I'm feeling a bit stifled in my city and want to move. My priorities are $1500-2000/mo rent and a path to an affordable house (see: picture), a unionised city workforce, good greenspace with an extensive parks system, good biking infrastructure, a good public university, and a good political scene. That leaves Portland, Minneapolis, Chicago, and maybe an East Coast city I haven't researched yet. Of those, Portland is at the top of my list because I'm getting an ocean for Great Lakes prices.
What's bad about the city that makes people move away? Is there a better option in Oregon, especially one that would let me commute into Portland without whatever problems it has?
Eugene is a college town. UO is a big school and if you are in your younger-mid 20's it would be great. It's pretty close to Portland (90 minute drive on I-5). You can go south and see some gorgeous coastline as well.
There is a property crime problem, and wildfires suck, but it's good.
Bend Oregon is another option, but it is expensive. I partied there new years 2023/2024 and had the time of my life. I know a lot of people in the LGBTQIA+ community there. Good hiking and skiing.
Avoid anything east of the cascades other than Bend like the plague.
Hood River is an option too. Could look at White Salmon in WA. I'd avoid The Dalles.
UO is my ideal university. John Bellamy Foster teaches there and he's the eco-Marxist I most want to model my research on.
Go for it!
It's a good school, has tons of good hikes, has great student energy, good bars around. Highest recommendation.
I was stuck in Eugene over the pandemic, but it was a fine, nice bikeable city. I didn't want to stay there though, I was a bit too old to make the most of it. In my opinion, Bend is like Denver, but not my cup of tea.