Welcome to my hometown.
I was raised in Vancouver and have lived to tell the tale.
Theres no denying that Vancouver has seen a massive influx of new residents in recent years.
Living in Vancouver | (Shutterstock/JPL Designs)
The city went from being known as Portlands neighbor to becoming a desirable city in its own right.
Quiet, green and full of beauty theres a lot to love about this place.
), this is where most of my friends stay when visiting me.
But hey, hard to blame them.
Vancouver is situated a mere 2-hour drive from the beach, desert, forests and mountains.
You name it, we got it!
Living in Vancouver | (Shutterstock/JPL Designs)
Dont feel like committing to an overnight trip?
No problem, chances are very high youll be less than a half hour drive from a hiking trail.
Its impossible to escape nature while living in Vancouver, WA.
Moving to Vancouer Washington (Shutterstock/Rigucci)
Between the lakes, forests and epic views of Mt.
St. Helens, you wont be able to take nature for granted and will seldom be bored.
#2.
Including Esther Short Park,the oldest public square in the west.
Its not just the inescapable nature that makes the city green.Hardly.
Respect for the environment is a big deal around here, made evident by strong recycling and composting habits.
Theres no soapbox or holier-than-though attitude around it.
#3.
Theres only 9 states in America without state income taxand Washington is lucky enough to be one of them.
Living in Vancouver Washington | (Shutterstock/Bob Pool)
For perspective, our neighbors to the south (Oregon) pay nearly 10% in state income taxes.
Thats why so many folks from Portland end up moving to Vancouver, Washington for retirement.
With that said, its worth knowing that the sales tax clocks in at a pretty steep 8.5%.
Whereas Oregon doesnt have a sales tax.
As such, its not uncommon for Vancouver residents to drive to Oregon for larger purchases like home appliances.
Which means this perk of living in Vancouver wont apply to you unless you work from home.
Needless to say, youll definitely want to chat to someone in your HR department on this one.
#4.
Nothing happens without growing pains though, and the growth of Vancouver is no exception.
Aside from the pandemic when I spent way more time at home, its business as usual.
I dont want to paint a false picture though.
#5.
But in true Pacific Northwest fashion, people are definitely reserved.
Locals can tolerate small talk, but its rare for conversations to develop into something more.
Come to thin of it, I met most of my adult friends in high school or college.
I find it hard disagree when people say that making friends while living in Vancouver is difficult.
I can definitely see that.
Blame it on adulthood (has anyone ever made a friend past the age of 25?!
), or the reserved locals, but this is something to brace for before moving to Vancouver.
Youll get kindness, but the friendship part is harder.
So in a way, this is both a pro and con of living in Vancouver.
#6.
Sounds like a stretch, but bear with me.
Heck, in 2017 it was even rated themost efficient airport in America.
Both my husband and I travel often for work.
Last year alone, we spent 7 months abroad.
He flies more than me and averages 100,000+ miles per year.
Based on his travels (and the plethora of airports hes visited), PDX is his favorite.
Its hard to hate on our local airport, everything from departing to arriving is a pleasant experience.
Read:Kyoto in the Fall (Top 10 Places to See)
#7.
Seriously, apart from maybe two weeks a year, theres no need for AC when living in Vancouver.
Granted, the past two summers have been terrible with temperatures soaring past 100F.
I see the trends shifting and anticipate most homes will be equipped with air conditioning in the coming years.
Im bracing to see what summer 2023 brings before seeing if this information needs to be updated.
#8.
The Summer Weather is Perfect
All my childhood summers were spent outdoors.
I have a handful of friends that refuse to leave Vancouver because they cant imagine spending summers elsewhere.
Mild temperatures and no humidity is hard to come by, why mess with perfection?
Theyd sooner find a place to rent in winter (those gray skies!)
but couldnt fathom moving altogether because of the blissful summer season.
Another big perk of living in Vancouver?
#9.
A quick 15 minute drive across the Interstate Bridge and youre there.
Theres a huge amount ofcool things to do in Portland.
Cons of Living in Vancouver
#1.
The Housing Marketis Nuts
Living in Vancouver is notallsunshine and rainbows.
Shocking, I know.
Again, hard to blame them, no hard feeling there.
One couple we know was outbid for 8 homes before deciding to look in a different state.
They said homes were getting 20+ offers and selling within 2 days for well above asking.
I was hoping the market would cool down in 2022, but so far no such luck.
If helpful, the chart below shows the sharp increase of home prices in Vancouver since 2012.
Can you imagine paying $179K for a house 10 years ago?
#2.
It RainsSo Much
Is there an award for making the understatement of the century?
Because I definitely qualify.
First red flag (no one prepares for rain).
Vancouver averages163 days of rainfall a year.
Its like getting rain every three days, only its worse because nature doesnt spread it out fairly.
Nah, shell let you enjoy the rain daily for 6 months straight.
Ugh, shes the worst.
But look at me getting distracted with weird gardening stuff.
It will become a part of your daily life from November through May.
But the rain isnt the worst part!
Its the constant gray clouds taking permanent residence above the city from fall through spring.
That has a tendency to bring folks down the most.
Between the dark gray skies, rain and bone-chill, winters feellong.
Its no wonder Vancouver residents are desperate to take advantage of the quickly-fleeting summer months.
All the trails and city parks are packed during summer for a reason, folks.
Something people dont realize before moving to Vancouver is that our residents are prone to Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a jot down of depression related to seasonal weather changes.
It tends to keep regular office hours opening shop in October and closing for the season come May.
(This is obviously not a medical definition).
A Happy Light, you say?
Yes, its a bright lamp that emulates sunlight and provides benefits similar to sunshine.
We use ours everysingleday, plus it helps our plants grow like crazy, too.
Im telling you,you cant afford living in Vancouver without it.
My husband likes to joke that Vancouver weather has two tweaks: rain and bliss.
If he makes the joke in the summer, I laugh.
If he tries it in the winter, I threaten him with Hallmark movies and Christmas music.
#4.
For reference, my 15-mile commute from Vancouver to Portland took one hour each way.
It was absolutelybrutaland got tiring after a mere three months.
I dreaded the drive to work and the long drive home.
I mean, youll never mistake Vancouvers traffic for L.A. but its pretty bad.
#5.
You cant escape the nightmarish traffic.
#6.
Lack of Diversity
After moving to Vancouver, Washington youll notice that its not a very diverse city.
#7.
Theres no denying that homelessness is on the rise.
If you have resources (or advice) c’mon let me know in the comment below.
I want to stay informed and am always looking for ways to learn.
