12 The Pacific Northwest Towns Perfect For A Fresh Start

The Pacific Northwest has a reputation for sky-high home prices, but that reputation does not hold everywhere. In wheat country, wine country, and old railroad hubs, homes still sell for well below each state's median. That is the finding of the latest Census Bureau estimates, and it holds for every town here. Each pairs that affordability with a hospital in town, a solid base of jobs or a college, and community traditions that make newcomers feel welcome. Add mountains, rivers, and four real seasons, and these towns offer plenty of room for a new beginning.

Walla Walla, Washington

Walla Walla has grown into one of the West's best-known wine regions, with well over a hundred wineries in and around town, yet its median home value of about $394,000 remains well below the Washington average. The town is also famous for its sweet onions, celebrated at a summer festival. Providence St. Mary Medical Center provides hospital care, and Whitman College, Walla Walla University, and Walla Walla Community College add jobs, lectures, and concerts. A tree-lined downtown full of tasting rooms and restaurants makes it easy to meet the neighbors.

Ellensburg, Washington

Ellensburg sits in the sunny Kittitas Valley, just east of the Cascades and less than two hours from Seattle. Central Washington University anchors the town's economy and culture, and Kittitas Valley Healthcare runs the local hospital. Homes here have a median value of about $404,000. Every Labor Day weekend, the Ellensburg Rodeo and county fair draw the whole region to town, and the Yakima River Canyon just south of Ellensburg offers some of the state's best fly fishing, rafting, and scenic driving.

Centralia, Washington

Centralia earns its name. It sits almost exactly halfway between Seattle and Portland on Interstate 5, which makes it a practical base for anyone who still needs to reach either city. The median home value of about $318,000 is far below the state average. Providence Centralia Hospital provides care, and Centralia College, the oldest continuously operating community college in Washington, offers degrees and job training. The town's historic downtown is lined with early 1900s brick buildings, antique shops, and the restored Olympic Club Hotel.

Moses Lake, Washington

Moses Lake, in the sunny farm country of central Washington, is built around the long, branching lake that gives it its name. Its median home value of about $310,000 is well below the Washington average. The area's economy is growing beyond farming, with new manufacturing and industrial employers drawn by cheap hydroelectric power from the Columbia River, while Samaritan Healthcare and Big Bend Community College serve the community. Summers bring boating, fishing, and swimming on the lake, and Potholes State Park sits just to the south.

Pendleton, Oregon

Pendleton is a true Western town, home to the Pendleton Round-Up, one of the country's oldest and largest rodeos, held every September since 1910. The famous Pendleton Woolen Mills still operates here, and the Pendleton Underground Tours lead visitors through tunnels beneath downtown that date to the town's rowdy frontier days. Homes have a median value of about $287,000. CHI St. Anthony Hospital provides care, and Blue Mountain Community College offers classes and training at the foot of the Blue Mountains.

La Grande, Oregon

La Grande sits in the Grande Ronde Valley, ringed by the Blue Mountains and within reach of the Wallowa Mountains, sometimes called the Alps of Oregon. Eastern Oregon University gives the small town a lively campus feel, and Grande Ronde Hospital provides care for the surrounding region. The median home value of about $279,000 is well below the Oregon average. Railroad history, a walkable downtown, and easy access to hiking, skiing, and hunting make La Grande a good fit for people who want both community and wide-open country.

Baker City, Oregon

Baker City boomed during the gold rush of the 1860s, and its downtown still holds one of Oregon's best collections of historic buildings, including the grand Geiser Grand Hotel, which opened in 1889. Homes here have a median value of about $271,000. Saint Alphonsus Medical Center in Baker City provides hospital care, and the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, just outside town, tells the story of the pioneers who passed through the valley. The Elkhorn Mountains rise to the west, with skiing, hiking, and fishing close by.

Klamath Falls, Oregon

Klamath Falls sits on the shore of Upper Klamath Lake and uses an unusual natural resource, hot water from underground, which heats buildings, greenhouses, and even some downtown sidewalks in winter. The median home value of about $287,000 is far below the Oregon average. Sky Lakes Medical Center provides hospital care, and Oregon Tech adds jobs and engineering programs. Crater Lake National Park is about an hour's drive north, and the area's wildlife refuges draw huge flocks of migrating birds and wintering bald eagles.

Roseburg, Oregon

Roseburg sits in the Umpqua River Valley, a mild, green corner of southern Oregon known for its wineries and fishing rivers. The median home value of about $290,000 is well below the state level. Mercy Medical Center and the Roseburg VA Medical Center provide healthcare and many local jobs, and Umpqua Community College offers training close to home. Wineries line the valley, the North Umpqua River draws anglers and rafters, and Wildlife Safari, a drive-through animal park in nearby Winston, is a favorite family outing.

Grants Pass, Oregon

Grants Pass straddles the Rogue River, and the famous "It's the Climate" sign over downtown sums up its appeal, with warm summers and mild winters in a valley ringed by forested hills. Homes here have a median value of about $383,000, well below the Oregon average. Asante Three Rivers Medical Center provides hospital care, and the river is the town's playground, with jet-boat trips, rafting, and some of the best salmon and steelhead fishing in the West. A historic downtown and a lively weekly growers market help newcomers settle in quickly.

Moscow, Idaho

Moscow is the home of the University of Idaho, and it sits among the rolling wheat fields of the Palouse, one of the most photographed farm landscapes in the country. The median home value of about $376,000 is below the Idaho average. Gritman Medical Center provides hospital care, and the university is the town's largest employer. Every Saturday from spring through fall, the Moscow Farmers Market fills downtown with produce, crafts, and music, and Washington State University is just across the state line in Pullman.

Lewiston, Idaho

Lewiston sits where the Snake and Clearwater rivers meet, at one of the lowest elevations in Idaho, which gives it some of the mildest winters in the region. Its port on the Snake River makes it the farthest inland seaport on the West Coast. The median home value of about $334,000 is well below the Idaho average. St. Joseph Regional Medical Center provides hospital care, and Lewis-Clark State College adds jobs and classes. Jet boats run up the river into Hells Canyon, the deepest river gorge in North America.

A Northwest New Beginning

These 12 towns show a side of the Pacific Northwest that rarely makes the headlines, with affordable homes, good hospitals, and tight-knit communities all within reach of rivers, mountains, and wine country. Before you move, visit in winter as well as summer, since conditions vary widely across the region, and check job openings, internet options, and wildfire smoke seasons in the area. With a little planning, a fresh start in the Northwest can be closer than you think.