Residents of Vancouver, Washington often refer to their hometown simply as “the ‘Couv.” Snarky critics in nearby Portland have dubbed it “Vantucky.” Other monikers include “Vancooter,” “Baby Portland,” and our personal creative favorite, “Vancouver – but not the one in Canada.” We may not agree on what to call it, but we can all agree on one thing: For apartment hunters looking for a killer pad in the Nirvana of the Northwest (yes, we have more nicknames), Vancouver, Washington may be the perfect place to call home. So read on, future Vancouverite, and you’ll be kicking back in your dream dwellings in two shakes of a lamb’s tail (okay, maybe closer to three or four shakes).
Situated just north of the Oregon border in southwestern Washington, Vancouver suburbanites enjoy easy access to the rest of metropolitan Portland without having to endure the chaos and hassles of the big city
Residents of Vancouver, Washington often refer to their hometown simply as “the ‘Couv.” Snarky critics in nearby Portland have dubbed it “Vantucky.” Other monikers include “Vancooter,” “Baby Portland,” and our personal creative favorite, “Vancouver – but not the one in Canada.” We may not agree on what to call it, but we can all agree on one thing: For apartment hunters looking for a killer pad in the Nirvana of the Northwest (yes, we have more nicknames), Vancouver, Washington may be the perfect place to call home. So read on, future Vancouverite, and you’ll be kicking back in your dream dwellings in two shakes of a lamb’s tail (okay, maybe closer to three or four shakes).
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The Outstanding Perks of the “Other Portland”
Situated just north of the Oregon border in southwestern Washington, Vancouver suburbanites enjoy easy access to the rest of metropolitan Portland without having to endure the chaos and hassles of the big city. Just a few of the perks of life as a Vancouverite include:
Tax-free week? Every week is tax-free week … Death and taxes are supposed to be the two givens in life, but not for all. A major benefit of living in Washington is that if you live and work in-state, you don’t have to pay state income taxes. In Oregon, meanwhile (7 measly miles away), you don’t have to pay sales taxes. Bottom line: Work in Washington. Shop in Portland. Beat the system.
Easy access to the mother ship … Living in Vancouver and playing in Portland is a plausible option for ‘Couverites. Residents can hop on I-5 or I-205 and be in downtown Portland in 10-15 minutes. Even during heavy rush hour periods, the commute rarely takes longer 25-30 minutes. Traffic and parking within Vancouver are rarely problems, either.
The more the merrier … Portland certainly has its charms, but all-inclusiveness sure ain’t one of them. The city adheres to a strict Urban Growth Boundary, which prevents the city’s businesses and population from growing at anything quicker than a snail’s pace. Vancouver, au contraire, has more than tripled its population in the past 20 years (160,000-plus now call the ‘Couv home) and continues to sprawl. Portland may turn you away, but Vancouver is ready to welcome you with open arms.
Finding a Primo Pad in the Right ‘Hood
They say if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere. They should also say that if you can’t find an apartment in Vancouver, you can’t find one anywhere. Whether you’re looking to settle down in the western lands like Fruit Valley or Carter Park, the eastern ‘hoods like Bennington or Fisher’s Landing, or any of the dozens of quality neighborhoods in between them, you’ll find plenty of rental options available. A few tips for hopeful renters:
- Vancouver is both a buyer’s market and a renter’s market (we’ll just call it a resident’s market). The population has skyrocketed in the past couple decades, but so have the numbers of new houses and high rises. Even with the population boom, 6 percent of the city’s residential lodgings remain unoccupied, and construction of new units continues. So you can afford to be picky.
- Leasers pay an average of about a thousand bucks a month in rent, but tons of decent digs can be found in the $600-$700 range. And remember to bring your bargaining chips to the table. Especially in the recently renovated downtown area (which features a surplus of stylish lofts and condos for rent), landlords are often willing to bargain with prospective tenants.
- As always: When submitting a leasing application, don’t forget to bring along your identification, copies of paycheck stubs, banking info, and proof of renter’s history.
- If you’re tired of hauling that massive sofa-bed from pad to pad, here’s a suggestion: leave it behind. Many Vancouver apartments, including studios in the $600-range, already come furnished (so maybe it’s time to say goodbye that coffee-and-beer-stained Barcalounger from 1972, huh?).
How to Get Around … And What to Avoid
Compared to most American suburbs, Vancouver has a surprisingly effective public transportation system (the C-Train operates 135 buses and also runs express routes to downtown Portland). So, technically, yes, you might be able to survive in Vancouver, Washington without a car of your own. But we don’t recommend it. Vancouver is so spread out, consisting of more than 60 sprawling neighborhoods, that to shop, work, and socialize conveniently, you’re going to need your own set of wheels.
Best of luck, and happy hunting!
