I originally posted this in the lounge but I forgot about this forum. I might get more responses here.

I will be transferring to this area in the next few months. I am originally from Vancouver B.C. so I know the Northwest well but not the Vancouver WA area.

I was just wondering if anyone has any thought on this area? I just have to live in the Vancouver area (30 - 45min or so). Most of my work will be in Oregon and Washington.

Thanks!

 

Vancouver, Wa is ok. Some important things to consider for tax purposes:

Washington state has a sales tax of more than 8% on all purchases, but Washington does not have a state income tax.

Oregon is just the opposite, with a state income tax, and no sales tax.

Depending on what kind of work you do, and where you live, where your job is located etc, you might want to consider living in Portland, Oregon, or Vancouver, Wa. For instance, if you lived in Vancouver, it would not be beneficial to work in Portland, because you'd be getting dinged with a state income tax for working in Portland, and most of your purchases would be made in Vancouver so you'd also get dinged with one of the highest state sales taxes in the nation.

Hope that helped a little.

Mike

 

Thanks Mike. I work in the paper industry so I will be travelling to mills in Washington and Oregon. I just have to live in the "Portland area". My new boss lives in Bellingham. He suggested that I live in WA for the state income tax reasons you mentioned.

I have read that Battle Ground is nice. However this appears to be out in the country so I would have to see if I liked that. I will be starting work up there soon so I will check the area out and decide where I would like to live.