Eugene vs. Corvallis? (Philomath, Donald, Cove: appointed, for sale, unemployment)

[Steve97415]

Originally Posted by Deserter

I'm hoping the fact that I speak Spanish and have experience working with English learners will help me get hired in OR. I keep reading people talking about the influx of immigrants to the state.

What are the factors that make you rate Corvallis so much higher than Eugene? Traffic? Air quality? Or?

mod cut(English only)

I would rate Corvallis considerably higher on overall livability. It has better schools, WAY better city planning, less crime and better air and water quality than Eugene. Also better outdoor recreation opportunities. It is a perfect size and because of the university, it has many of the amenities one would find in a much larger city. Corvallis is off the I-5 corridor. That makes it unattractive for the establishment of heavy industry and at the same time, gives the place a special hometown quality that enhances livability. People there also have the neighborliness and openess characteristic of folks in smaller cities. The proportion of the citizenry that is well-educated in Corvallis is astoundingly high (perhaps not surprising considering that the university, Hewlett Packard, CH2M Hill and Good Samaritan Hospital are the major employers). It is politically progressive without the anachronistic hippie die-hards that are trying to hold on to the '60's in Eugene. It is also much more centrally located: Eugene to the south, Albany to the east, Salem and Portland to the north. Eugene is really the southernmost city in the Willamette Valley and there isn't much south of there until you get to the Rogue River Valley.
The best things about Eugene are easily experienced by visiting on day trips. The best things about Corvallis are only experienced by living there.

[Deserter]

mod cut(English only)

Really the main reasons for leaning towards Eugene are more job opportunities (I hope) and my fiancee's affection for cities. (He grew up in Houston and lived in Sacramento.) Plus, I find those "anachronistic hippie die-hards" kind of cute. Eugene didn't appear to be too congested when we visited but maybe we didn't see the problem areas.



On the negative side for Eugene, I've never lived in a city only suburbs of them. I'm also mildly asthmatic.



Corvallis is lovely, but how far will I need to travel to find work? With all the highly-qualified competition, I'm not sure I could get hired.



Thanks for your input, Steve. I find your posts to be always informative and reasonable.

[hbm]

ANyone know how easy it is to bike on trails in Corvallis? Does one have to drive to them? or is it easy to get there from town on one's bike? I am considering a move there to raise our tiny kids and am used to Santa cruz, where I can jump on a bike and be on a mountain trail in minutes .

[Carpost]

I also want to move to Oregon and I am trying to decide between Corvallis and Eugene. Any additional comments about a preference for one over the other would be greatly appreciated.

[jjpop]

The other posts summed up the differences pretty succinctly. Size is the big difference, both population and area. Also Corvallis is generally more expensive (median house price of $323k vs Eugene at $257k). The university has a much larger footprint and cultural influence in Corvallis because of the smaller size.

If you haven't used C-D's search function, you should give it a try and see past questions and answers about Eugene vs. Corvallis.

[Dangerous Dave]

Eugene has more crime, the downtown is full of burnouts and tweakers. Corvallis is much nicer and as far as rain/snow, the snow is almost non existent and the rain is just a drizzle. There aren't any downpours like you'd see in the east.

[oregon911]

I like Corvallis better between the two but most people seem to prefer Eugene.

[therese marie]

Originally Posted by oregon911

I like Corvallis better between the two but most people seem to prefer Eugene.

Can I ask you why?? We have plans to possibly move to southern Eugene in the summer ♥

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Originally Posted by therese marie

Can I ask you why?? We have plans to possibly move to southern Eugene in the summer ♥

I don't really know why some people prefer Eugene, but Eugene is a lot bigger, so I assume has more shopping and more events. Eugene is more crunchy granola than Corvallis is and more socialist, which some folks like. I hope I don't get tarred and feathered for saying it, but Eugene has a better football team. Or at least more often winning, if that means better, and they are very well dressed.

Corvallis has a small town feel and a lot of folks prefer to live in a city and Eugene has that city feel to it.

[Bees46]

Corvallis is nice, but there's a lot more to do in Eugene.