Retiring in the Pacific Northwest

[thomas89]

I can think of no place more stressful and expensive to retire than the PNW.

Congratulations and best of luck.

 

[David58]

Just retired, here, and am in Idaho. After 26 years in Oregon (then ten more in NM), there is no way I could in good conscience recommend any of the three west coast states for a place to live, working or retired.

David
ID

 

[Bonasababy]

Both OR and WA rank as two of the worst states to retire in. They'll gladly tax the sh*t out of you while alive and dead. If you can get past that, there are beautiful places in both states. I love Eastern Oregon, and you would still be within driving distance of your son. Southern Oregon also has some very nice small towns. Personally, I would rent for a year before pulling the trigger. Good luck!

This gets tricky to evaluate. Does a high sales tax matter as much as income tax when you are retired? Property taxes csn be VERY different between states and differ within states as well. And what is your tax rate on income in retirement versus when working? For us while it didnt drop to a lower bracket income tax is lower due to reduction in taxing of social security benefits. The portion of our income subject to taxes by the state is a bit lower now than when working.

I need to go back and visit to see whats changed but my summer working for BLM in Oregon in my early 20s was a lot of fun. Places just east of the coast range SE of Portland had me thinking I could see moving there...like around Sisters. Suspect its changed over the 40 + years though.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Sisters has changed more than any other town in the state. The growth around there has been enourmous. It can take 1/2 hour to get through town on a nice weekend.

 

[Irrelevant]

Yeah I would stay away from bend/sisters.

 

[Fire_9]

Yeah I would stay away from bend/sisters.

A mountain goat tag kept me from moving there in 2015. Would have been fun for a while but I'm happy I'm not there now

 

[Irrelevant]

A mountain goat tag kept me from moving there in 2015. Would have been fun for a while but I'm happy I'm not there now

It was amazing in the 90s, though I'm sure people were still calling it ruined back then in comparison to the 70s.

 

[belshawelk]

Since Idaho is full Eastern Oregon is great option. Lots of hunting, fishing, skiing, hiking etc. Housing prices are a 1/3 of the west side, and weather is much better overall. I spend about 80% of time living in E Oregon. Spent the last 40 years in Portland. I would not recommend it.

Exact same scenario in Washington

 

[SAJ-99]

Regardless of where he goes, people there will be complaining about something.

 

[Exhausted]

Regardless of where he goes, people there will be complaining about something.

Probably about him showing up from out of state lol

 

[Doublegunner]

I've lived in western Washington for over 40 years. In the past I have lived in various cities in King county and lived in Seattle when I was in college. I moved out of King County years ago and I'm glad I did. There are a lot of things I like about this area but the state is run by the democrats, and they are running it into the ground. Spending and taxation are out of control. Crime is high, Seattle is a dumpster fire. The fish and game commission doesn't follow the law because they don't like hunting and fishing. We have a stiff estate tax, capital gains tax and we will shortly have an income tax (and it won't be just for millionaire's.) The drafter of the bill, a state senator out of Seattle, colluded with the Attorney General's office in drafting the bill to attempt to get around the Washington State Constitution. Honestly, I'm waiting for them to start taxing unrealized capital gains and retirement accounts. They've talked about it. They recently passed a law to raid the LEOFF 1 pension fund which is a retired law enforcement and firefighter fund. Our gas prices are out of this world. Our gas was higher than Hawaii when my wife and I visited last year. Our politicians will blame it on the oil companies and price gouging but that is a bunch of bull. If oil companies were price gouging then all states would be high, not just Washington. It's because Washington taxes the crap out of gas and we also have a cap-and-trade law that adds about 50 cents per gallon. Recently, Washington passed a law that allows a school or state social worker, etc. to take a child and hide them from their parents if the child asserts that they may be transgender and the parents aren't supportive of it. The State can conceal the child from the parents and it's perfectly legal under state law. I think the US Supreme court is hearing a case on this next term. My point is, that Washington is heading in the wrong direction because it's controlled mostly by King County and Seattle. OK, my rant is over. Personally, when I'm done working, I'm moving out of state. I want to leave my kids something when I die. Good luck wherever you choose to go and enjoy your retirement.

 

[Dave N]

I've lived in western Washington for over 40 years. In the past I have lived in various cities in King county and lived in Seattle when I was in college. I moved out of King County years ago and I'm glad I did. There are a lot of things I like about this area but the state is run by the democrats, and they are running it into the ground. Spending and taxation are out of control. Crime is high, Seattle is a dumpster fire. The fish and game commission doesn't follow the law because they don't like hunting and fishing. We have a stiff estate tax, capital gains tax and we will shortly have an income tax (and it won't be just for millionaire's.) The drafter of the bill, a state senator out of Seattle, colluded with the Attorney General's office in drafting the bill to attempt to get around the Washington State Constitution. Honestly, I'm waiting for them to start taxing unrealized capital gains and retirement accounts. They've talked about it. They recently passed a law to raid the LEOFF 1 pension fund which is a retired law enforcement and firefighter fund. Our gas prices are out of this world. Our gas was higher than Hawaii when my wife and I visited last year. Our politicians will blame it on the oil companies and price gouging but that is a bunch of bull. If oil companies were price gouging then all states would be high, not just Washington. It's because Washington taxes the crap out of gas and we also have a cap-and-trade law that adds about 50 cents per gallon. Recently, Washington passed a law that allows a school or state social worker, etc. to take a child and hide them from their parents if the child asserts that they may be transgender and the parents aren't supportive of it. The State can conceal the child from the parents and it's perfectly legal under state law. I think the US Supreme court is hearing a case on this next term. My point is, that Washington is heading in the wrong direction because it's controlled mostly by King County and Seattle. OK, my rant is over. Personally, when I'm done working, I'm moving out of state. I want to leave my kids something when I die. Good luck wherever you choose to go and enjoy your retirement.

If someone hid my kid from me I would be in jail!

 

[kwyeewyk]

Recently, Washington passed a law that allows a school or state social worker, etc. to take a child and hide them from their parents if the child asserts that they may be transgender and the parents aren't supportive of it. The State can conceal the child from the parents and it's perfectly legal under state law.

Never heard of this, not finding it, got a link? I did recently learn that a teacher in WA can slap your kids as long as it's open handed and necessary to restrain them.

 

[Doublegunner]

Never heard of this, not finding it, got a link? I did recently learn that a teacher in WA can slap your kids as long as it's open handed and necessary to restrain them.

Washington state Senate bill 5599 from 2023 session. I believe Codified in RCW 13.32A. International Partners for Ethical Care, Inc. v. Ferguson, is the supreme court case that deals with the statute. I think they are hearing arguments next session.

 

[Doublegunner]

I don't want to hijack the OP's inquiry. My response was to illuminate some of the messed-up stuff that Washington state is doing. Hopefully that give them some insight into where they want to relocate too.

 

[Greybeard]

I don't want to hijack the OP's inquiry. My response was to illuminate some of the messed-up stuff that Washington state is doing. Hopefully that give them some insight into where they want to relocate too.

Don't be concerned about hijacking this thread. This is all stuff from folks like you that actually live there. I want to hear all sides and you posted your honest viewpoint. Any folks that disagree, I'd like to hear from them too. I think this has been an excellent discussion so far.

 

[SAJ-99]

Don't be concerned about hijacking this thread. This is all stuff from folks like you that actually live there. I want to hear all sides and you posted your honest viewpoint. Any folks that disagree, I'd like to hear from them too. I think this has been an excellent discussion so far.

This is a misreading of the law, which has held up through appeals. There is no “take and hide” by the state and it does not take custody. The law is about the notification process. SCOTUS will decide legality. There are a few laws in Washington regarding children’s rights that I’m not a huge fan of, but I also understand it originates from bad parenting. I’m not sure any state has figured a way to break that cycle.

 

[Irrelevant]

I personally think almost all the political hate is fabricated. WA and OR are amazing places to live and work. While some policies passed at the state level are idiotic, they rarely affect your day to day life

 

[jimh406]

There are different rules about who to notify depending on if they are seeking protected health care services or not.

When a runaway minor is “seeking or receiving protected health care services”—defined to include gender-affirming treatment—shelters must notify the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) instead of the parents. Parents receive no information about the child’s location or condition, and there is no set timeline for reunification in these cases. Related rules allow certain minors (e.g., age 13+) greater access to outpatient mental-health treatment without parental consent and permit longer shelter stays.

The Supreme Court granted certiorari on June 29, 2026. The case is scheduled for the October 2026 Term (argument likely late 2026 or early 2027; briefing deadlines were extended into fall 2026).

 

[Doublegunner]

This is a misreading of the law, which has held up through appeals. There is no “take and hide” by the state and it does not take custody. The law is about the notification process. SCOTUS will decide legality. There are a few laws in Washington regarding children’s rights that I’m not a huge fan of, but I also understand it originates from bad parenting. I’m not sure any state has figured a way to break that cycle.

This is part of the question presented in their briefing by the appellants in this Supreme Court case. Please take a closer look at the law. It's pretty outrageous.

"Viewing parents as the problem, Washington passed laws that deliberately target certain parents by supplanting them with the state in the context of gender-confused runaway minors: Whenever a child runs away, so long as he or she asks for “genderaffirming treatment,” a cascade of events is triggered. First, the child is referred for “gender-affirming treatment” without parental notice or consent. Second, parents can be kept in the dark as to the child’s location and condition. And third, reunification can be significantly delayed, with conditions for that reunification uncertain and entirely up to the state."