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I never had an allergy problem with hayfever or pollens until I moved here 34 years ago. Something to check into before you move here in the Willamette Valley.
I lived in Salem for 40 years. The #1 biggest con for me was the weather. It's cloudy and drizzly for 8 months of the year. Summers (July and August for Salem) are THE BEST though. Mild temps, no rain, low humidity and sunny. If you like living in a dark, dreary, damp place, Salem is it!
Oh I love central OR. My grandparents have a home outside of Sisters, and I've spent a lot of time out that way. The high desert is such a beautiful and unique landscape.
You are out of your mind , saying the best food is at the food trucks . Apparently little miss gen z . You have a 2 time James Beard award winning restaurant just 10 miles south in Corvallis. It's also a 5 star motel . Incase your millennials friends need a place to stay . Everything isn't Micky D or Burger King . Why not talk about the fact their school system is 10 times better than your Southern California schools you moved from . The only perspective I got is your miss informed and stuck in your childish preconceptions.
You come to Salem, Oregon you will get your share of rain and clouds, for sure. It's that way for at least 8 to 9 months throughout the year. I've been living in Salem for 25 years and every word that was said in the video is on point. The only difference since her video is that we now have some of the stores she mentioned. Salem is a great City to live in and raise a family if you're coming from another state. You either love it or you don't 💯.
I'm a former Beaverton resident now living in Orange County. Yourself being in a west coast city moving to another. My overall experience from Oregon was being in a giant Temecula. In addition to, strong community involvement, outdoor paradise, GREAT food, the coast not terribly far
Salem, a good place to be from. I grew up there, including college and Law school (Willamette). Lots of happy memories but glad to be living in Newport for over 30 years. Salem is a state worker town.
Great point! Salem is definitely a State worker town and built around the State Gov. What do you think is the biggest difference between Salem and Newport?
@@SalemOR Newport is a community. It's small enough to know just about everyone. This can seem claustrophobic to some people but I enjoy it. It does have its drawbacks though. It's expensive and there are not many opportunities to make a comfortable living.
@@SalemOR Not really. I know of some that have sweet set ups working on the east coast while living in a very low cost environment. We have lots of fishing, timber and marine scientists. An interesting variety.
Hii, 25 yr old- all 25 in Salem, some food places I suggest is gamberettis, noble wave, Gilgamesh, Chiras, basil & board (sunset- rooftop only- drinks👎🏼) bars- Alibi, half penny, half court, south lib, side hustle, W. Wallace, the hitching post. Breakfast- toast & jam(it’s small & bad location but good) food carts- the yard, checkpoint 221, beehive station. Side note- Ross dress 4 less on Lancaster is best one! Hope this helps!
When I think of a small town surrounded by farmland, I think of a community of around 1,000 people with farm animals and tractors within the town. I say that because I originally came from a small town like that. Salem has a metro population of 433,000 people according to the latest census. I would characterize it as medium sized city. With that said, being it has the number of people it does while being the capital of our state, I think it is a major disappointment. We don't have a commercial airport nor do we have our own tv station. We have to watch the news based out of Portland in hopes they cover anything that may be relevant to us. To touch on your other points, the food selection is terrible as is the shopping. Again, we have to travel to Portland to do any of these things which just adds to the disappointment of our capital city. The big thing that wasn't even mentioned, however, is our atrocious crime, homelessness and drug activity. I honestly think Gresham is a nice place to be than Salem. If you want do anything fun, again, you have to leave the city entirely. Coast, an hour. Football, basketball, etc. At least an hour north or south. My suggestion to anyone thinking about moving to Salem? DON'T!
Your feedback and perspective on Salem is appreciated. While our viewpoints differ, I think your perspective is valuable for others to hear. Salem is not the right place for everyone, which is why I make these videos. My hope is for people to have ample information about Salem so that they can make a well informed decision if they are thinking about relocating to the area. It sounds like you live in Salem. What keeps you here? If you could, where would you relocate to and why?
@@SalemOR Thanks for your response. I don't want to sound too negative as your stuff seems to have a more positive vibe to it. I think the points you made are a really big downfall to this city. This is the capital city of Oregon, yet to get any decent shopping or dinning experiences, we have to drive 45 minutes to an hour north to Portland. Same for flying out anywhere. Also, the drug use, crime and homelessness are really bad. Up until recently, downtown was a big homeless camp. They've been temporarily moved, but will likely return at some point, generally as it gets colder. Cost of living is also pretty bad and is only getting worse. A 5 bedroom house on a few acres of property will cost over $1 million. With that said, I live in a house that is valued at $650K and I'm being taxed on that, despite paying nowhere near that amount. My property taxes just went up $200 a month based on an inflated value of my home. I am here because I'm 14 years into a 25 year career, plus my kids whom I share with my ex-wife are here. If I leave the state, I'll have to start my career over again. I think I'm over that hump to where it's too late to make a career change. There are homes as big as the one I'm in now on several acres of property in other states that are half the price of the one I'm in now. I'm hoping to sell my property when I retire and buy one out right with my equity in another state that doesn't charge an income tax. I do live in the area. When I first moved here, I moved into a nice neighborhood in South Salem. It was overtaken by crime, drug use and homelessness. I frequently found needles on my front and side yard, gang graffiti sprayed on my fence and my car was broken into several times. Due to a lack of funding, the police couldn't respond for three days and didn't have the resources to even begin to track the person who did it. Not that it would have mattered, because they don't put people in jail for that here anyway. A few years back, I moved to the far north end of Keizer. It's nice for now, but how long until the 10 acre plot of land on the other side of River sells to a developer and the problems I tried to leave behind follow me up there? Hence why the 5 acre property 10 minutes east of Salem seemed appealing. Unfortunately, I can't afford a $4500 monthly mortgage...
Thank you for taking the time to provide more information. I think those who are relocating to Salem will find a lot of value in what you have to say and many who grew up or have lived in Salem for a long time will find it relatable. I share some of the same sentiments as you in regards to the amenities (or lack there of) in Salem. I do feel Salem is trying to change the city and make positive changes. While it does have its challenges, I feel the positives outweigh the negatives as someone who relocated here from Portland. I'm sorry to hear your experiences in Salem have been less than ideal. Do you feel Salem is "getting better" or finding solutions to the cities problems (crime, drugs, homeless, cost of living), or does it feel like Salem is "too far gone" for solutions. Thank you for providing others with a different perspective than mine.
@@SalemOR I don't know that it is getting better. At the moment, the huge homeless camps aren't in downtown, but that's because they've likely been moved elsewhere. They frequently come back to the downtown area when it gets colder because they are closer to services. 10 years ago when I moved here, it wasn't terrible. It wasn't great, but it wasn't anything like it is now. I can say the same for Portland. That was a nice city when I first moved here, but what it's become is really sad. I used to say, "Well, Salem doesn't have all the cool amenities, but at least it's somewhat of a cute area and everything cool is an hour drive away." I think my biggest frustration in recent years is the small homeless shelter we have, and anytime the discussion is had to build a new one or add bed space somewhere, it's always about money, or the lack there of. We just spent $88 million on a new police station which was roughly $35 million over budget. The Capital building (I know, Oregon, not Salem) is $90 million over budget. The answer to those issues? Add more payroll taxes to everyone who works in the city, whether they live there or not in order to help pay for the overspending, despite the fact that we shot anything over $55 million for the police station down several times through the voting process. So now they want more taxes to cover that plus help the homeless, which they should have done with the $35 million they over spent. ODOT spent about $20 million on boulders in Portland to prevent homeless sleeping near the freeways. What would $20 million build instead of placing rocks? So I've seen some improvements, mainly through the private sector, I think. That new hotel you mentioned is a nice looking building among a few other newer private projects. But when we're overspending in the hundreds of millions of dollars while claiming we simply don't have the money for homeless or drug rehab (Recall the law that decriminalized drugs in favor of treatment?) I can't make the argument that it's getting better. I'm sorry for getting political and making it more negative, but I don't know how to answer that otherwise.
While I try to stay neutral in my videos, I know the fellow internet watchers are pleased to have many perspectives to ensure they have a robust picture of the realities of Salem. Its a pickle and you bring up a lot of valid points about Salem and Oregon as a whole.
I will be moving to Salem next month and have been looking for housing options, but I need help finding apartments. I am considering commuting from Portland to Salem, as it's about a 45-50 minute drive, similar to my previous commute in Phoenix. Portland offers more options and better city life. Also, I have a reservation at the DoubleTree Hotel and would like to know if you have any positive or negative feedback about it. I am considering re-booking at the Holman Riverfront Park Hotel after hearing the part about hotels lol.
The Holman hotel is cute and would recommend that option. I think it's the best hotel in Salem. You can send my assistant an email and she can provide you with some info about short term rentals. info@clarityodd.com
Definitely stay at the Holman! If you decide to commute from Portland to Salem the drive will Be quite enjoyable. Traffic isn’t bad and it’s a quick drive. Don’t let plp scare you with traffic. They have no idea about traffic. It’s not bad at all here
We have family in the Salem area, so spend significant time there. You didn't mention there are both a Macy's and Kohls department store downtown. That might not appeal to your demographic, but it might to a broader audience. A lot of time was spent talking about the Farmers' Market...most communities now have these so it doesn't make Salem different or special. One thing we always notice and comment on is the amount of traffic...there is a lot! It's congested pretty much anywhere in town.
Thank you for sharing your perspective and feedback. I know others who watch my videos will be happy to hear others thoughts and viewpoints. What’s your favorite thing about Salem?
This is my second reply attempt...it will be shorter this time! Thank you for asking. Favorite places to shop for home decor and furniture, vintage and antique items, art, crafts, garden, upscale clothing and jewelry, all curated and tasteful are at: The Assistance League Daue House Gift Shop, Encore Furniture, and the Fussy Duck. All are in Salem and found easily.
Thanks for sharing! My office is right next to the Fussy Duck- its a very cute shop. I will have to check out the others on your list, I am not familiar with them. When was the last time you were able to visit Salem?
Watching this from Hudson, Fl. We are looking to move to Oregon in like 2 years when out son graduates high school. I guess we are looking at salem assuming we can afford the house on a teachers salary and my wife being an occupational therapy assistant
I agree Salem is small. I'd be sure to be on the email list for Elsinore for their events. I enjoy the parks (Minto Brown, Bush/Deep Woods, Willamette Mission). Have you been to Silver Creek Falls? Oregon Garden? We do road trips to the redwoods, wild life safari, Ripley's in Lincoln city. Be sure you are extending your excursions furthur out. We also go up to the Gorge. See the Sprouse Goose. Salem airport now flys into vegas and hollywood.
I moved to Salem after retiring last year. I absolutely love it. I moved from southern California where its sunny and hot 8 months out of the year. Too many people, too much traffic, too expensive. I think it all depends on what you want. I love the rain, overcast days, walking in the forest, biking in the parks, going to flower fields, wineries, farmers markets. I am not a shopper so don't care about that. In Silverton, not that far away, are a huge botanical garden and hiking with 10 waterfalls! I live in West Salem and it has a mountainy feel and the new house we got was less expensive then Southern California. If you like to live in the big city then maybe Salem is not for you.
Thank you for sharing your experiences as someone who's relocated to Salem, Oregon from California. What do you wish you knew before you relocated here?
@@SalemOR you covered the primary reasons in your video. It’s a state government town with limited entertainment. The “So Lame” moniker was something we used when I was younger, especially in late teens and during 20s. I always hate how many restaurants in the downtown area would close early or not be open on weekends (especially Sundays). There was a “brain drain” of local younger professionals looking leave early in careers. However, Salem is quite good if you are married, settled in career and with family. Location is actually perfect (1 hour or less), from coast, big city, mountains. And still relatively affordable.
Great perspective. It is kinda lame...I think I'm just enough of an adult to now realize that I love lame ◡̈ Adulting is hard and being in a more affordable place close to a big city, is ideal.
I don't think Salem has nearly as bad of a food scene as im I'm always hearing. It's inevitable it will be compared to Portland and we certainly don't have the sheer variety of a city that size, but my wife and I have no shortage of choices for a great meal. Cozy Taberna , Epilogue and Da Vinci are great places to splurge. La Vida Catrina is legit some of the best mexican food I've ever eaten, and there's plenty of fantastic food carts for some simpler fare. Seems like most of the people I meet that complain about the food frequent places like Ritters, Wild Pear, Venti's, etc. So many better options!
Thanks for sharing your perspective! I know those who watch these videos appreciate a variety of input and different takes on what it's like to live here. Did you relocate to Salem?
Hmm, this is a tough decision. I originally applied for a position in Eugene because my understanding was that it was a little more affordable and had a younger vibe without being too crazy, but it turns out they had no availability but forwarded my packet to the manager in Portland. As it turns out, he manages 3 facilities, Hillsboro, Portland, and Salem (technically Aurora, but they call it Salem) and I am able to pick between the 3. I know nothing about any of those areas so it's hard to decide. I don't really care about night life, but my understanding is Portland has more "nerd" hangout spots (board game cafes, small book stores, arcades, etc) than Salem, but I'm not sure if Salem is completely devoid of those things or if they at least have some of that to do. On the other hand, I've lived in busy, traffic ridden giant cities my whole life and am looking for some place quieter with less traffic and Salem may fit that bill. Really a tough decision since this was kind of sprung on me as I didn't even apply to any of those 3 places and this was just kind of sprung on me all of a sudden, and I don't know anybody there to ask for guidance, so maybe you could share your thoughts, considering you've lived in 2 of those 3 cities? The biggest concern for me is cost of living. I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't look for myself, but Portland is actually a fair bit cheaper than where I live, to the point where I could actually settle down there and finally start to build a life for myself, which is just not possible where I live now, but Salem looks like it's a lot cheaper still, so while I could afford to live fairly comfortably in Portland, there's certainly a draw to Salem if it means having more disposable income.
I'd be happy to speak towards life in Portland and Salem. As you mentioned, I've only lived in those 2 (out of the 3) cities you're considering. Portland is great if you want activities, being social, a good food scene, and adventures upon adventures! Its an active city and I think its not just in regards to the actual activities you can do, but the spirit is alive in Portland. Its much bigger than Salem and the traffic is pretty bad. Growing up it would take me 15 minutes to get anywhere in Portland. Now I need to plan for a 45 minute drive just to get across town if I'm driving at the wrong time. Salem is small and the city is built upon generational living. There aren't as many transplants here but there are certainly more and more people moving into Salem. If you want a small town feel with easy access to amenities, Salem is a good fit. If you're wanting a more social and cultural life, Portland might be a better match. Salem is cheaper than Portland when it comes to housing. In Salem you can certainly get more bang for your buck. In regard to cost of food, utilities, gas, etc. Salem is a bit cheaper and overall you'll see the cost of living in Portland is higher. I have some more videos coming out soon that speak directly towards the differences between Portland and Salem. I think you'll find those helpful. Its such a personal decision because each city comes with its own pro's and con's. I would recommend visiting both Portland and Salem if you can. They are so different that most people will instantly know which city they gravitate towards. I personally don't think you can go wrong with either city. I hope this was helpful!
Portland is not what it used to be. There are tons of homeless and we hear on the news almost every day there is a shooting. It didn't used to be that way. 😢
@@SalemOR I’m 64 I grew up in Eugene, moved to Salem when I was 27 and lived there for almost 20 years now I live in north Albany. My dad’s side of the family came by wagon trains a few years before Oregon became a state in 1859. My mom’s side has been in Oregon since 1942.
Willamette Center which used to be Lancaster Mall (which I still call it), and they have Nordstrom Store there. I've lived in Salem since 1980. I have three grown kids, I'm divorced now and I am a writer and love to fix my raw organic food. Being younger has to be harder. I love Salem.
How quiet is it there? I know that noisy neighbors can be anywhere, but I'm hoping to find somewhere to settle where I don't have to deal with constantly noisy neighbors with booming music or constant screaming and fighting in the backyard.
Generally speaking I think most of Salem is pretty chill…as in it’s not in our Salem culture to have booming parties all night with music blasting. However, this is why it’s so important to check out the neighborhood in addition to the house you’re interested in. Each house and neighborhood will be different. I’d love to hear what my fellow Salem-anders have to say about this topic. Where are you relocating from?
It’s pretty quiet here. But, there’s definitely plp who party. Me being one of them! Ha! I’m never bothered by any loud neighbors. And when I throw parties my neighbors are cool and don’t seem to mind. Plp are really nice here
We live in Ogden, Utah, and it's very similar to what you've described. Like Salem, we're about 45 minutes from a larger city, and a lot of us around here like to go to Salt Lake for the big city vibe and the airport. I actually prefer to live here, and in all honesty, I don't really feel like I'm going without. We also have a great farmer's market and a big small town feel that I find charming. We also have one thing that Salt Lake doesn't, and that's Hill Air Force Base, Utah's largest employer.
@SalemOR One of the worst was losing our passenger air and train service. Our local university, aerospace industry and ski resorts all rely on it. The Salt Lake Airport is less than an hour away, but a lot of people like to fly into Ogden to ski without dealing with the mess in Salt Lake, and I don't blame them. Fortunately, Breeze Airways will be starting passenger service next year and we can't wait. Another con is that we don't have our own transit system up here, and we have to rely on UTA out of Salt Lake, which treats us like the red headed stepchild. Another con is that you need a 3-4 foot antenna to receive free broadcast TV. Even though there's a half million people in the Ogden metro, we have no translater station.
My husband and I are moving to Oregon in a couple months so I’ve been watching so many videos. (Thank you for all your content by the way🙏) One thing no one ever mentions is the huge prison right in the middle of the town. How can no one mention this? What’s up with that?
How exciting! What part of Oregon are you moving to? Yes, Salem does have a prison located in NE Salem off of State St. From my perspective and experience, it doesn't have an impact on my daily life. I don’t spend much time in that area of town since there isn't much commerce or retail around there, so there's little reason for me to be over that way. However, I'd love to hear what others have to say and if it affects their daily life or experience in the city. Especially if they live close to it. It's also worth noting that, as the state capital, Salem has some features that other cities might not, like the prison in NE Salem, the State Hospital (in NE Salem next to the prison), the Oregon State Correctional Institution (off HWY 22 on the eastern side of town), and other uncommon sites like the Amazon fulfillment center, the State Capitol Building, and the Governor's residence. Thank you for bringing up this topic! I'll make an effort to be more mindful of Salem's unique features in future videos.
@@SalemOR thank you so much for replying. I appreciate it! We’re looking from McMinnville down to probably Albany. There are so many great towns in your area. I do love Salem’s mid-century gems but I’m not quite sold on their downtown which is important to me. We’re still in the process of getting our current house on the market (Utah) but I’ll definitely keep you in mind when we finally get to Oregon. Thanks again!
Another Utah person making their way West! I love it! If you're not relocating to Salem I'd be happy to refer you to an agent in the city you decide to move to. If that would be helpful you can send an email to info@clarityodd.com and we can go over your situation a bit more so I can connect you with the right agent. No pressure though. I'm glad you're moving to Oregon, it's a great State.
Really a small town wow. Lived in Salem, Keizer area for most of my life a small town no way. A small town like Dayton or Dallas maybe but not Salem. You are incorrect there by a lot. I miss Salem.
Your feedback and perspective on Salem is appreciated. While our viewpoints differ, I think your perspective is valuable for others to hear. Salem is not the right place for everyone, which is why I make these videos. My hope is for people to have ample information about Salem so that they can make a well informed decision if they are thinking about relocating to the area. Your different perspective helps my viewers gain a broader understanding of all perspectives. What do you miss most about Salem?
Definitely not a small town, and no small town problems either, hard drugs are legal now, homeless and crime running rampant, Lil to no rehab facilities, only one hospital and hospital system for health care that has virtually no competition leading to almost no choice and high costs, housing prices are crazy, rent is through the roof, high taxes and bad schools, but hey we do have nicer roads than Portland 😂 and no deq
I'm sorry to hear you don't enjoy living in Salem, I totally get it. It's not the right place for everyone. Your perspective is valuable for those not familiar with the city. Feel free to share anything else you think people should know about Salem before moving here.
@@SalemOR I was born in salem in 1962, I've always loved salem my entire life. I fished and trapped the river and ponds all around salem when I was young, we had what I called bums.... hobos that lived in Marion Square Park and along the Willamette River. People that rode the railroad to get from place to place. They would have camps along the river that was basically a shelter from the weather, hardly ever the trash camps like we see today. Piles of trash all over town, disassembled piles of stolen bicycles and parts. We never saw people doing drugs out in the open like I see often nowadays. I miss the salem I grew up in, and I know this could be stopped but people get too offended by real solutions. Repeal measure 110 would be a great start and stop half of the filthy messes created in town. Measure 110 is when the problem went on steroids.
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I never had an allergy problem with hayfever or pollens until I moved here 34 years ago. Something to check into before you move here in the Willamette Valley.
Thats a great tid-bit. What are some other things you think people should know about Salem before moving here?
I lived in Salem for 40 years. The #1 biggest con for me was the weather. It's cloudy and drizzly for 8 months of the year. Summers (July and August for Salem) are THE BEST though. Mild temps, no rain, low humidity and sunny. If you like living in a dark, dreary, damp place, Salem is it!
Haha! It does become dark and a bit depressing if you’re not used to it.
Where did you move from?
@@SalemOR I moved from Scotts Valley, CA to Salem when I was 10 years old. Moved to central Oregon when I retired to get out of the clouds :-)
Oh I love central OR. My grandparents have a home outside of Sisters, and I've spent a lot of time out that way. The high desert is such a beautiful and unique landscape.
You are out of your mind , saying the best food is at the food trucks . Apparently little miss gen z . You have a 2 time James Beard award winning restaurant just 10 miles south in Corvallis. It's also a 5 star motel . Incase your millennials friends need a place to stay . Everything isn't Micky D or Burger King . Why not talk about the fact their school system is 10 times better than your Southern California schools you moved from . The only perspective I got is your miss informed and stuck in your childish preconceptions.
@@SalemORSalem isn't central Oregon. It's west central . Central Oregon is Bend , Brothers , and John Day .
We are in san diego currently, i hate the big city feel and I love rain and clouds
You come to Salem, Oregon you will get your share of rain and clouds, for sure. It's that way for at least 8 to 9 months throughout the year. I've been living in Salem for 25 years and every word that was said in the video is on point. The only difference since her video is that we now have some of the stores she mentioned. Salem is a great City to live in and raise a family if you're coming from another state. You either love it or you don't 💯.
@@sheliabrown3239 So far I love it. I love cold and rain and people have been so nice.
I'm a former Beaverton resident now living in Orange County. Yourself being in a west coast city moving to another. My overall experience from Oregon was being in a giant Temecula. In addition to, strong community involvement, outdoor paradise, GREAT food, the coast not terribly far
Salem, a good place to be from. I grew up there, including college and Law school (Willamette). Lots of happy memories but glad to be living in Newport for over 30 years. Salem is a state worker town.
Great point! Salem is definitely a State worker town and built around the State Gov. What do you think is the biggest difference between Salem and Newport?
@@SalemOR Newport is a community. It's small enough to know just about everyone. This can seem claustrophobic to some people but I enjoy it. It does have its drawbacks though. It's expensive and there are not many opportunities to make a comfortable living.
Do you find most people work remote?
@@SalemOR Not really. I know of some that have sweet set ups working on the east coast while living in a very low cost environment. We have lots of fishing, timber and marine scientists. An interesting variety.
Hii, 25 yr old- all 25 in Salem, some food places I suggest is gamberettis, noble wave, Gilgamesh, Chiras, basil & board (sunset- rooftop only- drinks👎🏼) bars- Alibi, half penny, half court, south lib, side hustle, W. Wallace, the hitching post. Breakfast- toast & jam(it’s small & bad location but good) food carts- the yard, checkpoint 221, beehive station. Side note- Ross dress 4 less on Lancaster is best one! Hope this helps!
Oh and willamette vineyards!
Awesome list. For those who are unfamiliar with the city, what else should people know before moving here?
When I think of a small town surrounded by farmland, I think of a community of around 1,000 people with farm animals and tractors within the town. I say that because I originally came from a small town like that. Salem has a metro population of 433,000 people according to the latest census. I would characterize it as medium sized city. With that said, being it has the number of people it does while being the capital of our state, I think it is a major disappointment. We don't have a commercial airport nor do we have our own tv station. We have to watch the news based out of Portland in hopes they cover anything that may be relevant to us. To touch on your other points, the food selection is terrible as is the shopping. Again, we have to travel to Portland to do any of these things which just adds to the disappointment of our capital city. The big thing that wasn't even mentioned, however, is our atrocious crime, homelessness and drug activity. I honestly think Gresham is a nice place to be than Salem. If you want do anything fun, again, you have to leave the city entirely. Coast, an hour. Football, basketball, etc. At least an hour north or south. My suggestion to anyone thinking about moving to Salem? DON'T!
Your feedback and perspective on Salem is appreciated. While our viewpoints differ, I think your perspective is valuable for others to hear. Salem is not the right place for everyone, which is why I make these videos.
My hope is for people to have ample information about Salem so that they can make a well informed decision if they are thinking about relocating to the area.
It sounds like you live in Salem. What keeps you here? If you could, where would you relocate to and why?
@@SalemOR Thanks for your response. I don't want to sound too negative as your stuff seems to have a more positive vibe to it. I think the points you made are a really big downfall to this city. This is the capital city of Oregon, yet to get any decent shopping or dinning experiences, we have to drive 45 minutes to an hour north to Portland. Same for flying out anywhere. Also, the drug use, crime and homelessness are really bad. Up until recently, downtown was a big homeless camp. They've been temporarily moved, but will likely return at some point, generally as it gets colder. Cost of living is also pretty bad and is only getting worse. A 5 bedroom house on a few acres of property will cost over $1 million. With that said, I live in a house that is valued at $650K and I'm being taxed on that, despite paying nowhere near that amount. My property taxes just went up $200 a month based on an inflated value of my home.
I am here because I'm 14 years into a 25 year career, plus my kids whom I share with my ex-wife are here. If I leave the state, I'll have to start my career over again. I think I'm over that hump to where it's too late to make a career change. There are homes as big as the one I'm in now on several acres of property in other states that are half the price of the one I'm in now. I'm hoping to sell my property when I retire and buy one out right with my equity in another state that doesn't charge an income tax.
I do live in the area. When I first moved here, I moved into a nice neighborhood in South Salem. It was overtaken by crime, drug use and homelessness. I frequently found needles on my front and side yard, gang graffiti sprayed on my fence and my car was broken into several times. Due to a lack of funding, the police couldn't respond for three days and didn't have the resources to even begin to track the person who did it. Not that it would have mattered, because they don't put people in jail for that here anyway.
A few years back, I moved to the far north end of Keizer. It's nice for now, but how long until the 10 acre plot of land on the other side of River sells to a developer and the problems I tried to leave behind follow me up there? Hence why the 5 acre property 10 minutes east of Salem seemed appealing. Unfortunately, I can't afford a $4500 monthly mortgage...
Thank you for taking the time to provide more information. I think those who are relocating to Salem will find a lot of value in what you have to say and many who grew up or have lived in Salem for a long time will find it relatable.
I share some of the same sentiments as you in regards to the amenities (or lack there of) in Salem. I do feel Salem is trying to change the city and make positive changes. While it does have its challenges, I feel the positives outweigh the negatives as someone who relocated here from Portland.
I'm sorry to hear your experiences in Salem have been less than ideal. Do you feel Salem is "getting better" or finding solutions to the cities problems (crime, drugs, homeless, cost of living), or does it feel like Salem is "too far gone" for solutions.
Thank you for providing others with a different perspective than mine.
@@SalemOR I don't know that it is getting better. At the moment, the huge homeless camps aren't in downtown, but that's because they've likely been moved elsewhere. They frequently come back to the downtown area when it gets colder because they are closer to services. 10 years ago when I moved here, it wasn't terrible. It wasn't great, but it wasn't anything like it is now. I can say the same for Portland. That was a nice city when I first moved here, but what it's become is really sad. I used to say, "Well, Salem doesn't have all the cool amenities, but at least it's somewhat of a cute area and everything cool is an hour drive away."
I think my biggest frustration in recent years is the small homeless shelter we have, and anytime the discussion is had to build a new one or add bed space somewhere, it's always about money, or the lack there of. We just spent $88 million on a new police station which was roughly $35 million over budget. The Capital building (I know, Oregon, not Salem) is $90 million over budget. The answer to those issues? Add more payroll taxes to everyone who works in the city, whether they live there or not in order to help pay for the overspending, despite the fact that we shot anything over $55 million for the police station down several times through the voting process. So now they want more taxes to cover that plus help the homeless, which they should have done with the $35 million they over spent. ODOT spent about $20 million on boulders in Portland to prevent homeless sleeping near the freeways. What would $20 million build instead of placing rocks?
So I've seen some improvements, mainly through the private sector, I think. That new hotel you mentioned is a nice looking building among a few other newer private projects. But when we're overspending in the hundreds of millions of dollars while claiming we simply don't have the money for homeless or drug rehab (Recall the law that decriminalized drugs in favor of treatment?) I can't make the argument that it's getting better.
I'm sorry for getting political and making it more negative, but I don't know how to answer that otherwise.
While I try to stay neutral in my videos, I know the fellow internet watchers are pleased to have many perspectives to ensure they have a robust picture of the realities of Salem. Its a pickle and you bring up a lot of valid points about Salem and Oregon as a whole.
I will be moving to Salem next month and have been looking for housing options, but I need help finding apartments. I am considering commuting from Portland to Salem, as it's about a 45-50 minute drive, similar to my previous commute in Phoenix. Portland offers more options and better city life. Also, I have a reservation at the DoubleTree Hotel and would like to know if you have any positive or negative feedback about it. I am considering re-booking at the Holman Riverfront Park Hotel after hearing the part about hotels lol.
The Holman hotel is cute and would recommend that option. I think it's the best hotel in Salem.
You can send my assistant an email and she can provide you with some info about short term rentals. info@clarityodd.com
Definitely stay at the Holman! If you decide to commute from Portland to Salem the drive will
Be quite enjoyable. Traffic isn’t bad and it’s a quick drive. Don’t let plp scare you with traffic. They have no idea about traffic. It’s not bad at all here
I agree about the traffic. As someone who came from a traffic riddled city, Salem's traffic is just fine!
We have family in the Salem area, so spend significant time there. You didn't mention there are both a Macy's and Kohls department store downtown. That might not appeal to your demographic, but it might to a broader audience. A lot of time was spent talking about the Farmers' Market...most communities now have these so it doesn't make Salem different or special. One thing we always notice and comment on is the amount of traffic...there is a lot! It's congested pretty much anywhere in town.
Thank you for sharing your perspective and feedback. I know others who watch my videos will be happy to hear others thoughts and viewpoints.
What’s your favorite thing about Salem?
This is my second reply attempt...it will be shorter this time! Thank you for asking. Favorite places to shop for home decor and furniture, vintage and antique items, art, crafts, garden, upscale clothing and jewelry, all curated and tasteful are at: The Assistance League Daue House Gift Shop, Encore Furniture, and the Fussy Duck. All are in Salem and found easily.
Thanks for sharing! My office is right next to the Fussy Duck- its a very cute shop. I will have to check out the others on your list, I am not familiar with them. When was the last time you were able to visit Salem?
Watching this from Hudson, Fl. We are looking to move to Oregon in like 2 years when out son graduates high school. I guess we are looking at salem assuming we can afford the house on a teachers salary and my wife being an occupational therapy assistant
Oregon is such a special place! Very different from FL. How did you land on OR as your next destination?
Prices are dropping
Crime and homeless is a problem since 2009 hard drugs are legal here so watch out
I agree Salem is small. I'd be sure to be on the email list for Elsinore for their events. I enjoy the parks (Minto Brown, Bush/Deep Woods, Willamette Mission). Have you been to Silver Creek Falls? Oregon Garden? We do road trips to the redwoods, wild life safari, Ripley's in Lincoln city. Be sure you are extending your excursions furthur out. We also go up to the Gorge. See the Sprouse Goose. Salem airport now flys into vegas and hollywood.
Thank you for the tips. I am not signed up for the Elsinore email list!
What is your favorite and least favorite thing about living in Salem?
Previous Beaverton resident now Orange county. GREAT content! Plz share more! Subbed ✅️
What is the biggest difference between Beaverton and where you live now?
Thanks for watching!
_"The Salem Grand Hotel...is just dang old and needs an update."_
Oh ffs. That hotel opened in 2005.
I moved to Salem after retiring last year. I absolutely love it. I moved from southern California where its sunny and hot 8 months out of the year. Too many people, too much traffic, too expensive. I think it all depends on what you want. I love the rain, overcast days, walking in the forest, biking in the parks, going to flower fields, wineries, farmers markets. I am not a shopper so don't care about that. In Silverton, not that far away, are a huge botanical garden and hiking with 10 waterfalls! I live in West Salem and it has a mountainy feel and the new house we got was less expensive then Southern California. If you like to live in the big city then maybe Salem is not for you.
Thank you for sharing your experiences as someone who's relocated to Salem, Oregon from California. What do you wish you knew before you relocated here?
That pulled pork is at the keizer rapids park on Saturday evenings at the concerts they have through the summer that are free to attend.
Great addition! I love all the activities on the waterfront during the summer. Did you get to check out the World Beat Festival this year?
Groome Transportation upped their price to $48 per way recently which is a bummer but they are still so dependable!
also, is the salem airport opening up slowly for commercial flights?? i saw that it was going to start heading to BUR and LAS??
You're right! I think service starts in October. Hopefully they will expand flights to PDX ◡̈ That would be great!
As someone from Salem, we locals refer to it as “So Lame, OR”.
What do you think is the most lame thing about living in Salem?
@@SalemOR you covered the primary reasons in your video. It’s a state government town with limited entertainment. The “So Lame” moniker was something we used when I was younger, especially in late teens and during 20s. I always hate how many restaurants in the downtown area would close early or not be open on weekends (especially Sundays). There was a “brain drain” of local younger professionals looking leave early in careers. However, Salem is quite good if you are married, settled in career and with family. Location is actually perfect (1 hour or less), from coast, big city, mountains. And still relatively affordable.
Great perspective. It is kinda lame...I think I'm just enough of an adult to now realize that I love lame ◡̈
Adulting is hard and being in a more affordable place close to a big city, is ideal.
I don't think Salem has nearly as bad of a food scene as im I'm always hearing. It's inevitable it will be compared to Portland and we certainly don't have the sheer variety of a city that size, but my wife and I have no shortage of choices for a great meal.
Cozy Taberna , Epilogue and Da Vinci are great places to splurge. La Vida Catrina is legit some of the best mexican food I've ever eaten, and there's plenty of fantastic food carts for some simpler fare.
Seems like most of the people I meet that complain about the food frequent places like Ritters, Wild Pear, Venti's, etc. So many better options!
Thanks for sharing your perspective! I know those who watch these videos appreciate a variety of input and different takes on what it's like to live here.
Did you relocate to Salem?
Hmm, this is a tough decision. I originally applied for a position in Eugene because my understanding was that it was a little more affordable and had a younger vibe without being too crazy, but it turns out they had no availability but forwarded my packet to the manager in Portland.
As it turns out, he manages 3 facilities, Hillsboro, Portland, and Salem (technically Aurora, but they call it Salem) and I am able to pick between the 3. I know nothing about any of those areas so it's hard to decide.
I don't really care about night life, but my understanding is Portland has more "nerd" hangout spots (board game cafes, small book stores, arcades, etc) than Salem, but I'm not sure if Salem is completely devoid of those things or if they at least have some of that to do.
On the other hand, I've lived in busy, traffic ridden giant cities my whole life and am looking for some place quieter with less traffic and Salem may fit that bill.
Really a tough decision since this was kind of sprung on me as I didn't even apply to any of those 3 places and this was just kind of sprung on me all of a sudden, and I don't know anybody there to ask for guidance, so maybe you could share your thoughts, considering you've lived in 2 of those 3 cities?
The biggest concern for me is cost of living. I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't look for myself, but Portland is actually a fair bit cheaper than where I live, to the point where I could actually settle down there and finally start to build a life for myself, which is just not possible where I live now, but Salem looks like it's a lot cheaper still, so while I could afford to live fairly comfortably in Portland, there's certainly a draw to Salem if it means having more disposable income.
I'd be happy to speak towards life in Portland and Salem. As you mentioned, I've only lived in those 2 (out of the 3) cities you're considering.
Portland is great if you want activities, being social, a good food scene, and adventures upon adventures! Its an active city and I think its not just in regards to the actual activities you can do, but the spirit is alive in Portland. Its much bigger than Salem and the traffic is pretty bad. Growing up it would take me 15 minutes to get anywhere in Portland. Now I need to plan for a 45 minute drive just to get across town if I'm driving at the wrong time.
Salem is small and the city is built upon generational living. There aren't as many transplants here but there are certainly more and more people moving into Salem. If you want a small town feel with easy access to amenities, Salem is a good fit. If you're wanting a more social and cultural life, Portland might be a better match.
Salem is cheaper than Portland when it comes to housing. In Salem you can certainly get more bang for your buck. In regard to cost of food, utilities, gas, etc. Salem is a bit cheaper and overall you'll see the cost of living in Portland is higher.
I have some more videos coming out soon that speak directly towards the differences between Portland and Salem. I think you'll find those helpful. Its such a personal decision because each city comes with its own pro's and con's.
I would recommend visiting both Portland and Salem if you can. They are so different that most people will instantly know which city they gravitate towards. I personally don't think you can go wrong with either city.
I hope this was helpful!
Portland is not what it used to be. There are tons of homeless and we hear on the news almost every day there is a shooting. It didn't used to be that way. 😢
Watching from the Twin Cities (MN) and very intrigued :)
My people come from Excelsior!! I promise our summers are not as brutally hot and sticky as the ones you have ◡̈
Thats reason enough to move here...
It’s been so nice this summer. We haven’t even hit 90 yet…and sooo much rain!
Oh yeah, I've seen some of the crazy flooding you guys have had. I imagine the extra rain has made it extra humid!
It’s an hour from most everything you need, it’s in the valley an hour to the coast or the mountains!
Yes! One of the biggest highlights for sure.
How long have you been a Salem-ander for?
@@SalemOR I’m 64 I grew up in Eugene, moved to Salem when I was 27 and lived there for almost 20 years now I live in north Albany. My dad’s side of the family came by wagon trains a few years before Oregon became a state in 1859. My mom’s side has been in Oregon since 1942.
A true Oregonian!
What do you think is the biggest difference between Salem and Eugene?
Willamette Center which used to be Lancaster Mall (which I still call it), and they have Nordstrom Store there. I've lived in Salem since 1980. I have three grown kids, I'm divorced now and I am a writer and love to fix my raw organic food. Being younger has to be harder. I love Salem.
What is your favorite thing about Salem that you think others should know about before they move here?
How quiet is it there? I know that noisy neighbors can be anywhere, but I'm hoping to find somewhere to settle where I don't have to deal with constantly noisy neighbors with booming music or constant screaming and fighting in the backyard.
Generally speaking I think most of Salem is pretty chill…as in it’s not in our Salem culture to have booming parties all night with music blasting.
However, this is why it’s so important to check out the neighborhood in addition to the house you’re interested in. Each house and neighborhood will be different.
I’d love to hear what my fellow Salem-anders have to say about this topic.
Where are you relocating from?
It’s pretty quiet here. But, there’s definitely plp who party. Me being one of them! Ha! I’m never bothered by any loud neighbors. And when I throw parties my neighbors are cool and don’t seem to mind. Plp are really nice here
Thanks for sharing! Based on your perspective as a local Salem-ander, what do you wish more people knew about living in Salem, Oregon?
If you’re looking for quiet I would suggest some neighborhoods in West Salem up against the urban growth boundary. Bring money.
@@BillLaBrieI live in west Salem! I love it here!!
We live in Ogden, Utah, and it's very similar to what you've described. Like Salem, we're about 45 minutes from a larger city, and a lot of us around here like to go to Salt Lake for the big city vibe and the airport. I actually prefer to live here, and in all honesty, I don't really feel like I'm going without. We also have a great farmer's market and a big small town feel that I find charming. We also have one thing that Salt Lake doesn't, and that's Hill Air Force Base, Utah's largest employer.
Oh very nice! Thats a pretty part of Utah. What do you think are the biggest cons to living there?
@SalemOR
One of the worst was losing our passenger air and train service. Our local university, aerospace industry and ski resorts all rely on it. The Salt Lake Airport is less than an hour away, but a lot of people like to fly into Ogden to ski without dealing with the mess in Salt Lake, and I don't blame them. Fortunately, Breeze Airways will be starting passenger service next year and we can't wait.
Another con is that we don't have our own transit system up here, and we have to rely on UTA out of Salt Lake, which treats us like the red headed stepchild.
Another con is that you need a 3-4 foot antenna to receive free broadcast TV. Even though there's a half million people in the Ogden metro, we have no translater station.
Thanks for sharing more! Its always cool to hear how other areas of the US are developing and changing.
My husband and I are moving to Oregon in a couple months so I’ve been watching so many videos. (Thank you for all your content by the way🙏) One thing no one ever mentions is the huge prison right in the middle of the town. How can no one mention this? What’s up with that?
How exciting! What part of Oregon are you moving to?
Yes, Salem does have a prison located in NE Salem off of State St. From my perspective and experience, it doesn't have an impact on my daily life. I don’t spend much time in that area of town since there isn't much commerce or retail around there, so there's little reason for me to be over that way.
However, I'd love to hear what others have to say and if it affects their daily life or experience in the city. Especially if they live close to it.
It's also worth noting that, as the state capital, Salem has some features that other cities might not, like the prison in NE Salem, the State Hospital (in NE Salem next to the prison), the Oregon State Correctional Institution (off HWY 22 on the eastern side of town), and other uncommon sites like the Amazon fulfillment center, the State Capitol Building, and the Governor's residence.
Thank you for bringing up this topic! I'll make an effort to be more mindful of Salem's unique features in future videos.
@@SalemOR thank you so much for replying. I appreciate it! We’re looking from McMinnville down to probably Albany. There are so many great towns in your area. I do love Salem’s mid-century gems but I’m not quite sold on their downtown which is important to me. We’re still in the process of getting our current house on the market (Utah) but I’ll definitely keep you in mind when we finally get to Oregon. Thanks again!
Another Utah person making their way West! I love it!
If you're not relocating to Salem I'd be happy to refer you to an agent in the city you decide to move to. If that would be helpful you can send an email to info@clarityodd.com and we can go over your situation a bit more so I can connect you with the right agent.
No pressure though. I'm glad you're moving to Oregon, it's a great State.
Try some restaurants in Independence Oregon!
Which ones are your favorites?
That pasta place is really good.
We have great winerys also...
Yes we do! What is your favorite one?
Bridgeport mall is pretty good.
I'm from Minnesota.
Coming from Portland, Salem must seem boring for you. But I hate shopping so Salem isn't bad for me.
It is boring...and I love it. At this season of my life living in a place that is boring is great.
Hello how life in salem
Life in Salem is great! Where are you watching from?
Really a small town wow. Lived in Salem, Keizer area for most of my life a small town no way. A small town like Dayton or Dallas maybe but not Salem. You are incorrect there by a lot. I miss Salem.
Your feedback and perspective on Salem is appreciated. While our viewpoints differ, I think your perspective is valuable for others to hear. Salem is not the right place for everyone, which is why I make these videos.
My hope is for people to have ample information about Salem so that they can make a well informed decision if they are thinking about relocating to the area. Your different perspective helps my viewers gain a broader understanding of all perspectives.
What do you miss most about Salem?
Definitely not a small town, and no small town problems either, hard drugs are legal now, homeless and crime running rampant, Lil to no rehab facilities, only one hospital and hospital system for health care that has virtually no competition leading to almost no choice and high costs, housing prices are crazy, rent is through the roof, high taxes and bad schools, but hey we do have nicer roads than Portland 😂 and no deq
Salem is horrible due to the homeless population, plus gangs. I hate it. Feel way safer in NE Portland than I did downtown Salem
I'm sorry to hear you don't enjoy living in Salem, I totally get it. It's not the right place for everyone.
Your perspective is valuable for those not familiar with the city. Feel free to share anything else you think people should know about Salem before moving here.
Portland Oregon sucks badly:)
What is your least favorite thing about living in Portland, OR?
That's weird... There's lots of fun things to do here in Salem..
I mean, yeah, we did decide not to invite the ...
OH...
Um...
er...
Never mind...
Salem Rocks!
Salem does 🪨.
Whats your favorite thing about the city?
Keep Salem lame!
No. Keep Salem lame but make it just a weeeeeee bit better.
I'd like better fine dining options personally. What would you change about Salem?
How can anyone not mention all the drug addicted homeless people everywhere, heaps of trash all over town.🤔
Tell us more! Whats your take on the homeless crisis here in Salem?
@@SalemOR I was born in salem in 1962, I've always loved salem my entire life.
I fished and trapped the river and ponds all around salem when I was young, we had what I called bums.... hobos that lived in Marion Square Park and along the Willamette River.
People that rode the railroad to get from place to place.
They would have camps along the river that was basically a shelter from the weather, hardly ever the trash camps like we see today.
Piles of trash all over town, disassembled piles of stolen bicycles and parts.
We never saw people doing drugs out in the open like I see often nowadays.
I miss the salem I grew up in, and I know this could be stopped but people get too offended by real solutions.
Repeal measure 110 would be a great start and stop half of the filthy messes created in town.
Measure 110 is when the problem went on steroids.
Thanks for sharing. What keeps you in Salem?
@@SalemOR I was born and raised here, I'm not letting drud addicted homeless people run me off.
For those who are not familiar with the city, do you feel the homeless crisis is something you have to engage with on the daily?