Corvallis, which translates to "heart of the valley," is a technology-oriented city, as well as a college town centered around Oregon State University (OSU). The city, with a leisurely community, is known for its agriculture and wine, its bike-friendly streets connect residents to the technological revolution, with computer companies and engineering programs based in the Willamette Valley. "It's a great place to be. I love living in the valley," says Tammy Morrison, Real Estate Broker with Town & Country Realty. "Corvallis is becoming a cool retirement community with consistent home values within two hours of the beach, the mountains and Portland."
Northwest Corvallis, OR is situated close to Oregon State University, the town's main highlight.
Breweries and cafes attract OCU students in the bike friendly Southwest Corvallis, OR.
Corvallis residents have a short drive to the beautiful beaches on the coast.
Corvallis is a sprawling college town full of history and continued growth.
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Consistent housing prices and technology-oriented jobs
Oak trees, hedges and rhododendron gardens line the eclectic residential streets. On-street parking is typical, although many properties have private carports. Sidewalks and bike lanes line the roads. Craftsman-style architecture sits clustered throughout the city in cottage-styles or modern two-story builds. Contemporary, Victorian and ranch-style homes are also common. The median single-family price is $575,000, higher than the national median of $407,000. Although, compared to the rest of Oregon, Corvallis' prices are only slightly higher than the statewide median of $522,000. "Prices in Benton County are almost the same now as last year," Morrison says. "We're consistent between 2% and 7 % increase in property value. If you have a kid going to college here, you can buy a place for them to live and make money on it."
Samaritan Health Services is a medical nonprofit with a presence in Corvallis and over 6,000 employees across the state. Oregon State University is the city's top employer, with more than 4,700 workers. Hewlett-Packard, more commonly known as HP, has around 2,500 employees in Corvallis. The HP campus is a 197-acre landmark and was one of the first facilities to develop the LaserJet printer and the computer mouse. "Corvallis has a white-collar feel. There's agriculture through the university, but it still feels like a tech-oriented city," Morrison says.
New homes in the Timberhill subdivision in Northwest Corvallis can reach up to $1 million.
Secluded split level homes in wooded areas offer tranquility in Southwest Corvallis, OR.
Samaritan Health Services provides ample care options for Corvallis residents.
HP has a large presence in Corvallis offering many jobs in the tech industry.
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The Corvallis School District and the OSU Beavers
The Corvallis School District serves over 6,000 students in the area and earns a B-plus grade from Niche. The district ranks 11th on Niche's list of the best districts in Oregon. The city is also home to Oregon State University, with 33,000 students at its historic campus, just a few blocks from downtown. The university earns a national reputation for its forestry, agriculture and engineering curriculum. The OSU Beavers have several NCAA championships across different sports and draw crowds in support of their baseball, basketball and football programs, among others.
Adams Elementary School has a B grade from Niche.
Linus Pauling Middle School serves grades 6-8 in Corvallis, Oregon.
Corvallis High School has a B+ rating from Niche.
Oregon State University is the heart and pride of Southwest Corvallis, OR.
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Eclectic farm-to-table dining options, wine and produce
Corvallis features a variety of cuisines, including Indian, Middle Eastern, and Japanese restaurants serving farm-to-table sushi. Restaurants in Corvallis pride themselves on using locally sourced ingredients from surrounding counties. There are also options for vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free lifestyles. There are over 800 vineyards around the Willamette Valley, and many distribute locally sourced wine to the city's restaurants and shops. There are four distilleries and over a dozen wineries located throughout Corvallis. "There are lots of locally sourced products, but the big three are wine, beer and coffee," Morrison says. Downtown also provides a selection of boutiques and vintage clothing stores in regal brick storefronts. Retail areas like Timberhill Shopping Center and Corvallis Market Center provide brand-name box stores, salons and eateries north of the city center.
Del Alma is an upscale restaurant with Latin American inspired menu in Southwest Corvallis, OR.
Corazon offers wines and fresh, local ingredients, just minutes from Northwest Corvallis, OR.
Popular retail brands are scattered around shopping plazas in Northeast Corvallis, OR.
Northwest Corvallis residents can shop for various good from small local shops in downtown.
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Downtown attractions and the Corvallis farmers market
The Whiteside Theatre is a 1920s cinema with Italian Renaissance architecture renovated into a performing arts venue showing classic films, concerts and musicals. One of the city's biggest draws is the Fall Festival, a creative market with over 170 regional artists and live music in September at Central Park. The Corvallis Farmers Market is in the city's historic downtown on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, through late November. The Benton County Fair & Rodeo has a history dating back to 1904, and the fairgrounds on which it is held are a popular events venue in Corvallis.
Southwest Corvallis locals can watch a play at the historic Whiteside Theatre.
Corvallis Fall Festival brings together the community every fall near Northwest Corvallis, OR.
Corvallis Fall Festival is an anticipated annual art event near Northeast Corvallis, OR.
Corvallis Farmers' Market in Corvallis, OR is fresh, local and farm direct.
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Avery Park's enchanting rose garden
Corvallis has 2,000 acres of park space and natural areas. Avery Park & Natural Area is a woodland park with an enchanting rose garden, which blooms over 250 varieties. The park also features playground structures, an idle locomotive and a swimming hole on Marys River. Riverfront Commemorative Park has a shady picnic area with fountains, sculptures and elegant statues. At the Crystal Lake Sports Fields, baseball diamonds sit near a boat landing on the Willamette River. Just south of town, the William L Finley National Wildlife Refuge has more than 5,500 acres of wetland mountain biking trails that reach valley vistas and multiple habitats with wildlife.
The Rose Garden in Avery Park has a wide variety of roses in Corvallis, Oregon.
Sit back and enjoy the view of the river at Riverfront Commemorative Park.
Crystal Lakes Sports Fields And Natural Area has a boat ramp for easy river access.
Just outside of Corvallis is the beautiful William L Finley National Wildlife Refuge.
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Bike-friendly infrastructure and reaching I-5
Corvallis is well-known for its bike-friendly infrastructure and has received gold ratings from the League of American Bicyclists. Its spacious bike lane network connects commercial and residential areas. The Corvallis Transit System (CTS) is a city bus that provides public transportation across the city. While Corvallis does not have direct access to a major interstate, state Route 34 leads to Interstate 5, about 10 miles east. State Route 99 transitions into a highway heading north into southwest Portland. The Eugene Airport (EUG) is about 35 miles south for select flights to regional and international cities.
Crime data and a Mediterranean climate
According to FBI data from 2023, Corvallis has a violent crime rate of 50 per 100,000 people, slightly less than the statewide average of 75. The property crime rate is 217 per 100,000, just higher than the Oregon average of 209.
The city experiences a Mediterranean climate with summer temperatures in the 80s and winter temperatures in the 30s. The region also sees over 40 inches of rain each year.
On average, homes in Corvallis, OR sell after 75 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Corvallis, OR over the last 12 months is $590,000, up 1% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
