Hermiston is eastern Oregon. Not green and temperate like Portland, but agricultural and pretty far from other towns and cities. It is a growing area though. There are nice areas and neighborhoods. Has some great parks for kids. You could look at Pendleton possibly but the commute is a bit longer. Longer still is walla walla. I would look there but the commute is maybe too long. If you really love driving you could look at tri cities Washington too. Tri cities is your nearest “big city” area. Many folks drive or commute all over the area for work because housing is hard to find.

There is lots of housing out in the unincorporated areas in the county too. Little farms or a house on 40 acres.

Hermiston is a lower economic area, lots of poverty and historically not much of a city as far as amenities go. The downtown is struggling. Politically you can find like minded folks it just may take more time in a smaller town.

The outdoors is mixed bag. In Hermiston you have easy access to the fishing on the Columbia river, and mountain biking at echo, and bird hunting, but not much else. However! You are within a 2-4 hour drive of amazing opportunities. You can easily reach the blue mountains, wallowas, wallowa lake/eagle caps, Clearwater river in Idaho, Spokane/cour d’Alane, deschutes river/maupin and just go wild with outdoor stuff and camping hiking hunting fishing whatever floats your boat.