6 Ways Vancouver is Better Than Portland
Vancouver and Portland are geographically close together, but in reality, they are worlds apart. Sure, Portland has great parks, awesome microbreweries, and an eclectic food scene. Voodoo Doughnut, anyone? But Vancouver certainly has its own appeal.
As one of the largest homebuilders in Washington State, we at New Tradition Homes are very well acquainted with the Vancouver area. For the last three decades, we’ve matched prospective homeowners to their dream new homes in Vancouver. If you’re in the market for a new home or looking for a place to permanently settle, we’ll give you our top six reasons why Vancouver has the edge over Portland.
First, follow the money trail. It will lead you straight to Vancouver. If you’re looking to save money on property, rent, or everyday purchases, Vancouver is the place to be. There are a number of resources that allow you to compare the cost of living between the two cities. According to the site, Sperling’s Best Places, for instance, Portland is 24% more expensive than Vancouver, generally speaking.
However, the housing market accounts for the greatest difference in cost. Housing is 49% more expensive in Portland than it is in Vancouver! That means if you want to get the most bang for your buck, you’d be better off looking for new homes in Vancouver. For a more detailed cost of living analysis between the two cities, Numbeo provides an excellent breakdown.
If you’re looking to maximize your investment portfolio through cost savings, another huge advantage to living in Vancouver is that there is no state income tax in Washington. In fact, Washington is one of only seven states in the U.S. that does not have a state income tax. This translates to huge savings over time since income taxes are typically an individual’s greatest expense.
According to Neuvoo, if you have a $100,000 annual salary in Oregon, you’ll pay about $8,400 in state income taxes per year. While Washington does have a state sales tax and Oregon does not, Vancouver residents can use this to their advantage. Portland’s close proximity to Vancouver means that Vancouver residents can do all their shopping in Portland and save on both state income and sales taxes!
Perhaps money isn’t a major factor for you, however, in deciding where to live. Maybe you’re willing to splurge a bit to get everything you want. That’s great news. But there are still other reasons Vancouver is superior to Portland. For example, there are many factors that contribute to Vancouver’s livability factor. For instance, the crime rate is lower as a whole in Vancouver than it is in Portland.
According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Statistics, Portland had a total of 2,911 violent crimes reported in 2014 (the last year for which data is available). That amounts to 472.8 crimes per 100,000 people. Compare that to Vancouver, which had a reported 580 violent crime offensesin 2014. That amounts to a rate of 343.8 violent crimes per 100,000 people. Vancouver had a lower per capita violent crime rate for the last five years on record. Likewise, Vancouver had a lower property crime rate as well.
There’s an old adage that time is money. In addition to its relatively low crime rate, Vancouver boasts a shorter average daily commute as well. By comparison, Portland ranks one of the ten worst cities in the country for traffic jams. Who wants the stress of a congested morning commute when traveling to work on a Monday? Bottom line? If you want to avoid road rage, standstill traffic, and the sound of deafening horns during the morning rush hour, you’ll probably want to look for new homes in Vancouver rather than Portland.
If you’re a nature lover looking for an escape from the urban landscape, Vancouver would be an excellent locale for you. Vancouver has plenty of scenic attractions, outdoor activities, and historical sites to explore. If you want to enjoy a crisp glass of wine on an outdoor day, visit one of the local wineries such as the Rusty Grape Vineyard, located just a half hour outside Vancouver. Or check out the Three Brothers Vineyard & Winery, which is a mere twenty minutes away. Washington State is the second largest producer of premium wines in the country, so you know you’ll be able to enjoy fine quality wines in Vancouver.
After your visit to the local vineyards, enjoy an outdoor concert at the Sunlight Supply Amphitheater. Or check out the summer concert series at Esther Short Park. For a little taste of history, you’ll want to visit the Vancouver National Historic Reserve. Whatever suits your fancy, you’ll be able to find it here in Vancouver.
And finally, our sixth reason for opting to reside in Vancouver over Portland is education. If you have kids who are fast approaching college-age, Washington is the best state to reside. Your children will qualify for in-state tuition at one of the nation’s premier colleges. According to the Academic Ranking of World Universities, the University of Washington is ranked the thirteenth best college in the nation. Compare that to universities in Oregon, all of which ranked out of the top 100. That means as a Vancouver resident, your children can attend one of the best colleges in the nation at an in-state tuition rate.
Portland, Oregon is certainly an exciting place to visit. But if you’re looking for a place to settle long-term, Vancouver offers a great standard of living at a fraction of the price you would pay to live in Portland.
So, don’t delay your search. New Tradition Homes has an extensive inventory of new homes in Vancouver for you to explore. If you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for, we’ll help you custom design a home to complement your tastes and needs.
Ready to start the next chapter of your life and begin a new tradition of Vancouver living? If so, we’re certainly ready to help you along the way.