Couple in Early 30s Planning Relocation to PNW. Any input will be greatly appreciated.

Hi All,

My girlfriend and I have made the decision to relocate to the Pacific Northwest from Northeast Pennsylvania. I’m 31 and she is 28. No children yet, but we have a 1 year old German Shepherd/Mastiff mix who only stands to benefit from some extra leg room.

We’re still in the early planning stages of this whole operation. The area we’re in now has no economic buffer and got hit hard by the last recession, subsequently increasing crime and the unemployment rate. Our first pick would be the Eugene/Springfield area - only an hour or so from the coast, plenty of recreation, the growing arts and music scene, and everyone we’ve talked to has (generally) only had positive things to say. That being said, I’m sure there is the side that we don’t hear about from passing tourists and promotional videos. That’s where you guys come in.

Currently I work in substance abuse treatment and my girlfriend works for the water company. How’s the job market in that area?

Rent seems comparable, if not slightly higher, than where we are now. I noticed that, in addition to many apartments and townhouses, there are plenty of single family homes for rent, which is great.

Perhaps unnecessary, but for the record I want to state that neither of us are running from anything and our decision to move has been based on a love for the Pacific Northwest Region, a shared feeling of having outgrown our current area, and the desire to settle down in great place to raise a family.

We’re both productive members of society who plan on contributing to the economy of whatever city we find ourselves in, instead of being a drain on it. Not that this is really relevant, but maybe the locals will be a bit more willing to give us the “no bs” info we’re after.

So, if anyone reading this is from Eugene or Springfield, or has experience relocating to the area, please let us know anything you think may be pertinent.