Anyone near Oregon's coast?

[Jan in CO]

My sister is thinking of moving to Brookings, Oregon. She's on social security, and lives in a senior apartment, planning to move into the same in Brookings when they have an opening. Someone she knows just told her the average utility bill there is 300-350 per month, which would be a deal breaker for her. Her son thinks people just use little electric heaters as the weather is never very hot or cold, so it shoudln't be that high. I'm wondering if the taxes, cost of gas, etc are high or low there, but don't know anyone in that area. Any experience?

[Molly Mckee]

Friends of friends live there, I think it is a high dollar place, I don't know about utilities, but in general Oregon is a high tax state. There is no sales tax, which might help a retired person. If no one know about the cost of living, I'll check.

[alpacaspinner]

I'm not on the coast, but am sort of familiar with Brookings. Its a nice little town, but it is not close to any sort of "Big Town", if that is at all important for your sister. Nearest town of any size is Crescent City in California, and that is about an hour away, I think. Oregonians say that Brookings is in the "banana belt", meaning that the climate is quite temperate - being by the water it never gets really cold, but also never gets really warm. Depending on your sister's need for heat (or cooling) I think that energy estimate is quite high. We live on the other side of the coastal range (hotter in summer, cooler in winter) and our heating/cooling bill is usually between $50-$90/month. For an apartment I can't think that it would be even as high as that. As to cost of living - I don't think I can give an accurate picture; we moved here from California, and that fact alone tends to skew one's perceptions LOL. As mentioned, there is no sales tax here, but I understand that some people think the income tax is high. Nice thing about Oregon is that you don't pump your own gas - a decided plus when it is raining! It (gas) is still cheaper than California, but, I think, more expensive than other parts of the country. If your sister has any problems with being down during the gray days of winter Oregon might not be a good spot for her. The gray days can sometimes feel endless.

[TedH71]

Got a friend who lives in Portland, Oregon. His apt is all bills paid so he never has to worry about that. That may be a better option than a senior apt. Went to Seaside, Oregon...beautiful area! Problem is lack of jobs. He told me it rarely is hot except for one month a year when he has turn on the a/c. Rarely snows too. Only negative thing is it rains a lot.

[sheepish]

I grew up on the coast so I don't notice a problem with rain, but my mother said she froze the first year after she moved from Edmonton, Alberta because it was such a damp cold.

[Vosey]

I live in Southern Oregon but not on the coast, although I've been there a lot. That utility bill sounds very high. The climate is very temperate. Brookings actually has a warmer summer than much of the coast due to the Chetco affect which is the warm, hot air from the valleys on the other side of the coast range send the air down the Chetco River. This is good as otherwise your summer temps are 50-60's. In the winter it's stormy and rainy, but unlike around Portland or Eugene the sun comes out between storms so it's not that overwhelming grey for months on end.

Brookings is a long ways from anywhere. I assume that increases food costs. Gasoline is pricey in Southern Oregon, it's actually California gas. I would be most concerned about healthcare. There is little to no specialist care if she needs that. There is a hospital in Gold Beach, 1/2 an hour from Brookings. Not sure about Crescent City. Crescent City is also a pretty small city and is closer to 1/2 hour than an hour. But many people on the Southern Coast go to Medford, Grants Pass or Roseburg to see specialists and that is a haul. But there are plenty of seniors living on the coast.

Having said all that it is an incredibly beautiful area, I would live there in a heartbeat!

[where I want to]

I live south of the California line but near the coast. I'd say that Brookings is much like this area.
I think that electricity rate sounds really high.
It depends on the person but it is not unlikely to have cool fog in the morning and evening for 80% of the year as the inland heat meets the ocean and, presto, fog. So if a person is sensative to cold, they might need heat on most of the year.
But hardly any air conditioning ever nor wood stove melting heat is needed. It's frequently about 65ish degrees much of the year. But damp is pretty constant.
So unless there is something pretty unusual, that rate would be really high.

[Seeria]

I travel the Oregon coast (2 years now) and can say I'd never retire to Brookings. Small, crowded, overpriced and not nearly enough services. Several of my elderly RV friends agree and add in that for them the lack of real medical services kept them from moving to Brookings. They said they wanted to be closer to specialist (heart, etc).
Area is lovely, but if you have allergies to bay/laurel/myrtle the place is hell. It fogs over a lot, not nearly as bad as Newport though Temps there are just a touch warmer in winter than the rest of the coast, and they don't seem to get as much rain (like 2inch difference). I wouldn't touch the river or ocean water there. They get algae problems a lot (see OR state site for warnings) and even though they say it is safe after a lift it doesn't mean it is. Ask my son who spent a week in the hospital from that ---- stuff.

If she's looking for warm, anywhere right along the coast will be fine year round but all the coast gets chilly in the winter. Days are regularly 40's to 50 with cold Alaskan winds and rain. Lots of rain. LOTS. Daily ---- near it in the winter. Heat bill for us with two electric heaters runs $100. She might check places like Florence (a bit cheaper than Brookings and closer to major hub), good elderly community there. Bandon is also lovely. Gets more expensive north (Newport and up). CoosBay/NorthBend and south get more expensive than the middle area.

Luck with the search!

[frankva]

Good post. Compared to CO it is nasty wet there. But you didn't say where sis is now...

I found the cost of living to be much more across the board in OR, than in CO.

30% maybe? Been a few years.

The lack of sun would be a factor for me, but it is a very cool place to visit. The Chetko is a sweet place.