If you love the idea of living close to nature and taking care of the beautiful natural world around you, living in Oregon could be a great option for you. However, if you haven’t spent a lot of time in Oregon recently, there are a few things you may want to consider before you decide to take this leap.

To help you in making this decision, here are three things to consider before moving your family to Oregon. 

Where Does Your New City Rank?

While many places in Oregon have a similar vibe and feeling to them, each city also has something about it that makes it different. Knowing this, you may want to do some research into the exact city you’ll be living in or the cities you’re considering moving to to see how they rank with other metropolitan areas in Oregon.

For example, David McMillin, a contributor to Bankrate.com, shares that you’ll want to look at things like affordability, safety, education, jobs, and culture when determining which city might be the best fit for you and your family. With these things in mind, cities like Portland, Corvallis, Bend, Eugene, and Salem all rank high on most lists of best places to live in Oregon. 

Expect Progressive Politics

According to Amelia Josephson, a contributor to SmartAssets.com, Oregon is a very left-leaning state politically. This means that both the people in Oregon and the politicians who lead this state have progressive views that shape how daily life is lived and how the future of Oregon is projected. 

While this might be great for you if you also lean to the left politically or value things like renewable energy, preserving outdoor spaces, and blistering social programs, if this is the type of politics you typically support, you might find yourself as the “odd man out” in many places. That being said, there still are areas of Oregon that are more conservative, but they are mainly in the more suburban and rural parts of the state. 

You’ll See Homelessness

Due in part to the politics in Oregon, the all-year temperate climate, and the coronavirus pandemic, many parts of Oregon are currently dealing with a housing crisis, particularly around the number of people who are homeless in many cities. According to OregonCF.org, Oregon has a disproportionately large homeless population compared to the rest of America. So if you’re planning on moving to Oregon, especially to one of the larger cities, be prepared to see this homelessness on a regular basis. 

Oregon is a beautiful state full of beautiful people and could make a great home for many families. If you’re considering moving here, use the information presented above to help you in making your decision.