I think Corvallis is it for me.

[BruceM]

Corvallis and Davis are comparable in that both are highly rated for being bicycle friendly small cities. See the recent survey done by Bicycling magazine in which Davis ranked #1 and Corvallis #2 in bicycle infrastructure and the # of residents who commute by bicycle.
I have never been to Davis but isn't it in the Sacramento Valley? I would imagine the summers would be much hotter there than in Corvallis.

[frogcreekwoods]

Originally Posted by Steve97415

I would generally agree that Corvallis is a great place to live. Whether or not it is a good fit for any particular person is another matter. If you have school-aged children, then the benefits of the 509J school system constitute much of the reason for living there. For those without kids at home, it's still a great community, but there may be fewer payoffs to offset the dreary winter weather.

I realize this is a very old post, but can someone explain what a 509J school system is? We are considering a move to Corvallis with middle school aged children. The Corvallis schools get great ratings on greatschools.com. I would like to hear from someone who has children there now.

Also, along those lines, can someone tell me what family life is like in Corvallis? Where we are now the kids lives revolve around soccer and band/chorus/dramatics. We are more the hiking/biking/kayaking type, and think Corvallis might be a good fit for us in that way.

Also, is there alot of the suburbia "keeping up with the Joneses" there? Or does everyone kind of do there own thing?

Do most people in Corvallis work at OSU? What are the other major employers?

Sorry for so many questions! Thanks for any answers!

Ellie

[jjpop]

Originally Posted by frogcreekwoods

I realize this is a very old post, but can someone explain what a 509J school system is? We are considering a move to Corvallis with middle school aged children. The Corvallis schools get great ratings on greatschools.com. I would like to hear from someone who has children there now.

Also, along those lines, can someone tell me what family life is like in Corvallis? Where we are now the kids lives revolve around soccer and band/chorus/dramatics. We are more the hiking/biking/kayaking type, and think Corvallis might be a good fit for us in that way.

Also, is there alot of the suburbia "keeping up with the Joneses" there? Or does everyone kind of do there own thing?

Do most people in Corvallis work at OSU? What are the other major employers?

Sorry for so many questions! Thanks for any answers!

Ellie

The "509J" is just the alphanumeric code for the Corvallis School District. Nothing really mysterious about it. The Eugene School District is referred to as "4J", Greater Albany School District is "8J", etc.

You'll find a mix of both arts-focused families and outdoors-focused families in Corvallis.

There is really very little "keeping up with the Joneses" in Corvallis. In fact, many people consider driving their 20-year-old car as a badge of honor.

I think the largest employer is OSU, followed by the hospital/medical community. Hewlett Packard is next, then I think the Corvallis School District.

Good luck, and have jobs lined up before you move (unless you don't need to work or can work from home.)

[frogcreekwoods]

Originally Posted by jjpop

There is really very little "keeping up with the Joneses" in Corvallis. In fact, many people consider driving their 20-year-old car as a badge of honor.

LOL I love this. I think we may fit in well!

[frogcreekwoods]

Two other questions:

What's a reasonable rent for a 2-3 bedroom house in Corvallis?

What is the reputation of working at OSU?


Thanks for any info!

[strudel42]

Quick question:

When is the optimal time to search Corvallis for a rental? Would like to go out and stay a few days, drive around, and look for "FOR RENT" signs. Should I wait until school is out for the most places to be on the market? Is it just a crapshoot?

[jjpop]

Originally Posted by frogcreekwoods

Two other questions:

What's a reasonable rent for a 2-3 bedroom house in Corvallis?

What is the reputation of working at OSU?


Thanks for any info!

Rental costs can vary a lot based on location and amenities. I would not expect to find something for less than $1000/mo that would be worth living in. Prices go up from there. I think it would be less expensive in Albany or Philomath if you're interested in looking elsewhere.

OSU's repuatation as an employer could actually be pretty mixed depending on where you work on campus, but it's generally considered a great place to work. The wages can be low compared to the private sector, but benefits are quite good thanks to the strong union representation.

[jjpop]

Originally Posted by strudel42

Quick question:

When is the optimal time to search Corvallis for a rental? Would like to go out and stay a few days, drive around, and look for "FOR RENT" signs. Should I wait until school is out for the most places to be on the market? Is it just a crapshoot?

I think it depends on what you're looking for. If you want an apartment in town near campus, your best bet would be to come in late June. Students will have vacated for the summer. The next year's crop of students start arriving in mid- to late-July and usually have their housing secured by mid-August to early September.

But if you want to look around for rural rentals outside of Corvallis you could probably come earlier or later in the summer and find some selection.