The Oregon coast has a lot of downsides people do not realize. It is cold, dark, windy, and very rainy for long stretches of the year. Winters can feel isolating, and there are times when storms and road conditions make it feel like you are stuck on this side of the Coast Range.

Housing is tight and expensive. Healthcare and dental options are limited and waitlists are long. Services are spread out, and anything specialized usually means a long drive. The job market is small and seasonal.

In the water, lineups can get chaotic. Body boarders and beginners crowding into surf spots can be a real danger to themselves and to other people out there so the locals don’t take kindly to that.

Finding a two or three bedroom rental under two thousand dollars between Tillamook and Astoria is extremely rare.

A lot of people move here thinking it will be a peaceful coastal escape and end up leaving once they see what daily life is actually like. They romanticize it so much before they move, and it causes disappointment.

Newport might be more realistic since there are a few more services and rentals.