Corvallis? (Eugene, Salem, Hillsboro: rentals, condo, houses)

[sushi66]

My goodness, I'm having a hard time making up my mind where to try out living first...

1. A smaller town (less than 20k) appeals to me, with your basic conveniences and within an hour or so of a larger city.
2. Tendency toward educated folks (so am thinking college town), less conservative is ideal but I know this is hard to expect in a small Oregon town!
3. Not much snow, and not too many days over 85 degrees.
4. Commute is not an issue, working at home.
5. Schools are not an issue other than better schools usually = better community.
6. Would love to spend less than $1000/month on a 2-3 bd/2 ba house or condo. Will rent for a while before deciding where to buy.
7. Safe. Not too many meth labs in the neighborhood. ;-)

These are the areas I'm considering:
1. Forest Grove, maybe Hillsboro for now since its a little cheaper and there are tons of rentals (I realize Hillsboro is more than 20k people).
2. Banks?
3. McMinnville
4. Yamhill? I'm told Carlton is kinda yucky.
5. Salem/Silverton/small town nearby?
6. Corvallis/small town nearby? I see the rents are pretty cheap.
7. I'd crossed off Eugene because A) I read that it is the allergy capital of the country, with the pollens getting caught in the valley B) Its larger C) It has its share of not so nice neighborhoods D) Its pretty hot in the summer. Do you agree?

[Steve97415]

Originally Posted by sushi66

7. I'd crossed off Eugene because A) I read that it is the allergy capital of the country, with the pollens getting caught in the valley B) Its larger C) It has its share of not so nice neighborhoods D) Its pretty hot in the summer. Do you agree?

Eugene is in the Willamette Valley, but so are all the other prospects on your list. With regard to climate (summer heat, snow, etc.) and allergy liability, there won't be a significant difference between any of the places you mentioned. You probably don't want Eugene or Salem because they are bigger cities. How important is being close to a bigger city to you? If you don't mind a smaller city in a remote area there may be other possibilities.

Number 1 and number 2 on your list are somewhat mutually exclusive; you'll find more progressives in cities than in smaller towns. If you're looking for some redneck repellent, I'd include the existence of a college or university as a criterion. Nothing is more unsettling to the conservative mind than the threat of it getting broadened. Corvallis is always a safe choice.

[tablemtn]

Towns in the Willamette Valley usually have a heatwave or two during the summer. There were days in 2008 in Corvallis where the high temperature was 103/104, which is higher than what you seem to want. But they pass after a while.

[Donaldo]

Originally Posted by Steve97415

If you're looking for some redneck repellent, I'd include the existence of a college or university as a criterion. Nothing is more unsettling to the conservative mind than the threat of it getting broadened.

Let me guess, you think conservatives are...prejudiced and narrow minded? Like people who use terms like "rednecks" and absolutes like "Nothing is more unsettling to the conservative mind than the threat of it getting broadened"?

[Silverfall]

All of those cities have very different cultures.

Salem is around 150,000 people. So it is well over your amount.

Silverton is a great community. They have a transgender mayor and the mayor will tell you that the politics of Silverton are split evenly between conservatives and liberals. They have a lot of community festivals and the population is around 9,000 people.

Carlton and Yamhill are much smaller towns in the heart of wine country. They are more agriculturally based. Much different feel than Silverton.

Corvallis houses OSU so it has that college bent to it.

I think that you are going to just have to visit all of the cities and decide what feels right to you. These cities are all very different.

You may also want to consider Sublimity or Scio.

[Leap of Belief]

I would also add Monmouth to your list. It is just 15-20 minutes from Salem. :-) Good luck!

[NightBazaar]

Some other places around the Mid-Willamette Valley to think about:
Corvallis was already mentioned.
Albany
Lebanon
Philomath
Sweet Home

South of Eugene-Springfield:
Creswell
Cottage Grove

Regarding Eugene, I wouldn't say it gets much more pollens than elsewhere around the Valley. You're also likely to find more pollens around the Mid-Willamette Valley than in the south around Eugene-Springfield.

Although nearly all places around the Valley can have a few scorchers during the summer, they don't usually last long. Overall, summer temps tend to reasonably moderate.

[haggardhouseelf]

Corvallis has the Chipotle!! That would be the deciding factor for us if we had the choice.



OK... seriously... Corvallis and Eugene are both great college towns, but they don't seem to fit your desire for smaller (less than 20K population) places.

If I could live anywhere in Oregon, and I didn't want snow, I'd look along the coast. I'd probably end up somewhere near yachats, or down by Bandon.

But we like snow... and we also like the coast... we like the sun and we like the rain... so we really like being in the Valley because it's the perfect base camp for whatever you feel like doing that day!

I love Oregon. Good luck with your search!

[haggardhouseelf]

Originally Posted by Donaldo

Let me guess, you think conservatives are...prejudiced and narrow minded? Like people who use terms like "rednecks" and absolutes like "Nothing is more unsettling to the conservative mind than the threat of it getting broadened"?

[Jey K]

Bump this thread - thinking of taking a healthcare-related job in Corvallis.