tests on you...instead of giving you an MRI...that would PROVE IT. Almost NOBODY walks....and therefore, the obesity epidemic is huge. The most happening place is WALMART...so, how lame is that?

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Dirty, plain looking, but fun! - 9/21/2019

Lived in the Medford area for many years and as for the city I would say that it is industrial looking, dirty, and polluted.However, a wealth of indoor entertainment there (for kids and adults), Within a short distance to exciting outdoor adventures (rafting, fishing, camping etc) Though scenery from town itself is not that pleasant you can find majestic scenery 1/2 to 2 hours away. Hot in summer, chilly in winter(not terribly cold), air quality gets pretty bad...people are friendly, yet respectful of privacy, site of dirty hobos not uncommon, but as far as safety from being victim of violent crime, pretty good. Property Crime, however, is a different story...keep belongings protected, criminals normally not particularly bold...still as a precaution keep property stored away..Fun and exciting community, polluted, moderately beautiful natural scenery, hot summers, over all a mediocre town to call home I would say.

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Dreadford Oregon - 4/3/2018

I used to have a positive feeling for this town, but this place has become such a depressing place to live, its boring, there isn't much fun stuff for families to do other then the same old parks that get old fast, theres a mall which is a big deal because where else can you hang out on the cold winter days and get away from the never ending rain during the winter, summers are pretty nice here, theres tons of resturaunts that or ok to eat at if you eat to get full but don't really like good authentic flavor, its almost impossible to find a decent rental here because everyones looking, they made it so you now have to make 3 times the rent, it used to be 2 times, if your from cali don't move here because everyone will hate you just because. Trust me you will like it for maybe one year tops before you see the true side of Medford Oregon.

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a couple of questions - 4/14/2017

I'm curious about the arts/cultural scene in the Rogue River Valley and Southern Oregon in general, more specifically, is there decent live music to enjoy at clean, well-appointed spots in the area? What's the gallery/coffee shop/restaurant/bar scene like in terms of showcasing local musicians, painters, photographers, writers, etc...??? I realize that Medford is somewhat isolated and that I'll have to catch most of the bigger acts when their tours go through Northern CA or Portland or something like that... however, I'd love to know if any locals have anything to say about the arts overall and music in particular. Also, any helpful tips or ideas for someone moving to the area this summer are appreciated. Thanks in advance, I'm looking forward to this, nearly everything I've researched so far about Medford is pretty positive, it appears to be a community of friendly neighbors, and it's obviously surrounded by tremendous natural beauty, so we'll see y'all soon!

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Good info - 2/15/2017

More up to date than other sites I have been using

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Southern Oregon - 8/18/2015

S.O. You all know what I am referring to don't play dumb. Southern Oregon or SO, the stepchild of the west coast, the duldrums of civilized Oregon, the ..gasp.. Fresno of Oregon! But that's the common feeling, not mine. Screw the snobs from both up north..PDX and from the south, SF..make them eat roadside blackberries and drink warm Rainier! Question is this, please if you may.. Best place to work (decent wages without constant "performance" whippings) in Medford..White City, Grants Pass. Neither hard charging world beaters.."Were gonna crush it but first you all have to work 69+ hr weeks all through the holidays") nor .."duuhh whatever..I gotta pick my nose now"...workplaces. Somewhere sane and logical that allows a capable person with energy to succeed. Wondering how a Californian..ME!..Hey hold your fire! I am well acquainted with the native Oregonians hatred, ("death to all things Cali") would fit in as a hard working, snob free attitude. I expect the same from my new neighbors... newcomer to the area.

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Medford 1947-Looking for my Father - 5/30/2014

Looking for my Father, Were you in Medford in early 1947 ? Did you ever know a fellow named Lucky who rode a motorcycle? I was told he always wore a black leather jacket, rode a big motorcycle (possibly a Harley) and lived somewhere in the area close to Rogue River Jr. Academy, possibly somewhere off Griffin Canyon Rd. Figure he would be in his mid 80's now and I desperately want to find him or at least find out what his name was. Lucky is my Father, but I do not know his name and therefore I do not know my true Surname which I would love to be able to pass on to my Son and my Grandson so that they may someday know their heritage. My Mother's name is Betty Lou Anseth. Good guy, Bad guy, don't care, he's my Father and I just want to know who he is or was. If you have any information please contact me: Vants Anseth vantsanseth@gmail.com

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Quality Of Life - 2/6/2014

Briefly, Medford has a very good quality of life. The weather here is very nice. Rarely too cold, but you need to like hot weather if you stay here in August and September, when it often is in the triple digits for several days. Not a lot of cooling at night, as evening breezes are rare in the Summer. Heavy ice-fog in the Winter can make air traffic problems for days. The politics here are moderately conservative, as it is a working-class town that is still fairly patriotic. You won't, however, have to worry too much about religious people, as they seem to be rare as hen's teeth. Surprising, as there are a lot of churches here. I've started to wonder if they are facades instead of real buildings. But then, Oregon has been recognized as the most non-religious state in the nation. In reality though, there are some very good churches and wonderful people that attend. You'll find a welcoming congregation. The people here are quite friendly and courteous. Initially, you'll be quite surprised to find that someone might actually make eye contact with and say "hello" just for the heck of it. The job market is not great, but improving. Other than the high taxes, it is a great retirement area and a lot of retirees do live here and seem to enjoy it. If you are retired and have a good income, you may come to feel that your being taken advantage of with the high rate of tax and your probable low use of the infrastructure. I pay more income tax here than I would in California, due to the tax structure of being almost immediately in the top bracket. If you are a big spender, you might find the absence of a sales tax will offset the high income tax rate. Of course, if you get lost and end up in Ashland, they have their own little sales tax to bite the hand that feeds them (tourists). You'll find that if you own a home, you will be asked to pay a lot towards a lot of things you will never use. The medical care and facilities are way above average for an area with this population. Top rate medical care is available. The Medford Police Department does a great job and they are professional and courteous. They have a difficult job. There is a major meth problem in southern Oregon they must deal with and a college a short distance away, so there is the requisite marijuana problem as the children there try to learn to spread their wings and become their own little beings. The Fire Department and the non-profit ambulance service is top notch. Unfortunately, the city falls prey to a lust for easy money and uses sneaky white vans to "hide in plain sight" and take videos of speeding cars for ticketing. If there is a downhill incline, expect one to be there to take advantage of a moment of inattention to your speedometer, as you pick up a bit of speed. They also use cameras in certain intersections for the same purpose. These things tend to make you feel you are living in a police state at times. Perhaps, even more of a nuisance, are the one-way streets all over in the downtown area. The downtown area is trying to revitalize itself, but does have to contend with the loss of people wanting to go there. Other than to go to particular function, I find that I almost never go downtown, as the one-way streets are confusing and dangerous, as you spend half your time looking upward for one-way signs, instead of watching the traffic in an intersection. Hard to imagine this has not been corrected. Downtown could otherwise be a fairly nice place to browse around. The main shopping mall is okay for a small town. Don't expect to go there at Christmas time and find any hint of the Christmas spirit however. It's not there. Then again, it is hardly to be found anywhere here. You'd do better going the Bay Area for a "Christmas Shopping Experience", surprisingly. If you are into "P.C." and a "holiday season" pleases you, you might be right at home. If you are into outdoor activities, you will like the Rogue Valley and surrounding mountains and rivers. It is a beautiful area. I've lived here around 6 years and love that part of this area. If I sound a bit disillusioned, yes I am. I'm considering moving on. I left California for a good reason, but found that I didn't go quite far enough north or east to lose their influence. My mistake, but you may find this area to your complete satisfaction. There are certainly much worse places you could live. Believe me, I lived in the Bay Area. If you come here, I wish you well. You would be hard pressed to find nicer people and the residents take care of their own in time of need, better than any place I've seen. Good luck to you.

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The Real Deal: What One Really Needs To Know About - 12/7/2013

As it seems to me that just about everything important (and also boring) that can be said about Medford OR has already been stated, so I will add my two cents for what I feel is important, and not what has been stated about the place already. I have lived in Medford(aka The Crabs City)for over 8 years and it has some very good things going for it. It is VERY easy to go out and get drunk here, and used pants are really cheep at the VRC and Goodwill (I go though a lot of them) and if you mind your own business (don't rob or have sex with someone just because they're passed out drunk or dead around you) you'll get along just fine here. The cops here have a very matter-of-fact -and safe- way of dealing with the others,(suburbanites who refuse to drink with them or mow they're own lawns)and try to go out of their way to avoid those people- or doing ANYTHING for them at all cost- but with drinking people, all I can say is that the Medford cops are tops with me, and they have NEVER, not once, bothered me for public intoxication or public pissing, which I think is a really wonderful thing, much better then the cops in Reno NV, because I did not have to have sex with the Medford cops just to be left alone! On the down side, Medford is called "The Crabs City" for a reason, I(though no fault of my own)have had them 15 times (and scabies 6 times)so you need to be really careful who your talking-or drinking with- in a public place, because they (the crabs or scabies)jump on you, and even after a bath and going to church (I was not even drinking at the time)I STILL got them(the crabs)as did half the congregation, and they where REALLY mad at me for a time, but they also knew I was a man of God (and that I ALWAYS share my drink with ANYONE) so I guess they forgave me, just asking me to stay away for a while. I hope this helps someone who is thinking of moving here, best damn drinking town in the USA!

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Police - 10/7/2013

Beware! The police force here contains hired thugs who have not gone through the academy! Young people have been shot and investigations closed without impartial review. Traffic fines netted $7M last year according to the city's budget. You have been warned! Do not come here looking for work! There are no good jobs. Unemployment is well into double digits.

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the lowdown, the skinny, the real deal, the scoop, - 7/15/2013

I want to move to Medford. The wife and I are coming to spend a week. We live in Parowan, Utah. It rains 7 inches a year here. Thats right, 7 whole inches. We want to live somewhere that it rains twice that much. We don't want to live in the rainforest and kill ourselves from seasonal affect disorder but we do want to live in a place wetter and cooler than southern Utah. We also want to live somewhere there is more than 4 democrats. Being a liberal in Utah is a whole lot like being a Nazi in Israel. I have done weeks of research on Medford and feel relatively informed but I do have a few questions? Is the political atmosphere in Medford characterized by moderation, information, respect and civic dialogue? Is the library any good? Is the university really a university or a glorified community college? Is the fishing good? Can you grow a decent garden? Do you have to nurse and coax any living green plant out of the ground using rationed water? Are there rodeos? Street musicians? Mimes? Live theatre? Is the airport adequate? Can you go out at night and just walk around downtown? Are the summers too hot? Is there a local swimming hole in the river? Are the winters too cold? Do you have to use an ice scrapper on the windshield in the mornings? I hope I get responses as I am serious. Thanks.

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