Though residents may say that it’s the energetic Rogue River or the community-oriented culture that drives the growth of Grants Pass, the city’s downtown welcome sign asserts that “It’s the Climate,” which is sunnier and more temperate than the rainy weather Oregon is widely known for. “I kiddingly tell people that the first month we were here, one of the stories on the front page of the Grants Pass Daily Courier—it used to only be like six pages long—was ‘Deer hit on I-5,’” says Cheryl Claar, a greeter at the Downtown Welcome Center in Grants Pass who moved to the city in 1973. The city has since exploded into one with around 40,000 people, a lively downtown and a full calendar of well-attended events.
Healthcare is Grants Pass's largest industry. Around 12% of the city’s total employment consists of healthcare support positions, and the Asante Three Rivers Medical Center is one of its largest employers. Dutch Bros Coffee, a nationwide franchise, had its humble beginnings as a coffee cart in Grants Pass in 1992, where the publicly traded corporation’s headquarters are today.
Schroeder County Park has direct access to the Rogue River.
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Asante Three Rivers Medical Center is one of the largest employers in Grants Pass.
Dutch Brothers' company headquarters sits outside Merlin next to the Grants Pass Airport.
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Arts thrive during events like Alive at Five
Dozens of casual eateries, antique stores and art organizations make up Grant Pass’s historic downtown, anchored by 6th and 7th streets. Businesses offer extended hours, exclusive sales, live music and complimentary refreshments during First Friday Alive at Five, a monthly art walk. One of the art walk’s most consistent participants is the Grants Pass Museum of Art, which includes a permanent collection curated by its founders and Gallery One, a sales gallery with juried work from local artists.
Every summer, fiberglass bears decorated by local artists venture out to the sidewalks of downtown Grants Pass. A tradition created by the Evergreen Federal Bank in 2003, where 187 unique bears have found homes throughout the city, hibernating at a warehouse deemed the “Evergreen Bear Hotel” during the colder months. The city also hosts Art Along the Rogue, an annual weekend festival in October with live bands and chalky creations from local artists by the river. Grants Pass has a strong performing arts culture as well. The Historic Rogue Theatre was one of the few theaters built during the Great Depression. Though it originally opened as a cinema in 1938, it was reinvented as a live performance venue in 2000, having hosted comedians, cover bands and legendary musicians such as B.B. King.
Pita Pit is a local franchise favorite, serving lunch and dinner with Mediterranean flare.
The Laughing Clam is a brick-lined saloon for American eats, draft beer & cocktails.
Bears decorated by local artists can be found along the sidewalks of Grants Pass, Oregon.
The Historic Rogue Theater was built in downtown Grants Pass during the Great Depression.
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Rogue Valley wines and world-famous cheese
Downtown Grants Pass also celebrates the surrounding region’s agricultural and viticultural significance. The Grants Pass Growers Market fills the air with scents of ripe, local produce, gourmet herbs and natural, handmade beauty products on Saturday mornings during the spring and summer. Wine enthusiasts can sample varietals from the Rogue Valley during the Downtown Wine Stroll. “The whole valley has exploded in wines,” Claar says. “We have some really good wineries. We also have Rogue Creamery cheese.” The nearby creamery was named a world champion at the 2019-20 World Cheese Awards for its Rogue River Blue. “They even beat France,” she says. “We have some really great businesses and really great people.”
Downtown Grants Pass Oregon is the region's center for retail and dining.
You can find some of Southern Oregon's freshest produce at the Grants Pass Grower Market.
The Grants Pass Growers Market is the perfect place to grab produce or flowers for the week.
Rogue Creamery was named a world champion for their cheese at the World Cheese Awards.
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Riverside Park on the Rogue River
One of the most distinguishing aspects of Grants Pass is the Rogue River; its rapids allow for some of the region’s most popular outdoor hobbies, like whitewater rafting and salmon fishing. At Riverside Park, the scenic waterfront serves as a backdrop and also has a disc golf course.
The waterfront park is also home to Boatnik, a 65-year-old festival that spans Memorial Day Weekend. Festivities begin with the Davis Shows Carnival—complete with food and rides—while other highlights include live music, fireworks and whitewater hydroplane boat races on the Rogue River.
The Rogue River is a major part of the Redwood neighborhood.
Riverside Park is a public park in Grants Pass, Oregon.
Indian Mary Park has access to the Rogue River, complete with boat launch and fishing.
Disc golf is a popular activity at Riverside Park in Grants Pass.
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Grants Pass real estate market mimics national trends
The housing market consists of cottages from the middle of the 20th century and new traditional builds constructed after the turn of the 21st century, along with several ranch-style homes. Real estate market trends in Grants Pass follow those of the nation overall. The median home sales price in the city hovers around $419,000, which is slightly above the countrywide median of $407,200. The median in Medford—the closest metro area—is almost $415,000. Home values in Grants Pass are appreciating; the median home sales price has trended upward by 2% every year.
The Redwood area gets views of the Klamath Mountains.
Pleasant Valley contains ranch-style houses and contemporary Craftsman-inspired homes.
Large estates can be found throughout New Hope.
Residents of Merlin Oregon will find furry friends and wildlife visiting your entire orror.
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High school performing arts center plays a community role
Grants Pass School District 7 earns a B-plus grade from Niche which serves 12 schools and around 5,700 students. Like in the surrounding city, Grants Pass public schools also invest in the arts; the Grants Pass High School Performing Arts Center (PAC) has two venues—one with 730 seats and another with 105—as well as a drama room that can be converted into a black box theater. “They came up with a world-class performing arts center. Half of the events there are for the community, like when the [Rogue Valley Symphony] plays for fundraisers,” says Hyla Lipson, the Executive Director of the Grants Pass Museum of Art. “It’s well-known and well-loved.”
The Three Rivers School District receives a C grade and serves the surrounding county. Rogue Community College’s Grants Pass campus is also nearby, offering more than 80 career and technical education programs.
Grants Pass High School offers Award winning career and technical programs.
Manzanita Elementary School serves over 300 students yearly.
Fleming Middle School serves over 330 students yearly from grades 6th - 8th grade.
North Valley High School serves over 400 students from 9th - 12th grade.
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Downside of a sunny, dry climate is wildfire
Grants Pass residents enjoy a mild climate—one that is much drier and sunnier than the northern, more populous parts of the state. Because of the dry climate and the surrounding forested areas, the city may be at a higher risk of potential wildfires. The city website provides fire prevention techniques, like a guide on fire-resistant landscaping. Additionally, open fires are prohibited for homeowners outside of nine specified days during the year. Properties along the Rogue River are also potentially at risk of flooding, particularly during periods of heavy rain or snow melt.
Crime rates in Grants Pass are slightly above the national average. In 2022, almost 423 violent crimes were reported per 100,000 residents in the city, compared to roughly 381 reports per 100,000 people nationwide. During the same year, about 4,034 property crimes were reported per 100,000 residents in Grants Pass, compared to 1,954 per 100,000 in the country overall. Property crime in the city increased by around 19% between 2020 and 2023, and violent crime trended upward by about 5%.
Interstate 5 connects to Medford, Eugene and Portland
Interstate 5 passes through northeast Grants Pass and travels south through Medford—about 30 miles away—and into California. In the north, the interstate connects to Eugene, Salem and, ultimately, Portland. The Josephine Community Transit system is easy to follow because each route serves its own cardinal sector. For example, Route 10 serves the northern part of the city, Route 40 the west, and so forth. All four major bus routes intersect at the city center and provide connecting stops.
I am born and raised in Medford Oregon and have a deep love for Southern Oregon and everything it has to offer. Having watched as this community has grown and changed I have a new appreciation for the beauty of the area and the dynamic qualities it provides. From once open fields to developed areas teeming with new amenities and luxuries, I have watched as new housing continues to bring families and growth to this once small community. With over 18 years of sales experience, I know what it takes to deliver on a great customer experience; accessibility, follow up and follow through. Communication is one of my most diligent qualities, one that everyone looks for in a good realtor, with a commitment to helping you find a home or selling my goal is to build a long standing relationship. Striving to treat each client the way I would want to be treated, I am committed to working alongside clients to help them each step of the way. I am married to my husband Jeff, another Southern Oregon native. We have two very active sons, Ryder and Levi. My husband and his unparalleled support has allowed me the opportunity to pursue a passion in Real Estate, and allows for the flexibility to be with my boys and husband and truly enjoy our free time together. In my free time I enjoy camping, our local wineries and wathcing my boys play sports... Baseball, Football and Hockey. You can ofhten times find me at baseball tournaments or at the local ice rink watching hockey.
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.
