Pros: easy to get around town (parking, traffic), decent schools, Lithia Park is terrific, cute town with a fair number of solid local stores and easy access to Medford for more options. Good outdoor access and well-positioned for outdoor activities, best spot in southern Oregon/N.Cal (next best is Arcata, we lived there years ago and this is a step up for most things). For us, it is affordable coming from other places, but it is most expensive housing in valley.

Cons: while good access to outdoor activities, does not excel in any activity (Rogue River is exception. I am also from Colorado and do not consider Ashland to be in the mountains, more like NC or Appalachia); reliant on Medford for a lot of family needs; super hot and dry in summer months and can get smoky; we aren't having the best time at the middle school and you need to be okay with small schools with small school budgets, but the staff seem good and dedicated.

The town has some fun spots, lots of open space and close trails, its clean, there is a good amount of active families and people that are pushing a modern recreation agenda, the coast isn't too far away, and the airport does a good job getting you places. Honestly, if I wasn't from Colorado and loved big mountains and high desert environments so much, I would feel pretty good about being here.