Our Town
The city is a compact small town divided into various neighborhoods. We are 'flat landers', living near the center of town in a historic neighborhood. You can live in a newer part of town - in the foothills. If you look at a map of the city, you can draw an imaginary circle around downtown that represents a twenty-five minute walking circle. If you live within this walking circle, you can easily walk to shopping, dining and in-town activities. If you want to bike, we have a city-wide bike trail system and if you want to take the bus, Corvallis Transit operates six days a week.

Buying a house is typically done through a real estate agent. If you're looking for an older home in one of the historic neighborhoods, these homes sell quickly. For the non-Oregonians who are unaware of our land-use policies and regulations, be sure to check with the City of Corvallis planning department prior to purchasing any property. The real estate agents can help you navigate these waters. A few Corvallis agents can be found at Town & Country, Windermere, & Coldwell Banker.

The University is the crown jewel of the community. Between PAC-10 sports and cultural events, OSU enhances our quality of life.

Resources
Life in America's Small Cities characterizes our community well in their rating system. The book was published in 1990 but the metrics used to rate small cities have not changed greatly. We still have high housing prices, the same weather and location. In 2004, our community was ranked the tenth best place to live in America in Sanders and Sperling's Cities Ranked and Rated.

The Weather
People ask about the weather. It rains. In October, the great faucet in the sky opens up and we have 'Oregon Mist' from November until April. If you hate rain, try Arizona. If you like a moderate winter, complete with flowers and green grass, look us over. Click here to get current, local weather.