Oregon State University

UPDATE: Check out our new 2023 Best Cities to Live in the U.S. list.

#10. Corvallis

Corvallis, OR is located in the middle of the Willamette Valley, an hour from the ocean, 90 minutes from the mountains, and less than two hours from Portland, OR. The city is known for its unique blend of conservative values and alternative lifestyle, consistently landing a spot on lists like Top 100 Best Places to Live and previous Top 10 College Towns lists. The recently growing business climate is influenced by its top-rated educational institution, Oregon State University, which is renowned for its marine sciences, forestry and sustainable food systems programs.

Top industries in the city are educational services, health care, arts and entertainment, recreation, as well as manufacturing and retail. Top employers, besides OSU, include Samaritan Health Services and AVI BioPharma.

Folks come to Corvallis for the educational and career opportunities, but stay for the sense of community and civic engagement. An unusually high number of citizens have graduate degrees, which lends itself an opinionated and active community that shows up for city discussions such as sustainability.

Walkability, affordable cost of living and access to health care are just a few of the attractive amenities in Corvallis. The city has logistics covered, but is also home to a vibrant arts and entertainment scene.

In addition to being near the ocean, the city is surrounded by bountiful forests and extensive mountain ranges, so naturally hiking and biking are among the favorite outdoor activities by residents and visitors.


Read more about why Corvallis is a great place to live. 


 

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