My son has told me there is a good chance he will be leaving New Orleans.... For Vancouver WA. So I have been trying to research the town.
Of course, its across the river from the pestilential shithole known as Portland. The kids company may be opening a new facility in Vancouver, so it may be possible for him to avoid Portland. I have been reading news sites and so called "quality of life" reporting sites but I dont think I am getting the straight poop on anything in the town. VPD has a crime map which indicate theft, car theft and porch pirating are a problem. Do we have any members who actually live in Vancouver or its outskirts?
Here are my questions:
1- Where are decent places to live in Vancouver? He will be renting a two bedroom apartment.
2- What is the true level of day to day crime? Some sources say it varies by neighborhood.
3- Some sources indicate there is an exodus of Portlanders into Vancouver and bringing their problems with them. True?
4- What are the driving conditions in Vancouver as opposed to Portland? Gas appears expensive there. Are roads in good condition? How expensive is car insurance / license plates?
5- Whats the level governmental insanity? Looks like they have fully embraced the 10 round magazine and the 10 day wait to buy a gun.
6- Is it possible to live in Vancouver without experiencing the Portland problems?
Any info would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

I do not live there and know many will bash the area. I know it decently. I love the PNW. I do not love what a lot of it has become. I do not love the politic's there. But it is one of the most beautiful places in this country imho. The Water, mountains, weather, coast, etc are all spectacular. With some local knowledge you can find some great places to eat.
The traffic sucks. But despite it all I truly love the PNW and all it has to offer. Ymmv and it will certainly be different than the Yoop. Good luck brother

I'm in Texas, but have two or three LEOs I've corresponded with in that area over the past two or three years. The short version of their advice:


In general, they say Vancouver's biggest crime problems stem from Portland's thieves going into Vancouver because there's better stuff to steal.

Both non-violent (theft and burglary) and violent crime are up. In and near downtown, they say to use caution around the VA Medical Center, Marion, Burton Ridge, Harney Heights, and Esther Short areas.

Homelessness is on the rise, mainly because Portland's sidewalks have literally become too crowded and people are picking up their tents and moving to Vancouver---recently, even into neighborhoods.

Renting an apartment in Vancouver is expensive, and the north part of the city is better than most areas.

Washington has a sales tax and Oregon doesn't. Therefore a lot of Vancouver residents go to Portland to buy stuff. Otherwise, if he would be both working and residing in Vancouver there's no reason why he should HAVE to go to Portland.

Historically, a lot of people who live in Vancouver work in Portland. Since there are only two bridges across the Columbia (well actually three but one is downriver far enough that it doesn't really count), traffic on both of them tends to be ugly during the morning and afternoon commutes. Also, if someone has an accident or breaks down in the area where the freeways funnel onto the bridges - any time of day - it tends to screw up traffic for hours. Of course if your son isn't commuting back and forth regularly (and can avoid the freeway approaches to the bridges) this may be a non-issue.

I can't speak to crime or homeless issues in Vancouver.

Does he have any interest in firearms, whether from a collecting or a self defense standpoint?

If so, this state is a loosing proposition.

Wish it wasn’t, I echo the above comments about the natural beauty of the state and the great people (outside of the move in lefties). 30-40 years ago, this was a great place to live.

Now, not so much. I got a few more years left to try and max out the LE pension, but like I tell everybody, I can’t wait to retire and move to the USA…

Bill R

Have him look into the Camas/Washougal area. It's not far from Vancouver.

quote:

Originally posted by Oregon:
Have him look into the Camas/Washougal area. It's not far from Vancouver.

This. Also look at Ridgefield. A lot of nice development and just off I-5.

I live in the area and I’m bailing. Vancouver is turning into Portland, simple as that. Homeless everywhere and no one does anything about. It’s also in my opinion kind of an ugly city. This state is a mess and one to avoid. I wouldn’t move here for a free house, no way.

The only redeemable thing is the climate and even that’s not what it was years ago. It rains a lot but we used to have beautiful spring and summers. Now it rains until it gets hot, a lot hotter for a lot longer than it used to and it rarely rains in the summer which it used to. This is very bad because the forests dry out severely and catch fire. It’s so bad sometimes it’s unsafe to go outside. When you only get 12 weeks of good weather and 4 plus of them the smoke is so thick visibility is less than 1000 yards it’s miserable all you do is pray it rains.

If you wanted to chat I’d talk to you. I can’t figure out how to send a private message on the forum, maybe it’s not a thing anymore. I’d give you my number to call if you wanted but don’t really want to post it here.

Thanks for all the input so far. This kind of stuff is exactly what I was looking for!
Lunchbox:
I will be in touch with you shortly for a phone chat! Thanks!

And to clarify, this info is for his move, not you moving to live near them?

I lived in WA State decades ago, wouldn’t want to live there or Oregon now. It may be better for him. For a job, maybe out a ways, beyond the riff-raf.

I moved from Phoenix Az to Camas for a job.
Lasted only
6 months.
It rained either all day or was overcast and raining for half a day,
33 days in a row


The C.R G. Is wonderfully beautiful.

But that overcast ,gloomy, dismal weather was too much.

Portland was a sh*t hole back then.

If you can believe Forbes magazine,
WA is in the top ten states that people are fleeing.

I live in the hot mess of Puget Sound. For family reasons, I'm not able to move to Northern Idaho where I belong. Regarding Vancouver, it's another hot mess in the making and I would refuse to move there as I'd just trade one hot mess for another. Portland is going to continue to impact Vancouver and degrade it further.

This info is for him only. I have no desire to move to the left coast. What I hope to discover is if the move will be to a better town than New Orleans is now. Based on everything I have read so far, the only real benefits to Vancouver may be no taxes, no hurricanes and less open warfare on the streets.

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
This info is for him only. I have no desire to move to the left coast. What I hope to discover is if the move will be to a better town than New Orleans is now. Based on everything I have read so far, the only real benefits to Vancouver may be no taxes, no hurricanes and less open warfare on the streets.

A drought is unlikely.

lunchbox is over dramatic by a bunch. You can avoid much of the "shithole has become" scenario that many wish to portray. There is no humidity in the summer. Yes it does rain. Much of the PNw is a natural rain forest or is very close to one. They get a lot of really nice weather.
I have a place in Wa. in the PNW. Absolutely love it. No one bothers me. Access to much that is spectacular out weighs the bad stuff which I can avoid with little effort. Except some traffic issues that once I am there are a non issue.

I think your son could really enjoy it. New Orleans has its own shithole aspect as do a ton of places, fwiw

"Vancouver, no, not BC, it's in Washington, no, not DC."

Pros:
near PDx airport (which is is OR)
No income tax in the state.
close to outdoor recreation of all types.
very little snow, compared to some places in the country
Pearson Airfield is a cool place if you're into planes.
Fort Vancouver is kind of cool and has a nice fireworks display every July 4th. (I think they still do this)

Cons:
Homelessness / Drugs
Crime rising in the downtown area
bad traffic
housing / renting costs very high
The state is no longer 2A friendly, but CHL's are easy to get.

Does your son have kids? The schools range from good to bad depending on area. A friend moved to Camas because the schools are better there.

If he's "unattached" he may find the prospects in Vancouver are more sane than other places nearby.

The PNW is the prettiest communist bloc in the world. Maybe do Idaho or NV? Its a few more hours but damn I think it would be worth it. These places arent just circling the drain anymore they're stuck down there with the hair.

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
If you can believe Forbes magazine,
WA is in the top ten states that people are fleeing.

I believe it.

Never been there and never want to go anywhere on the west coast. It doesn't matter where you are talking about every single state is run by liberals with a severe issue of rectal cranial inversion. As a result taxes are outrageous and gun rights are being eliminated as fast as the liberals can get it done. I would advise your son to find a different employer, because any company thinking about opening up a facility in one of these shithole west coast states is a bunch of Losers.

He will be moving with his GF. The area his business is going to locate to is near:
N/E Fourth Plain Rd and Anderson Rd.
The VPD Crime Map would indicate its a better area.
I believe its called the Ogden neighborhood.