I’m a professional musician and two summers in a row I was booked to play with a band as part of Rupert, Idaho’s Independence Day celebrations. Every weekend in June their downtown becomes pedestrian only, with great live music, and a wonderful fireworks display. It’s free to the residents, and is a lot of fun. I didn’t know what to expect going to Rupert my first time, but I can confirm that it’s a fun place with a beautiful, idyllic town square, and a city council that cares about keeping residents happy
Do you live in Idaho? I'm thinking of moving out of WA. What's the average price on homes, property, taxes. How's the medical system? How are the people?
This is wonderful to know, but let's look at politics, health care, crime statistics and boredom. You think it's nice that everyone knows your name, don't move to a small town. It's good until it's not. Remember, these people are bored too. The rumors mill is on the express lane, and no one really cares about the truth. I'm 71 and moved to a small town in Washington. At least an hour to get to any big box stores or options. I'm moving back to Seattle. I'm tired, even at my age, at being a dinner conversation. There is no "blending". In fact, they resent we're here, and they let us know. Know your environment. There's a reason these towns have own rents
I'm surviving in Eugene, Oregon on $990 social security. Only because of SNAP and being able to use VA medical. THe way rents are increasing I don't know how long 990 will work. I'm 75 and believe that if more affordable housing isn't developed then folks like me (and younger low income folks) face a scary future. It seems to be all about affordable housing and the lack of cost of living increases in SSA.
Scary I agree! I am 66 and right behind ya. I had to go on disability ten years ago and the state of WA only assisted with 530 per month to live on. I had to go to RV living on private property and thank god the land owner was kind and generous. Now that I am on full SS my income of 1200 still is not enough and I live in the same RV space for ten years now. It is a tough world we live in now. Glad I was born in the 50's.
We all face a uncertain and scarey future...young people are going to have it extremly difficult if they dont have a bunch of old money or huge insurance policies from their parents.
Three years after your post, things are now worse, without question. Affordable housing seems like a fantasy, a pipe dream from a distant past in another land.
Thank You. I’m actually comforted in knowing that after I retire, I have good options that are definitely more affordable than remaining in Southern California.
@@mikemyer5331 You have no idea what you're talking about. I live just fine on $1200 a month. But with your Starbucks and porno shops, West-siders are just too soft to hack it. 😂😂😂😂
Connel is pronounced with an “Elle” and the “U” in Umatilla is pronounced by saying the letter. Umatilla is 24 miles from the Tri-Cities (Kennewick) and Moscow is less than 30 minutes from Pullman home of Washington State University.
I spent several childhood years in Hermiston, next door to Umatilla, and competed at the Umatilla County Fair (my 4-H goat won reserve champion and my cornbread won a blue ribbon). Happy times. Thanks, @dde8282 for writing what I would have.
I grew up near Rupert Idaho, and my wife actually grew up in Rupert. We moved to Alaska 35 years ago. Last year I went back to visit. The flat skyline sucks the life out of my soul. I tried to find the beauty in the desert, but just couldn't. That is purely subjective, I'm sure some folks love the flat.
I live in Utah and completely agree. I know a couple who moved here because they wanted flat land and desert. They hated all the trees and greenery of Oregon. Baffling.
What are the aversge prices fir a home on about 5acres? What is cost of living? I was born in NW WA lived here all my life. I have a pain disorder where the rain really effects my quality of life so dessert environment sounds nice.
I agree, just looking at this video is depressing. Mountains are my happy place (I’m in Colorado) and most of these places look like a life of just existing, not *living.* I don’t need nightlife, but I do need beautiful, accessible nature.
I moved from SE Idaho to W WA, and I miss the flat skyline. The trees and hills here make me claustrophobic. I can't wait to move back to a place with sunsets I can actually see.
Moscow Idaho has a great farmer's market. About 6 years ago I saw a long line of about 30 people in front of one of the stalls, I asked what all the fuss was about and it was the greatest peach I ever ate.
10) Prosser, WA 9) Preston, ID 8) Legrand, OR 7) Connell, WA 6) Moscow, ID 5) Payett, ID 4) Baker City, OR 3) Umatilla, OR 2) Glenn's Ferry, ID 1) Rupert, ID
I lived in Portland, Or and Vancouver, Wa and loved living in both cities for six years.....in Maryland just outside DC now which is lovely, but not my beloved PNW.
Bought some cleats for my shoes and a really nice, for the back snow shovel. Senior lady here. I did slip once and lived so after that I took precautions but it's doable. Lawn service doubles as snow clearing. $65 to clear my 50x 25 ft driveway. I think that was in 2017. Epic snow fall. I was snowed in for six weeks. That started my long term food storage sojourn. Vit D and mk-7 (K-2) to keep your bones strong.
Find a town that interests you and hit up Wikipedia, many times it is listed down the page. If they don't show it for your town, try another that is close by.
Most of eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, and western Idaho (where almost every one of these places are) have hot, drier summers, and colder, somewhat snowy winters. It’s mostly high desert type of land, with some small mountain ranges. But I’d say you’d get mostly all 4 seasons.
@@adnarim6057 You're right about that. When people from outside the area hear PNW, they think coastal WA and OR, not the REAL PNW! There is a big difference between the PNW and the INW (Inland North West)
Moscow seems to be the only one on the list large enough with university to have eateries, shopping and medical facilities in walking distance. #2 Baker City
Be aware: These places are fine - if you don't mind being frozen solid in the winter. The reason other places are more costly out here is because they are in the lush western areas closer to the ocean - and the ocean mitigates winter by a huge margin. (We live n the Puget Sound area and it rarely snows.)
Glad to know that there are still places in the Northwest that are semi affordable, sadly most of our smaller towns don’t have much of a job market which sucks for those of us looking to escape the Portland and Seattle craziness
Try the areas off the beaten path on both sides of the Cascades. Both states east of the Cascades are rather chilly in the winter with a tad of snow often.
@@rayc.1396 what are your suggestions? I love the smaller port towns. Lived in Port Orchard for a couple of months but the job I relocated for didn't work out. For my next attempt at relocating, I want to be near the Sound or Dungeoness (sp) Bay...and not quite so close to $eattle.
Choosing a place to live is more than just cost. Information about shopping, access to medical facilities, and climate would be nice. It would be nice if you had a summary chart comparing the 10 towns with their ratings for crime, education, weather, entertainment, etc.
NO MEDICAL CARE, NO ENTERTAINMENT, HIGH PERCENTAGE OF SERIAL KILLERS COME FROME THESE BACKWOODS AREAS. "Almost zero crime" is just that it's not reported. Our Rotary squashes the news of crime. PNW HAS LOTS OF CRIME ON THE ELDERLY.
I enjoyed this video very much! I’m glad you pronounced La Grande properly. It’s also quite windy more times than not. It’s Pay ETTE, not Pay it, lol. A fun fact for our family is two of our children were born in Baker and the rest in Baker City because of the name change. It also can be extremely cold in winter and the interstate gets shut down due to hazardous road conditions.
Been thru Baker City during several of those times. Also spent a week in the Best Western there when had the flu! Seen a doc on a Saturday morning he gave me a couple of shots and some meds and asked me where I was going. I told him I was headed to Houston, TX. He gave me a very stern look and asked again where are you going to stay for the next few days. I told him I was going to stay in bed at the motel and he said OK. I asked why and he told me I was going in the hospital if I said anything different! That was the sickest I have ever been in my life, when I called my daughters back home in Oklahoma they said they were on there way out there. I told them to stay at home cause I was going to lay this one out. They said I must be very sick because in my 35 years of driving this is the first time that I had payed up and not come home!
This is a great place to live, young or old. The crime rate is nearly nonexistent; homelessness is low; and there’s even an airport in North Bend that has daily flight to San Francisco!
@@McIntyreBible what does the inventory look like for rentals I know homes for sale are inflated and unreachable for most do you have any recommendations
@@rjh2772 an average 3 bedroom house in this area will run you on average $285,000, while a 2 bedroom rental goes for about $1400. To rent a single room it's $750.00
Thanks. All 10 looked really nice. Been to a couple of then as I lived in Richland WA for 28 years. With a lot of them not having anything to rent, could make it tougher if you rented in your old location.
Baker City, Or. is one of the most impressive small towns I've ever visited. On a road trip from Salt Lake City to the Oregon Coast it was pretty much the only civilization for stopping overnight in the Mountains. My Brother and I were so pleasantly surprised by the Downtown area. It has beautifully restored old buildings among the newer construction. All the people we encountered were really nice. The video here just doesn't do it justice. We both agreed that if we were looking for a small town to live in, this was definitely a candidate. The only downside is that it is in the middle of nowhere on I-84, but for some I'm sure that would be a bonus . I hope to spend some time there again.
I live in Central Washington. Love Baker. Always stop there on the way to Boise. It’s an easy drive just under 2 hours to Boise (all interstate) so although it is away from it all its not that far from a fun city and its airport. Fun little ski area, Anthony Lakes is not far from Baker. I like nearby La Grande too. Surprised Pendleton did not make the list. It’s relatively close to Umatilla, La Grande and Baker. Don’t move to Central WA if you want cheap. It’s not Seattle expensive, but it is a lot more than these towns. I think it is a stretch including Preston as a Northwest town. When you get to that area of Idaho I consider it to be more a part of the Mountain states along with states like Wyoming and nearby Utah.
Only drawback is the snow and cold in the winter. I grew up in LaGrande and loved it there. My dad owned a sport shop on the main drag. We spent most of my youth hunting and fishing. Plus camping. The Lostine area was beautiful for private camping. But I'm dreaming that was 50 years ago and probably nothing is the same.
Due you correct the average SSI retirement amount is $1500 a month but they don't clear that amount they are required to pay Medicare part D at a coust of $144.00 witch is removed before you get your check and you are also required to pay for part D at a cost of $60.00 so these people only clear less than $1300 a month.
When people report their SS income, they usually report what they get deposited into their bank account. As a reverse mortgage specialist, working exclusively with retired seniors, I review SS income from my clients all the time. I would say that the average is &1,500 to $1,800 net. But that is in So CA, so I don’t know about the rest of the country
@@susankievman642 This stat of $1500 is the SSI natiional average benifit reported by Social Security. It is the gross amount before the reqiured deductions. It inculeds the people that have starting to drawing their SSI at the age of 62 that do not receive medicare until they reach full retirment age of 65 or older. and people that have become disabled again that don't receive medcare for the first two years. I hope clears up some of the facts for you.
Idaho is beautiful. However, you must be able to afford to live there if you are not employed. Not many jobs in Idaho in most towns. Towns are far apart.
Glenn's Ferry had no jobs and it's over an hour commute to any place that has jobs. It's a very close we don't like outsiders type of community. GF was my hometown. I grew up there. I left because of lack of jobs and opportunity, racism, close minded people.
I'm from Glenns Ferry, but haven't lived there since I graduated from High School. It was a wonderful place to grow up. There are not a lot of places to rent or buy (as stated in the video) - it would be a good place to build a home if you could have a river view. Very little access to health care - even Mountain Home is limited, which is important for people retiring to a place.
I was stationed at Mountain Home many, many moons ago and remember people who worked at base and lived in Glenn's Ferry, ID. Sounded good back then too. Think you gave them a solid rating. Well done.
Preston, Idaho and La Grande, Oregon get very cold in winter. Prosser, Connell and Ritzville, WA, and Umatilla, OR get very hot in the summer. Info only. Not bashing any of them
If you like freezing cold winters go to Baker, La Grande or Moscow. The rest of em ain't very warm in the winter either except Umatilla which is bearable. We always called it youmatilla rather than oohmatilla. I used to live 45 miles south of there.
Love your channel. Keep up the great work! Moscow, Idaho is pronounced, "moss- koe" Rhymes with "row" your boat. I think the residents pronounce it this way to identify anyone not local.
@@wssidaho you have the lowest minimum wage besides Mississippi who even uses a jukebox? Now don’t get me wrong IDAHO is a nice place people are friendly but if you live there you know that this will be the last state in the country to legalize marijuana if ever thus making you twenty years behind
@@danielmorgan4899 Don't really care about pot. Keep all the drugs out is what I say. As far as minimum wage no one pays that here. I for one have not worked for under 18 an hour for almost 20 years. For Idaho that is good money due to the lower prices.
I was thinking about your never ending quest for something to list, how about flea markets & tag sales in general? I used to really like the Packwood Washington town wide yard sale over the Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekends... Canton, TX Trade Days was neat and I know there are others. Just an idea.
Thank you for these informative videos. It would be nice if you looked into RV space rental availability and pricing in these towns along with the apartment information.
Wow! Checking out these cities really felt like I had time traveled back to small town America in the 1950's. Living in a small town in northern MD, I've watched my area become less rural and more and more like extended urban sprawl from Baltimore. Even though it's still in the countryside, it's *expensive* to live here as many commute to high-paying city jobs in Baltimore and DC. Seeing these towns really made me feel like I was back in my childhood - it may just be the pictures you selected, but it looks like corporate America hasn't yet taken over every corner of these towns. Not a Starbucks, McDonalds, or Walmart to be seen (yet). With work from home becoming more normal, I imagine you could save a lot of money living in a place like this.
You wouldn't save money if you had to travel several hours to see a doctor. And the cost of groceries in these small towns is always much higher that in the big box stores.
Most of these towns are very hot in summer and freezing in winter so your utilities are high you will get relief in spring and fall on your high utility bill. I like trees and these towns don't have them but I like them cause there sunny. I like Richland Wash with that huge river. 👍
Depending upon the major city, that may or may not work. Seattle's suburbs tend to be more expensive than Seattle itself. Los Angeles ditto - the cheapest housing in LA is mostly IN LA, especially West Hollywood.
If you are rich. Atlanta is extremely expensive and crowded. If you make over $100K/per year, you can live somewhat comfortably. Young professionals have raised the rents.
Might be a really strong investment for someone to start putting up apartment buildings in a few of these extra small towns. There is such a growing need for retirees. Keeping rents low, you could still make a good return while you are helping a community. Or maybe renovating some old houses into shared residences.
I liked Prosper, Washington! I love the Pacific Northwest! I would like to have a Tiny Home in Washington, maybe in an adult Community near Spokane! My Nephew just moved there in June, 2022! It is not too far from Seattle and it is near National Parks and Rivers, and not far from beautiful forests! Sounds perfect for me and my cat; I am thinking of adopting a dog too!
@@RockyRoadCreationsbyDiana Yes, and I don't believe Connell has a hospital. They MIGHT have a doctor. It's been my observation that most are pretty healthy until 72 and then things go downhill.
I can answer that question for all 10 places: Medical quality and availability in those towns is abysmal. Actually closer to non-existent. At least Moscow is a college town so will have some services. Well, Connell is somewhat close to the Tricities, which at least has something. Umatilla isn't too far from tri-cities either if your insurance crosses state lines and Pendleton OR, which isn't super small. For quality and good access, you really need to be closer to Spokane, which has surprisingly great medical care and tons of it, and I suppose Boise would be pretty solid as well. Both have VA hospitals also if you are a vet. That will cost more, but neither are close to Seattle in either distance or cost of living. You can live near Spokane in one of the many 2 cow towns - assuming you don't care about emergency transport - for pretty cheap. It is pretty similar in Boise also. The fact is that no matter where you live, it has tradeoffs. In nearly every case, living rural means limited access to a lot of things, including medical care.
You also need more on the political values since nobody wants to retire among their partisan opponents, and that includes not just party, but also caucus and priority issues. And speaking of local political values, what about Antelope Oregon?
You should cover midwestern cities. The Midwest has a ton of great medium-sized cities where you can still buy an entire house (a nice one) for less than 200K instead of giving it to a landlord in one of these tiny places. If you were to buy in any of the cities listed here by my searches for real estate, you can expect JUST the mortgage to be at 1500, which leaves virtually nothing for healthcare, food, insurance etc. for the average retiree.
Preston, ID - the location for the film Napoleon Dynamite. The Hess Brothers bought most of the wardrobe and props for the film at the local Deseret Industries store.
Con-Ell is how you pronounce Connell! It's right near Prosser. Baker is cold as balls in the winter..... gnarly that time of year! I'm a couple towns over from your aunt, if you have an aunt actually living in Ritzville! heh heh heh And No Kidding, but my sis moved to Rupert just 2 years ago, seems to dig it.
What's fun is to hear out of staters make a run at some of the Native place names! Umatilla is one of the easier ones, but still gets a couple versions of it. Puyallup, Stillaguamish, Humptulips, Stehekin etc.... How about a Reservations of the US one? Most know almost nothing about 'em!
@@UncleBildo Everyone should take a stab at this one, its a lake in north Idaho, Lake Pend Oreille. Doesn't pronounce anything like the spelling, but there is a town on the north end of the lake, that's how you pronounce it. Good luck all.
Thank you for this one and all your other great informative posts. When you can, please consider doing a similar video (< $1500 retirement) for the US upper midwest (Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, etc.)
Can you post video of best places to live, affordable, with Costco, natural food stores, airport, cool culture, multicultural, where did the hippies and artists go? You an do consultaions and help people find their new city to live.
From this list only, Moscow is the place you want to go. Spokane airport ~1.5hours. Some flights are out of moscow-pullman airport. Moscow is the "heart of the arts" with loads of hippies and options for dining. Costco is ~40min south, in Clarkston.
I almost bought a house in Glenns Ferry, ID. That was in 2021. There were only 4 houses for sale at that time there, and the one I was looking at was in the middle at about $165K. It was only about 1200 sq.ft., a house built in 1940 and had a stand-alone garage that was almost falling down. There is a railyard on the river side of town, and that can get noisy. Groceries there are expensive. You can drive to Mountain Home to shop, but doing it too often can add up. There is a really nice state park there, and that would have been nice to live next to.
Good video. Just know that these places can be bitter cold in the winter, and hot and bone dry in the summer. Pretty much high desert for the most part. It can also feel a bit desolate. But some people love that.
thanks so much for doing this! seriously. i really appreciate it. i got priced out of seattle 20 years ago, and now i'm being priced out of vancouver, wa, so before i retire, i'd like to find something a bit cheaper.
Moved from the Vancouver area to Tennessee. Cost so much less it’s amazing. Housing is about 60 % , property taxes are about 25% fuel is 35% less. Can actually afford to live.
One thing they all have in common: not a single one of them is in the gentrified region west of the Cascades. Moscow is really nice, though--nice enough to make a part of me hope not too many people find out about it.
When a town’s government arrests a minister and wife for singing in a parking lot, I’m sure not going to consider it a friendly place to visit nor live.
My biggest issue is the winter weather in these places. I currently live in Washington near the mouth of the Colombia River and across the river from Astoria where we don't see much snow and no severe cold in the winter. I'm in my 70s and I don't do well in cold climate.
Loving this series! I'm looking to move back to the east coast from SoCal. An eastern seaboard list would be awesome... NY, PA, DE, NJ, MD, VA, NC... south of New England and north of "The South" 😊
Western Montana should be considered as part of the Northwest. Follow the eastern Idaho state line straight north and follow that line right through Montana and that by most is considered the Northwest US region.
The title is "Top 10 Towns to Retire of Live on $1500 in the PACIFIC NORTHWEST, so Western Montana doesn't really qualify. In fact, all the towns he listed don't really qualify because they're all east of the Cascades.
@@ColonelKlink100 I agree with you. He should have said "Northwest," but I figured he doesn't know this part of the country, so I decided to not mention it since I was tagging his wrongful perception of the Northwest boundary lines.
Great list! I would think that Tonasket, WA would have made the cut. FYI Moscow Idaho is pronounced Moss-co, rhymes with Idaho, like Costco. Also, Preston ID is the town made famous by Napoleon Dynamite. If you need to know anything else, hit me up. I know a lot of stuff and it is quite a burden toting all of this information around.
In August 2016 I went there. The woman living at Pedro's house was wearing a Vote for Pedro shirt. She helped my girlfriend and me take photos and said some kids recreated the bike jump scene a week prior. Sweet!
I get that. I grew up on the Jersey shore. Flat, flat, flat. The first time I left home and traveled west, I began to see hills, inland lakes, mountains. I knew I liked that WAY better.
the sad thing is, apartment prices have doubled, tripled all over the country - what was $500 is now $1200 - too bad wages doesn't keep up with housing prices. You should update this to current times
True. Almost everything is priced as luxury Airbnb. Over $2/sf everywhere except IOWA or there's nothing available, regardless of rates. I can remember when rents were an average of 25% of monthly income, regardless of rate of pay: even a bum could afford a studio apartment by the tracks. But that was as far back as the late 70s when I turned 18 & moved out, when a person could buy a house for $30k in CA.
Awe man, You missed a great oppor-pun-ity! In the Le Grande piece, talking about the economy “employment is not [grande] here” 😆. Still another great video 🤙 Hooyah
It has been Californicated. Young rich professionals are fleeing Cali and bringing high housing costs with them to Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, etc. Pretty soon everything will be as high as Colorado in terms of cost of living.
@@ganymeade5151 I feel sorry for any young person trying to buy in these states, and for the older people being forced out of their home of 25 to 30 years because the property taxes have gone through the roof. Hope all you carpet baggers can sleep at night.
LMAO. True. Explains why so many average folks are homeless and stuck there. Suggest organizing to demand jobs that pay a living wage and affordable housing. If not, everyone who makes average pay will be homeless and substance addicted to deal with the depression and despair, while the rich are profiting off of the damage.
I don't know the answer myself, but keep in mind that the guy who runs this channel lives in Beaverton himself; It would be surprising if Briggs was not aware of the cost of living in his own area. Maybe he does though, I definitely do not :)
@@bruceforster3709 - Leave your politics out of it, okay? All I said is that my favorite parts of the US are New England and the Pacific Northwest. If you disagree, then don’t move there. More space for me.
Payette, ID is across the Snake River from Ontario, OR and not too far from Boise. That and it's milder winters makes it's location more attractive if you still want to be not too far from a bigger population centre.
Connell and Prosser WA are under an hour away from the Tri-Cities. Prosser is about an hour or so away from Yakima. Lots of hospitals in Prosser and Tri-Cities. Spokane WA is 2.5 hours away. Oregon has a hefty income tax. If I were going to move to Oregon it would be Baker City. That is a pretty town.
I'm interested in Sequim, Bellingham or around those areas. I'm accepting that retirement is not going to happen ever. Good thing I enjoy working. And after seeing this video, I would rather keep working and live in a place I love.
@@EncinitasVibe that's what I am starting to hear. A good friend is a realtor in Reno and has friends who are looking to buy in Bellingham. They said the same thing. I would've thought that with the amount of rain and grey days, it wouldn't be as desirable as a sunnier place. But I guess there are many of us who like PNW weather. My California friends either love the sun and heat, or moved to Washington and Oregon while they were still affordable. I'll check out La Conner. Thank you.
None of these "Pacific Northwest" towns are anywhere near the Pacific. East of the Cascades is the Inland Northwest. They are very different places in climate, culture, etc.
@@tenderheart7530 I don't need to look at a map. I know the entire NW like the back of my hand. "Anywhere near the ocean" is arbitrary. Seattle is not anywhere near the ocean yet I bet the OP considers it part of the Pacific NW. Even with no traffic, Seattle to the ocean is about a 3-hour drive. Portland is nowhere near the ocean either.
Interesting viedo have been to all of the mentioned. Most of them have alot of wind. One suggestion i would make is talk to people in these towns and see how they pronounce their names. You were about 50% right
One of my children went to U of Idaho in Moscow. Seriously, what a gem of a little city! It has everything you need from medical services, a lovely downtown, and even a Walmart. It's super clean, well kept up, and there's plenty to do in the outdoors too. Oh, have fun following college sports with the Vandals at their adorable and pristine college campus. There's even nice little restaurants scene downtown too. You won't feel as isolated and out of touch as you would in most of the towns listed in this video. Plenty of apartments available because of the college too.
@@GrnXnham and the stretch between Moscow and Pullman is a pleasure to drive...or better yet, bike (as there is a gorgeous paved bike trail that connects the two places).
Moscow, ID is actually pronounced Moss-koe not Moss-cow. I live in La Grande and have lived here for more than 15 years. If outdoor life is more important to you than nightlife and upscale restaurants, La Grande is a great place to live - as long as you have a good job or work remotely, I highly recommend it. I-84 runs through town so you have easy access to an major interstate. The pros are real estate prices are still low compared to the west side of the state. Due to being in a valley surrounded by mountains, the weather is a bit more temperate than other parts of of the state east of the cascades. It still gets snow and can get pretty cold - just not a cold as other areas. There is a low crime rate with most crimes being property crimes of opportunity (leaving valuables in you vehicle or leaving say, an expensive bike outside). As for the downside - it’s about two hours one way to a city of any size where you can do major shopping like Costco or a mall. While the hospital can treat most minor illnesses and injuries, major trauma and life threatening illnesses often require being life flighted out to a larger hospital. Given that La Grande is in a valley and you have to go over a mountain pass to leave the area no matter which direction you’re traveling, that can be a problem in winter. I-84 can frequently be closed due to weather and/or accidents and there really aren’t any good detours to get around the closure. This area, like most all of the cities and towns on the east side of the Cascades, is fairly conservative. It’s not really an issue overall and people seem to get along but, depending on your political views, this is either a plus or a minus. I’m a flaming democratic socialist but I keep to myself and just ignore the far right folks.
I took a job once in a small town that had very few rentals ... and NONE at the time we moved. Rent prices and cost of living numbers are completely irrelevant when there are no places to live ... or shop. That's all part of "living" .... right?
I’m a professional musician and two summers in a row I was booked to play with a band as part of Rupert, Idaho’s Independence Day celebrations. Every weekend in June their downtown becomes pedestrian only, with great live music, and a wonderful fireworks display. It’s free to the residents, and is a lot of fun. I didn’t know what to expect going to Rupert my first time, but I can confirm that it’s a fun place with a beautiful, idyllic town square, and a city council that cares about keeping residents happy
Do you live in Idaho? I'm thinking of moving out of WA. What's the average price on homes, property, taxes. How's the medical system? How are the people?
This is wonderful to know, but let's look at politics, health care, crime statistics and boredom. You think it's nice that everyone knows your name, don't move to a small town. It's good until it's not. Remember, these people are bored too. The rumors mill is on the express lane, and no one really cares about the truth.
I'm 71 and moved to a small town in Washington. At least an hour to get to any big box stores or options. I'm moving back to Seattle. I'm tired, even at my age, at being a dinner conversation. There is no "blending". In fact, they resent we're here, and they let us know.
Know your environment. There's a reason these towns have own rents
I'm surviving in Eugene, Oregon on $990 social security. Only because of SNAP and being able to use VA medical. THe way rents are increasing I don't know how long 990 will work. I'm 75 and believe that if more affordable housing isn't developed then folks like me (and younger low income folks) face a scary future. It seems to be all about affordable housing and the lack of cost of living increases in SSA.
Scary I agree! I am 66 and right behind ya. I had to go on disability ten years ago and the state of WA only assisted with 530 per month to live on. I had to go to RV living on private property and thank god the land owner was kind and generous. Now that I am on full SS my income of 1200 still is not enough and I live in the same RV space for ten years now. It is a tough world we live in now. Glad I was born in the 50's.
It's not easy. Just a rent share is a crazy price here
We all face a uncertain and scarey future...young people are going to have it extremly difficult if they dont have a bunch of old money or huge insurance policies from their parents.
Please keep the faith change is coming ....
Three years after your post, things are now worse, without question. Affordable housing seems like a fantasy, a pipe dream from a distant past in another land.
Thank You. I’m actually comforted in knowing that after I retire, I have good options that are definitely more affordable than remaining in Southern California.
Just don’t bring the shitty, aka liberal California, politics and policies here. Otherwise welcome
Don't be fooled,just not true
@@mikemyer5331
You have no idea what you're talking about. I live just fine on $1200 a month. But with your Starbucks and porno shops, West-siders are just too soft to hack it. 😂😂😂😂
Connel is pronounced with an “Elle” and the “U” in Umatilla is pronounced by saying the letter. Umatilla is 24 miles from the Tri-Cities (Kennewick) and Moscow is less than 30 minutes from Pullman home of Washington State University.
PNW native here. As D De said: YOU ma tilla, not OO ma tilla.
Hearing him say Connel, I thought it was a town I'd never heard of. Took a while to realize what he was talking about, lulz.
And moscow is with a long "o", like crow, not 🐄.
I spent several childhood years in Hermiston, next door to Umatilla, and competed at the Umatilla County Fair (my 4-H goat won reserve champion and my cornbread won a blue ribbon). Happy times. Thanks, @dde8282 for writing what I would have.
I grew up near Rupert Idaho, and my wife actually grew up in Rupert. We moved to Alaska 35 years ago. Last year I went back to visit. The flat skyline sucks the life out of my soul. I tried to find the beauty in the desert, but just couldn't. That is purely subjective, I'm sure some folks love the flat.
Not many do!...that is why these places are so low-tier...quality of life means more than cheap rent.
I live in Utah and completely agree. I know a couple who moved here because they wanted flat land and desert. They hated all the trees and greenery of Oregon. Baffling.
What are the aversge prices fir a home on about 5acres? What is cost of living? I was born in NW WA lived here all my life. I have a pain disorder where the rain really effects my quality of life so dessert environment sounds nice.
I agree, just looking at this video is depressing. Mountains are my happy place (I’m in Colorado) and most of these places look like a life of just existing, not *living.* I don’t need nightlife, but I do need beautiful, accessible nature.
I moved from SE Idaho to W WA, and I miss the flat skyline. The trees and hills here make me claustrophobic. I can't wait to move back to a place with sunsets I can actually see.
Moscow Idaho has a great farmer's market. About 6 years ago I saw a long line of about 30 people in front of one of the stalls, I asked what all the fuss was about and it was the greatest peach I ever ate.
Washington also has no state income tax. I live in a small town in WA and after leaving CA have never looked back, absolutely love it here.
They have sales tax. Used to live in Vancouver,Wa., where everyone drove across the river to Oregon to do groceries 😂
Where exactly?
Dont bring your CA BS 2 WA
@@jmf1976jmf As if Seattle was any better.. Lol.. Keep your own house in order, 76.
@@envAmerica Seattle is arguably the worst city in the country now.
10) Prosser, WA
9) Preston, ID
8) Legrand, OR
7) Connell, WA
6) Moscow, ID
5) Payett, ID
4) Baker City, OR
3) Umatilla, OR
2) Glenn's Ferry, ID
1) Rupert, ID
I'd choose Preston I'd preferred NORTH IDAHO ❤
7) And it is pronounced; con-EL not connul, and it’s 3) you ma-TILL-a, not Oomatilla
@@Katty-h3hPreston is very much South Idaho. Would you prefer Preston or North Idaho?
@@amandurrr208 oops my mistake was thinking Pritchard I'd
These r all Podunk towns.
It goes to show that most people need to keep working or supplement their income with ebay or something just to pay for expenses. This is so true.
I lived in Portland, Or and Vancouver, Wa and loved living in both cities for six years.....in Maryland just outside DC now which is lovely, but not my beloved PNW.
Be aware that Moscow is an awesome place to live, but they get a lot of snow there, and when one is retired, breaking a hip is not high on one's list.
It is very easy to do that around 60 something.
Neither is shoveling snow! No thanks, I did 20 years of that in Ohio.
It's also pronounced Mos- coe. Also no mosquitoes!
A lot of snow? It gets almost no snow compared to up north in Sandpoint.
Bought some cleats for my shoes and a really nice, for the back snow shovel. Senior lady here. I did slip once and lived so after that I took precautions but it's doable. Lawn service doubles as snow clearing. $65 to clear my 50x 25 ft driveway. I think that was in 2017. Epic snow fall. I was snowed in for six weeks. That started my long term food storage sojourn. Vit D and mk-7 (K-2) to keep your bones strong.
Need to include how hot are summers & how cold winters.tnx.
Well, if it's of interest to you, I was in Connell, WA in August and it was 113°
Find a town that interests you and hit up Wikipedia, many times it is listed down the page. If they don't show it for your town, try another that is close by.
Most of eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, and western Idaho (where almost every one of these places are) have hot, drier summers, and colder, somewhat snowy winters. It’s mostly high desert type of land, with some small mountain ranges. But I’d say you’d get mostly all 4 seasons.
@@adnarim6057 You're right about that. When people from outside the area hear PNW, they think coastal WA and OR, not the REAL PNW! There is a big difference between the PNW and the INW (Inland North West)
@@timothycook2917 Was it a dry heat or was it humid Humid is much worse than dry heat.
Also, it's Moss-Coe. Great review of all the little gems in the PNW!
That’s the first giveaway when someone ain’t from Moscow - when they say it “Moss-COW.”
Baffling, but great!
Moscow seems to be the only one on the list large enough with university to have eateries, shopping and medical facilities in walking distance. #2 Baker City
Be aware: These places are fine - if you don't mind being frozen solid in the winter. The reason other places are more costly out here is because they are in the lush western areas closer to the ocean - and the ocean mitigates winter by a huge margin. (We live n the Puget Sound area and it rarely snows.)
Truth 😂
Snow is fine. People are just wimps and used to California “weather”
$1500 monthly heating and electric bill in winter.
I suppose that if you're too fragile to hack it, you're right. 10-ply softness on the West side, I guess. 😂😂😂😂
@@lindajam8202
Nonsense. You don't know what you're talking about.
Glad to know that there are still places in the Northwest that are semi affordable, sadly most of our smaller towns don’t have much of a job market which sucks for those of us looking to escape the Portland and Seattle craziness
Try the areas off the beaten path on both sides of the Cascades. Both states east of the Cascades are rather chilly in the winter with a tad of snow often.
@@rayc.1396 what are your suggestions? I love the smaller port towns. Lived in Port Orchard for a couple of months but the job I relocated for didn't work out. For my next attempt at relocating, I want to be near the Sound or Dungeoness (sp) Bay...and not quite so close to $eattle.
@@rayc.1396 If you are nearer to the Columbia River (or any large river), that helps to moderate the winter temperature.
@@themadlibrarian2933 The Gorge gets pretty snowy in the winter
@Felicia, greetings from Port Orchard
Choosing a place to live is more than just cost. Information about shopping, access to medical facilities, and climate would be nice. It would be nice if you had a summary chart comparing the 10 towns with their ratings for crime, education, weather, entertainment, etc.
You can look all that up for yourself on the internet instead of asking this streamer to do that.
NO MEDICAL CARE, NO ENTERTAINMENT, HIGH PERCENTAGE OF SERIAL KILLERS COME FROME THESE BACKWOODS AREAS. "Almost zero crime" is just that it's not reported. Our Rotary squashes the news of crime. PNW HAS LOTS OF CRIME ON THE ELDERLY.
I enjoyed this video very much! I’m glad you pronounced La Grande properly. It’s also quite windy more times than not.
It’s Pay ETTE, not Pay it, lol.
A fun fact for our family is two of our children were born in Baker and the rest in Baker City because of the name change. It also can be extremely cold in winter and the interstate gets shut down due to hazardous road conditions.
Been thru Baker City during several of those times. Also spent a week in the Best Western there when had the flu! Seen a doc on a Saturday morning he gave me a couple of shots and some meds and asked me where I was going. I told him I was headed to Houston, TX. He gave me a very stern look and asked again where are you going to stay for the next few days. I told him I was going to stay in bed at the motel and he said OK. I asked why and he told me I was going in the hospital if I said anything different! That was the sickest I have ever been in my life, when I called my daughters back home in Oklahoma they said they were on there way out there. I told them to stay at home cause I was going to lay this one out. They said I must be very sick because in my 35 years of driving this is the first time that I had payed up and not come home!
He hardly said any of the names correctly. You can tell he's never been to the NW.
Yeah like Umatila It not UM a tila , it's U ma til a.
I retired to Northwest central Oregon on a SS income of $1365 a month (way below the average income) and am doing alright (0:55). No complaints!
Can you name the town you are living in,
@@rjh2772 sure; North Bend/Coos Bay, 5 hours south of Portland, on the coast.
This is a great place to live, young or old. The crime rate is nearly nonexistent; homelessness is low; and there’s even an airport in North Bend that has daily flight to San Francisco!
@@McIntyreBible what does the inventory look like for rentals I know homes for sale are inflated and unreachable for most do you have any recommendations
@@rjh2772 an average 3 bedroom house in this area will run you on average $285,000, while a 2 bedroom rental goes for about $1400. To rent a single room it's $750.00
My mom was born in Payette Idaho in a hotel in 1920. It’s a great place to live. Baker City is a nice place too
And pronoinced Pay EEEte!
Thanks. All 10 looked really nice. Been to a couple of then as I lived in Richland WA for 28 years. With a lot of them not having anything to rent, could make it tougher if you rented in your old location.
Not only are rents high in the NW, the taxes are very high.
@@ganymeade5151 100% not true
Baker City, Or. is one of the most impressive small towns I've ever visited. On a road trip from Salt Lake City to the Oregon Coast it was pretty much the only civilization for stopping overnight in the Mountains. My Brother and I were so pleasantly surprised by the Downtown area. It has beautifully restored old buildings among the newer construction. All the people we encountered were really nice. The video here just doesn't do it justice. We both agreed that if we were looking for a small town to live in, this was definitely a candidate. The only downside is that it is in the middle of nowhere on I-84, but for some I'm sure that would be a bonus . I hope to spend some time there again.
I live in Central Washington. Love Baker. Always stop there on the way to Boise. It’s an easy drive just under 2 hours to Boise (all interstate) so although it is away from it all its not that far from a fun city and its airport. Fun little ski area, Anthony Lakes is not far from Baker. I like nearby La Grande too. Surprised Pendleton did not make the list. It’s relatively close to Umatilla, La Grande and Baker. Don’t move to Central WA if you want cheap. It’s not Seattle expensive, but it is a lot more than these towns.
I think it is a stretch including Preston as a Northwest town. When you get to that area of Idaho I consider it to be more a part of the Mountain states along with states like Wyoming and nearby Utah.
Super nice people live there. Only reason I don't live in Eastern Oregon is there's no work.
Looks really cute!
Only drawback is the snow and cold in the winter. I grew up in LaGrande and loved it there. My dad owned a sport shop on the main drag. We spent most of my youth hunting and fishing. Plus camping. The Lostine area was beautiful for private camping. But I'm dreaming that was 50 years ago and probably nothing is the same.
@@brendakeagle6854 I grew up in New England, and lived in Tahoe for years. A winter without snow just seems wrong.
Due you correct the average SSI retirement amount is $1500 a month but they don't clear that amount they are required to pay Medicare part D at a coust of $144.00 witch is removed before you get your check and you are also required to pay for part D at a cost of $60.00 so these people only clear less than $1300 a month.
When people report their SS income, they usually report what they get deposited into their bank account. As a reverse mortgage specialist, working exclusively with retired seniors, I review SS income from my clients all the time. I would say that the average is &1,500 to $1,800 net. But that is in So CA, so I don’t know about the rest of the country
@@susankievman642 This stat of $1500 is the SSI natiional average benifit reported by Social Security. It is the gross amount before the reqiured deductions. It inculeds the people that have starting to drawing their SSI at the age of 62 that do not receive medicare until they reach full retirment age of 65 or older. and people that have become disabled again that don't receive medcare for the first two years. I hope clears up some of the facts for you.
Glenn’s Ferry sounds nice. Love Idaho, have friends that retired there from Hawaii. They say the love it!
Idaho is beautiful. However, you must be able to afford to live there if you are not employed. Not many jobs in Idaho in most towns. Towns are far apart.
Glenn's Ferry had no jobs and it's over an hour commute to any place that has jobs. It's a very close we don't like outsiders type of community. GF was my hometown. I grew up there. I left because of lack of jobs and opportunity, racism, close minded people.
I'm from Glenns Ferry, but haven't lived there since I graduated from High School. It was a wonderful place to grow up. There are not a lot of places to rent or buy (as stated in the video) - it would be a good place to build a home if you could have a river view. Very little access to health care - even Mountain Home is limited, which is important for people retiring to a place.
Funny to run across this. I am home shopping from Twin Falls, ID. I have family in Rupert. As a retiree, it will be added to the list of look-sees.
Thanks Briggs, southern Idaho is in my sights. Can't wait for next week, may change climates a little.
I was stationed at Mountain Home many, many moons ago and remember people who worked at base and lived in Glenn's Ferry, ID. Sounded good back then too. Think you gave them a solid rating. Well done.
I was stationed at Mountain Home AFB too. Glenn's Ferry is very peaceful.
Preston, Idaho and La Grande, Oregon get very cold in winter. Prosser, Connell and Ritzville, WA, and Umatilla, OR get very hot in the summer. Info only. Not bashing any of them
If you like freezing cold winters go to Baker, La Grande or Moscow. The rest of em ain't very warm in the winter either except Umatilla which is bearable. We always called it youmatilla rather than oohmatilla. I used to live 45 miles south of there.
Love your channel. Keep up the great work! Moscow, Idaho is pronounced, "moss- koe" Rhymes with "row" your boat. I think the residents pronounce it this way to identify anyone not local.
Rhymes with Idaho! Briggs did get Yakima right, that is impressive!
Mispronounced Connell, Moscow, Umatilla...research, research.
@@wrzipper YES!! When it is at the beginning of every encyclopedia article, there's no excuse, unless it's something like Puyallup.
@@Hypatia52 I lived in Auburn Wa. for 10 years and someone told me early on to remember it as "Puke it all up" .....
@@newmexrob99 And to think, now it's cul-de-sac & suburbia heaven!
You should do the mountain states! (Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, maybe Arizona & New Mexico) Good video as always!
Maybe you forgot Nevada?
All great states if you're a conservative. Except Colorado. God country and TRUMP. Mountain states are conservative. We love our freedoms!
@@wyomingadventures I live in CO and t
your comment is spot on. I’d like to leave to a red state I’m so over it here.
@@p.santana9717 I hope you get to Sam. Thank you!
Idaho is in the list...
Moscow: a great small city for us who like to walk; to the store, theater, cafe.
that sounds amzing! love it
And the fact that you have a great church there where Doug Wilson is one of the elders.
Scott- what church is it? Elders=mormon???
This is quite true -- I have family there and whenever I visit them, we never need to drive
That's because there is no parking! 🤣🤣 The city is overcrowded, and the new buildings look like shart. It's bleh.
Last time I went thru Idaho the folks there we’re putting a quarter in the jukebox and listening to HUEY LEWIS and THE NEWS 20 years behind
20 years behind sounds good.
Not 20 years behind DUDE....we just like REAL FREAKING MUSIC not this shit that comes on nowdays!
@@wssidaho you have the lowest minimum wage besides Mississippi who even uses a jukebox? Now don’t get me wrong IDAHO is a nice place people are friendly but if you live there you know that this will be the last state in the country to legalize marijuana if ever thus making you twenty years behind
@@danielmorgan4899 Don't really care about pot. Keep all the drugs out is what I say. As far as minimum wage no one pays that here. I for one have not worked for under 18 an hour for almost 20 years. For Idaho that is good money due to the lower prices.
@@wssidaho Hope you support a ban on alcohol and cigarettes then.
Huh, I grew up in Ritzville. Not surprised it didn’t make the list.
Most amusing comment of all!
A little irony there!
I was thinking about your never ending quest for something to list, how about flea markets & tag sales in general?
I used to really like the Packwood Washington town wide yard sale over the Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekends... Canton, TX Trade Days was neat and I know there are others.
Just an idea.
Best thing about Ritzville is I-90 goes East AND West there!
Serial killers like that.
Thank you for these informative videos. It would be nice if you looked into RV space rental availability and pricing in these towns along with the apartment information.
You can find that information yourself on the internet.
And tiny home friendly
Wow! Checking out these cities really felt like I had time traveled back to small town America in the 1950's. Living in a small town in northern MD, I've watched my area become less rural and more and more like extended urban sprawl from Baltimore. Even though it's still in the countryside, it's *expensive* to live here as many commute to high-paying city jobs in Baltimore and DC. Seeing these towns really made me feel like I was back in my childhood - it may just be the pictures you selected, but it looks like corporate America hasn't yet taken over every corner of these towns. Not a Starbucks, McDonalds, or Walmart to be seen (yet). With work from home becoming more normal, I imagine you could save a lot of money living in a place like this.
You wouldn't save money if you had to travel several hours to see a doctor. And the cost of groceries in these small towns is always much higher that in the big box stores.
Most of these towns are very hot in summer and freezing in winter so your utilities are high you will get relief in spring and fall on your high utility bill. I like trees and these towns don't have them but I like them cause there sunny. I like Richland Wash with that huge river. 👍
how about doing a series on the least expensive but best suburban towns around major cities? like, Atlanta is nice, but try this suburb
Depending upon the major city, that may or may not work. Seattle's suburbs tend to be more expensive than Seattle itself. Los Angeles ditto - the cheapest housing in LA is mostly IN LA, especially West Hollywood.
If you are rich. Atlanta is extremely expensive and crowded. If you make over $100K/per year, you can live somewhat comfortably. Young professionals have raised the rents.
unless you’re a Chinese
That’s a great idea!
Might be a really strong investment for someone to start putting up apartment buildings in a few of these extra small towns. There is such a growing need for retirees. Keeping rents low, you could still make a good return while you are helping a community. Or maybe renovating some old houses into shared residences.
Moscow Idaho is a beautiful little city and I'd be shocked if you can find an apartment for under 700.
I liked Prosper, Washington! I love the Pacific Northwest! I would like to have a Tiny Home in Washington, maybe in an adult Community near Spokane! My Nephew just moved there in June, 2022! It is not too far from Seattle and it is near National Parks and Rivers, and not far from beautiful forests! Sounds perfect for me and my cat; I am thinking of adopting a dog too!
Under the 90 to 5 overpass.... Olympic National Forest... River road Snohomish River bank...
While all are formally in the "Pacific Northwest", they're all in the "desert" of the PNW (east of the Cascades)
That’s what makes then cheaper
When you do videos like this, would you please discuss the quality and availability of medical services for retirees? Thank you.
That's a huge concern.
@@RockyRoadCreationsbyDiana Yes, and I don't believe Connell has a hospital. They MIGHT have a doctor. It's been my observation that most are pretty healthy until 72 and then things go downhill.
I can answer that question for all 10 places: Medical quality and availability in those towns is abysmal. Actually closer to non-existent. At least Moscow is a college town so will have some services.
Well, Connell is somewhat close to the Tricities, which at least has something. Umatilla isn't too far from tri-cities either if your insurance crosses state lines and Pendleton OR, which isn't super small.
For quality and good access, you really need to be closer to Spokane, which has surprisingly great medical care and tons of it, and I suppose Boise would be pretty solid as well. Both have VA hospitals also if you are a vet.
That will cost more, but neither are close to Seattle in either distance or cost of living. You can live near Spokane in one of the many 2 cow towns - assuming you don't care about emergency transport - for pretty cheap. It is pretty similar in Boise also.
The fact is that no matter where you live, it has tradeoffs. In nearly every case, living rural means limited access to a lot of things, including medical care.
Any town near a University should have a great medical facility....there were a couple on the list....
You also need more on the political values since nobody wants to retire among their partisan opponents, and that includes not just party, but also caucus and priority issues. And speaking of local political values, what about Antelope Oregon?
You should cover midwestern cities. The Midwest has a ton of great medium-sized cities where you can still buy an entire house (a nice one) for less than 200K instead of giving it to a landlord in one of these tiny places. If you were to buy in any of the cities listed here by my searches for real estate, you can expect JUST the mortgage to be at 1500, which leaves virtually nothing for healthcare, food, insurance etc. for the average retiree.
Preston, ID - the location for the film Napoleon Dynamite. The Hess Brothers bought most of the wardrobe and props for the film at the local Deseret Industries store.
The biggest employer in Connell is the Coyote Ridge Correctional Center.
Con-Ell is how you pronounce Connell! It's right near Prosser. Baker is cold as balls in the winter..... gnarly that time of year! I'm a couple towns over from your aunt, if you have an aunt actually living in Ritzville! heh heh heh And No Kidding, but my sis moved to Rupert just 2 years ago, seems to dig it.
What's fun is to hear out of staters make a run at some of the Native place names! Umatilla is one of the easier ones, but still gets a couple versions of it. Puyallup, Stillaguamish, Humptulips, Stehekin etc.... How about a Reservations of the US one? Most know almost nothing about 'em!
@@UncleBildo Everyone should take a stab at this one, its a lake in north Idaho, Lake Pend Oreille. Doesn't pronounce anything like the spelling, but there is a town on the north end of the lake, that's how you pronounce it. Good luck all.
I'm a "local"..... Pond O Ray!
Why would anyone choose to live in Connell
Sammamish threw me for a loop!
Thank you for this one and all your other great informative posts. When you can, please consider doing a similar video (< $1500 retirement) for the US upper midwest (Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, etc.)
Can you post video of best places to live, affordable, with Costco, natural food stores, airport, cool culture, multicultural, where did the hippies and artists go? You an do consultaions and help people find their new city to live.
Love this idea🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
From this list only, Moscow is the place you want to go. Spokane airport ~1.5hours. Some flights are out of moscow-pullman airport. Moscow is the "heart of the arts" with loads of hippies and options for dining. Costco is ~40min south, in Clarkston.
I almost bought a house in Glenns Ferry, ID. That was in 2021. There were only 4 houses for sale at that time there, and the one I was looking at was in the middle at about $165K. It was only about 1200 sq.ft., a house built in 1940 and had a stand-alone garage that was almost falling down. There is a railyard on the river side of town, and that can get noisy. Groceries there are expensive. You can drive to Mountain Home to shop, but doing it too often can add up. There is a really nice state park there, and that would have been nice to live next to.
Good video. Just know that these places can be bitter cold in the winter, and hot and bone dry in the summer. Pretty much high desert for the most part. It can also feel a bit desolate. But some people love that.
thanks so much for doing this! seriously. i really appreciate it. i got priced out of seattle 20 years ago, and now i'm being priced out of vancouver, wa, so before i retire, i'd like to find something a bit cheaper.
Moved from the Vancouver area to Tennessee. Cost so much less it’s amazing. Housing is about 60 % , property taxes are about 25% fuel is 35% less. Can actually afford to live.
Loving this series! Even tho it's about retirement it also provides me insight for just dirt cheap cities
If there are no places to live, you cannot live there. Real estate is practically non existent.
One thing they all have in common: not a single one of them is in the gentrified region west of the Cascades.
Moscow is really nice, though--nice enough to make a part of me hope not too many people find out about it.
Shut yo mouth, people will learn about it.
Moscow sucks. Dont move there.
(Re-post if you dont think peoples should move there.)
When a town’s government arrests a minister and wife for singing in a parking lot, I’m sure not going to consider it a friendly place to visit nor live.
@@Sunshine-oz5cp Singing in public especially singing hymns, Chirstmas songs, etc should incur the death penalty.
My biggest issue is the winter weather in these places. I currently live in Washington near the mouth of the Colombia River and across the river from Astoria where we don't see much snow and no severe cold in the winter. I'm in my 70s and I don't do well in cold climate.
Things in LA Grande have changed. One bedroom apartment is around 1600-2000 a month now.
Please more vids like this on the Pacific Northwest! Thanks.
mountains and beaches
Loving this series! I'm looking to move back to the east coast from SoCal. An eastern seaboard list would be awesome... NY, PA, DE, NJ, MD, VA, NC... south of New England and north of "The South" 😊
I would definitely suggest N. C. for sure.
Western Montana should be considered as part of the Northwest. Follow the eastern Idaho state line straight north and follow that line right through Montana and that by most is considered the Northwest US region.
The title is "Top 10 Towns to Retire of Live on $1500 in the PACIFIC NORTHWEST, so Western Montana doesn't really qualify. In fact, all the towns he listed don't really qualify because they're all east of the Cascades.
@@ColonelKlink100 I agree with you. He should have said "Northwest," but I figured he doesn't know this part of the country, so I decided to not mention it since I was tagging his wrongful perception of the Northwest boundary lines.
Great list! I would think that Tonasket, WA would have made the cut. FYI Moscow Idaho is pronounced Moss-co, rhymes with Idaho, like Costco. Also, Preston ID is the town made famous by Napoleon Dynamite. If you need to know anything else, hit me up. I know a lot of stuff and it is quite a burden toting all of this information around.
Buck up, Tommy! Your humility will keep you strong.
I honestly didn’t expect anywhere in Oregon to be on this list. I always forget about the eastern half of the state!
I currently live in anacortes Washington, really thinking about moving because it is to expensive.
@James Ramey, darn I'm getting priced out in Bremerton. I love Anacorted and want to move there
@@reneekimball1314 it is beautiful here. Might be about the same as Bremerton?
Well that sucks both beautiful towns Bremerton and Anacorted sad for sure.....
Preston Idaho, the home of Napoleon Dynamite.
Haha that’s the first thing I thought!
In August 2016 I went there. The woman living at Pedro's house was wearing a Vote for Pedro shirt. She helped my girlfriend and me take photos and said some kids recreated the bike jump scene a week prior. Sweet!
@@AnklepantsSkateZine I’ll bet those were some sweet jumps.
And Aryan Nations where the collective IQ is that of a tree stump. That includes the whole state.
@@Tsalinger sounds like you’re from there, then
I prefer being near mountains. I grew up in the tabletop flat part of Illinois. Had enough of boring.
I’d guess you’d be able to get to a beautiful mountainous area in very little time from each and every single one of these towns/cities.
Dido
I get that. I grew up on the Jersey shore. Flat, flat, flat. The first time I left home and traveled west, I began to see hills, inland lakes, mountains. I knew I liked that WAY better.
I live just outside of Seattle and it's beautiful. The big down side though is the political climate. it's over-the-top insanity.
Spent the night at a truck stop in table flat Woodhull once. Enjoyed an airshow of two crop dusters the next morning.
Washington offers discount real estate tax for low income Senior home owners. I pay about $850 per year vs $3300 prior years.
I like it when you add the medical care piece. Enjoy your programming. Thanks!
Can't wait until you do the Midwest.
the sad thing is, apartment prices have doubled, tripled all over the country - what was $500 is now $1200 - too bad wages doesn't keep up with housing prices. You should update this to current times
True. Almost everything is priced as luxury Airbnb. Over $2/sf everywhere except IOWA or there's nothing available, regardless of rates. I can remember when rents were an average of 25% of monthly income, regardless of rate of pay: even a bum could afford a studio apartment by the tracks. But that was as far back as the late 70s when I turned 18 & moved out, when a person could buy a house for $30k in CA.
Parking lot shots are beautiful. Makes me want to pack up.
The gas stations are cool too…
Christmas Valley Oregon very small I really love I moved from there to southeast Missouri last year and now I am moving back.
Awe man, You missed a great oppor-pun-ity! In the Le Grande piece, talking about the economy “employment is not [grande] here” 😆. Still another great video 🤙 Hooyah
Idaho no longer cheap it has been discovered and prices all over the state have sky rocketed.
It has been Californicated. Young rich professionals are fleeing Cali and bringing high housing costs with them to Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, etc. Pretty soon everything will be as high as Colorado in terms of cost of living.
@@ganymeade5151 I feel sorry for any young person trying to buy in these states, and for the older people being forced out of their home of 25 to 30 years because the property taxes have gone through the roof. Hope all you carpet baggers can sleep at night.
@@ganymeade5151 and az
@@ganymeade5151 realtors will tell you that most of those moving are coming from Washington.
Not where I live in Idaho!!!!
If you live in Beaverton on 1500 amonth,you can live in a tent.
Yeah same here in Seattle. Hey most people do.
LMAO. True. Explains why so many average folks are homeless and stuck there. Suggest organizing to demand jobs that pay a living wage and affordable housing. If not, everyone who makes average pay will be homeless and substance addicted to deal with the depression and despair, while the rich are profiting off of the damage.
I don't know the answer myself, but keep in mind that the guy who runs this channel lives in Beaverton himself; It would be surprising if Briggs was not aware of the cost of living in his own area. Maybe he does though, I definitely do not :)
@@willjensen5595 rent in beaverton is going to be 1500 a month. I I've in a cheaper metro city in 800sqft house and my rent is 1200
In the Forests
I think my husband and I might drive around and actually investigate these places..! See what they are really like!
The Inland North West (INW) is worth a road trip.
Did you do it? What did you find?
The last seen was awesome! Very professional
Moscow Id is a great small town.
Really good farmers market good restaurants and good mix of people.
It is a shame that it is in Idaho. Moscow deserves better.
My two favorite parts of the country back-to-back. 🙂 Too bad no places west of the Cascades were mentioned, although I guess it’s more pricey there.
I agree!
Yep land isn't cheap in the mountain states.
Pricey, dirty, and full of DEMONRATS!
@@bruceforster3709 - Leave your politics out of it, okay? All I said is that my favorite parts of the US are New England and the Pacific Northwest. If you disagree, then don’t move there. More space for me.
@@outbackigloo6489 I have the RIGHT under the FIRST AMENDMENT to say whatever the HELL I want-ASSHOLE!
Payette, ID is across the Snake River from Ontario, OR and not too far from Boise. That and it's milder winters makes it's location more attractive if you still want to be not too far from a bigger population centre.
Housing shooting up though.
Can you please do top 10 best seafood towns in USA? Thanks.
Connell and Prosser WA are under an hour away from the Tri-Cities. Prosser is about an hour or so away from Yakima. Lots of hospitals in Prosser and Tri-Cities. Spokane WA is 2.5 hours away. Oregon has a hefty income tax. If I were going to move to Oregon it would be Baker City. That is a pretty town.
If you move to LaGrande or Baker City be prepared for snow.
Briggs, this is the video I've been waiting for!!! LOVE the Pacific Northwest! Thanks for everything you do!
I was born and raised in Washington. Go to those cities and you will see why they are cheaper
Yeah, try the REAL side of the PNW. Good luck finding a place that cheap 😂
I'm interested in Sequim, Bellingham or around those areas. I'm accepting that retirement is not going to happen ever. Good thing I enjoy working. And after seeing this video, I would rather keep working and live in a place I love.
@@feliciasampson8032 Bellingham is surprisingly expensive. Maybe La Conner?
@@EncinitasVibe that's what I am starting to hear. A good friend is a realtor in Reno and has friends who are looking to buy in Bellingham. They said the same thing.
I would've thought that with the amount of rain and grey days, it wouldn't be as desirable as a sunnier place. But I guess there are many of us who like PNW weather. My California friends either love the sun and heat, or moved to Washington and Oregon while they were still affordable.
I'll check out La Conner. Thank you.
@@feliciasampson8032 Retired here in Sequim. Young people needed desperately for cleaning, window washing, contractors, things us older folk can't do.
None of these "Pacific Northwest" towns are anywhere near the Pacific. East of the Cascades is the Inland Northwest. They are very different places in climate, culture, etc.
What does "anywhere near the Pacific" mean?
I don't consider Seattle to be very close to the Pacific ocean because it is a long drive.
@@nobodyimportant7804
He is talking about hundreds of miles. If you look at a map you will understand. ☺️
@@tenderheart7530 I don't need to look at a map. I know the entire NW like the back of my hand.
"Anywhere near the ocean" is arbitrary. Seattle is not anywhere near the ocean yet I bet the OP considers it part of the Pacific NW.
Even with no traffic, Seattle to the ocean is about a 3-hour drive.
Portland is nowhere near the ocean either.
@@nobodyimportant7804
Then reread the original poster’s comment.
Seattle has nothing to do with it.
@@tenderheart7530 and yet, all the towns in the video are in the Pacific Northwest.
Interesting viedo have been to all of the mentioned. Most of them have alot of wind. One suggestion i would make is talk to people in these towns and see how they pronounce their names. You were about 50% right
Great Mexican restaurant in LaGrande, where you can get a pitcher of Margaritas for the same price as just two in Seattle!
Hey Briggs I really like your videos, maybe you could do one with Tennessee South Carolina and North Carolina that would be cool.
I know your listing rents, but Moscow ID realestate is expensive.
It is becoming Californicated.
One of my children went to U of Idaho in Moscow. Seriously, what a gem of a little city! It has everything you need from medical services, a lovely downtown, and even a Walmart. It's super clean, well kept up, and there's plenty to do in the outdoors too. Oh, have fun following college sports with the Vandals at their adorable and pristine college campus. There's even nice little restaurants scene downtown too. You won't feel as isolated and out of touch as you would in most of the towns listed in this video. Plenty of apartments available because of the college too.
And if you can't find something in Moscow, Pullman WA is just a few miles away. Between the two towns, you can find everything you need.
@@GrnXnham and the stretch between Moscow and Pullman is a pleasure to drive...or better yet, bike (as there is a gorgeous paved bike trail that connects the two places).
Thanks for a very useful and informative video , retirement is on the horizon and the PNW is definitely on the radar.
Moscow, ID is actually pronounced Moss-koe not Moss-cow.
I live in La Grande and have lived here for more than 15 years. If outdoor life is more important to you than nightlife and upscale restaurants, La Grande is a great place to live - as long as you have a good job or work remotely, I highly recommend it. I-84 runs through town so you have easy access to an major interstate.
The pros are real estate prices are still low compared to the west side of the state. Due to being in a valley surrounded by mountains, the weather is a bit more temperate than other parts of of the state east of the cascades. It still gets snow and can get pretty cold - just not a cold as other areas. There is a low crime rate with most crimes being property crimes of opportunity (leaving valuables in you vehicle or leaving say, an expensive bike outside).
As for the downside - it’s about two hours one way to a city of any size where you can do major shopping like Costco or a mall. While the hospital can treat most minor illnesses and injuries, major trauma and life threatening illnesses often require being life flighted out to a larger hospital. Given that La Grande is in a valley and you have to go over a mountain pass to leave the area no matter which direction you’re traveling, that can be a problem in winter. I-84 can frequently be closed due to weather and/or accidents and there really aren’t any good detours to get around the closure.
This area, like most all of the cities and towns on the east side of the Cascades, is fairly conservative. It’s not really an issue overall and people seem to get along but, depending on your political views, this is either a plus or a minus. I’m a flaming democratic socialist but I keep to myself and just ignore the far right folks.
I Love this series! I find it very helpful when you also mention home prices.
Thank you so very much. So many new town to research for my retirement. I would prefer Oregon.
High property taxes in Oregon.
High State Taxes in Oregon ....if U dont mind paying at least $500 a month and that was over 11 years ago....
But thanks for the effort picking up 10 best choices! Maybe $2K.
Thank you, great video.
FYI . Umatilla is pronounced "You-mu-till-uh". I'm very close to complete retirement so this gave me food for thought
I took a job once in a small town that had very few rentals ... and NONE at the time we moved. Rent prices and cost of living numbers are completely irrelevant when there are no places to live ... or shop. That's all part of "living" .... right?
Please include Wisconsin in the Deep North, and possibly the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.