Ashland or Corvallis?

[Kerrytravelers]

Is you were to choose between either of these two cities, which would you pick and why?

Mr. kt and I are seriously thinking of leaving Los Angeles. We'd like a more affordable lifestyle, that is true, but also, we're tired of this aggressive, uber-ruthlessness that prevails. Quite frankly, living around that is changing who we fundamentally are as people. We're always been in love with the Pacific Northwest. Ashland would put us 4.5 hours from my parents. Corvallis would be a bit further. I'm in education, my husband is in marketing, currently working for an Internet company.

Advice?

[OregonDem]

1. Thats a tough one, they are both great places to live

I went to OSU in Corvallis to get my business degree and I loved it. I now live in a nice part of Salem but would love to move back to Corvallis. Corvallis has also been ranked in the top 10 places to live in the US on several occasions. Ashland is a beautiful town that is very progressive, it is surrounded by high mountains and lots of the green forests that Oregon is famous for. Me and my wife go there to attend the chocolate festival they have there every year and want to attend the Shakespearean theater this year also. Its a tough call but I would probably choose Ashland. You should know that there was a lot of anti-California sentiment here because of people moving from there to Oregon however this has died down a lot since it peaked in the 1970's. It has never really bothered me that people want to live here because I can understand why people would want to move here. It does bug me a little bit tho when people who are new here don't pronounce Oregon correctly; its "Orygun".

[Kerrytravelers]

2. I can understand anti-California sentiment.

We are, in effect, raising the price of housing. Mr. kt and I aren't flooding there to be, as I read on another post regarding Californian's moving to Oregon, "equity refugees." We're moving with the intention of staying.

Mr, kt is looking at a job in Medford. How is that area?

Here is our short list:

Portland
Eugene
Ashland
Carvallis
Medford
Newport
Bend


Feel free to remark as you see fit on any and all of there. We're really wanting honest advice.

Thanks!

kt

[exlrrp]

9. OraGIN? OraGON? OraGUN? ORAgun?

I'd sure like to get this straight--Ive heard people here say it all these ways. I always say OAR-a-gun but there's a lot of difference here, even among natives

[insanity]

13. ORYgun

[Stargazer09]

19. No!

I'm sorry, but ORYgun (OR-EE-gun?) isn't how we pronounce it. OAR-a-gun is about right. Maybe things are different along the coast, but I've never met any Oregonian who pronounces it ORYgun.

Maybe I led a sheltered life.

:hi:

[jrandom421]

21. Forget Ashland!

Despite it's progressive patina and touristy glitz, Ashland is still a snarky, backstabbing, old-boys network, small town. Where else could the brother of the biggest company in the County's CEO become mayor for several terms, and be one of the biggest property owners in the county? Several years ago, Jackson county was the stronghold of the Oregon chapter of the Klan. After having lived there for 5 years, I can testify that, while the sheets and cross burnings have gone underground, the prevailing attitude hasn't.

[0rganism]

3. tough call there

You're likely to find plenty of education jobs in Corvallis, but Ashland has tons of improbable culture. Even if you end up in Medford, which is basically Ashland's evil conjoined twin, you can still have fun, but you may have to look a bit harder for it.

I noticed you were also considering Newport and Eugene -- great choices, both of them, but very different from one another. Deciding whether or not you really like to live on the coast should be your first step.

Portland is an obvious option, but it might not be different enough from LA in terms of ruthlessness and congestion. I mean, sure, it's nowhere near as fast-paced or dense packed, but you are moving all the way up here for a change of pace. You may as well aim smaller and quieter.

[LWolf]

4. Tough choice.

I love both, and you'd probably be happy either way. Why not see where the jobs are, and let that be your guide?

If you'd like to live in a University town, you'll need to answer the paramount question: Are you a Duck or Beaver fan? :P

[Kerrytravelers]

5. In the end, where Mr. kt lands a job will be the final deciding factor.

Ducks or Beavers... hummm... that's a tough one.


I'm a Trojan!!!!!!!! (BA and MA- double the loyalty!)

[LWolf]

6. And I'm a Bruin, lol.

At least a fan; I didn't attend either, but spending 40 years in LA county will do that!

[Kerrytravelers]

7. UCLA? Oh, no... not fucla!

:rofl: :rofl:

[murphymom]

8. A couple of comments about Ashland

I've never lived there, but I've gone to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival on and off for the last 30 or so years. The festival has made Ashland a major destination, especially during the summer and it's an important economic engine driving the area. (8-1/2 month season, 3 theatres, annual attendance around 360,000 - see website http://www.osfashland.org/about/). I like Ashland a lot, but whether you would want to be in a tourist town might be something to consider - my only reservation. I haven't checked real estate prices recently in either city, but I'm guessing that you may find Ashland closer to "California" prices than Corvallis. It seems to be turning into northern Northern California (I'm a former Californian myself, moved 6 years ago from the Bay Area.) I think the weather in the Rogue Valley is dryer and hotter in the summer than our weather up in the Willamette Valley. I think they are more likely to get a little snow, too.

Both cities could be good choices.

[Bullwinkle925]

16. Hi Murphymom ...

I, too, am in the Bay Area and am thinking of moving to Oregon in the future. I've looked in Bend and am also putting both Eugene and Portland on my list.
Your input would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[insanity]

10. I've lived in both

I live in Ashland, and now am an Oregon State University student (GO BEAVS!!!). Honestly, Ashland has lost its charm as it is becoming a retirement community and increasingly conservative. However, Corvallis is also conservative but it is close to Portland and Eugene and is a fun town. Overall though, I'd recomend you look at some of the outlying areas of Ashland because house ownership costs an arm and a leg here these days, and land in phoneix and talent is still dirt cheap.

[Blue Topaz]

11. Corvallis is conservative????

I definitely don't agree with that statement. Corvallis reliably leans left, and overall, I think it's hard to beat. Nice midsize college town, thriving downtown/riverfront, an hour or two from Portland, Eugene, the coast, and the mountains, one of the most biycle-friendly towns in the country, well-educated and involved citizens.

Good luck!

[insanity]

12. Well,

When I was downtown today I saw many Saxton signs, a sizeable percent of the student body leans conservative, it is a big ag-bussiness town with a lot of traditional conservative farmers. Sure, Corvallis also has its leftest leanings and is a beautiful city, but compared to Ashland (or Eugene) Corvallis is more conservative.

[ploppy]

15. I agree with BT!

Corvallis conservative? Not the county commission, not the mayor, not most of the city council. There may be Saxton signs out - in all of the usual places - early - just like always. The proof is in the voter records. Check them out at the courthouse.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

14. I loved living in Corvallis

If OSU had given me a tenure-track job (and tenure, of course), I'd still be there.

[CabalPowered]

22. I loved Corvallis as well

I was at HP and got laid off but it's a great place to live. :thumbsup:

[sparerib]

17. Corvallis or Ashland

I moved from the Ventura area to Corvallis in July, after having lived in SoCal for 30 years. I'm retired and wanted a slower pace of life and to escape the asphalt jungle. I selected Corvallis because: population has highest educational level of Oregon cities, good size (53,000+), small town atmosphere, friendly people, majority of people are liberal and care about the environment, lots of community activities, vibrant downtown, "big" cities (Salem and Eugene) are close by for airport access and shopping. I love it here. I can't say anything bad about Ashland--I considered it but it's expensive and caters to tourism. Ashland also gets hot in the summertime.

[grasswire]

18. MORE Californians?

I gotta warn you that many Oregon natives don't cotton to the number of Californians who have fled their own state for Oregon. Californians have changed Oregon in some ways that natives found undesireable. You oughta know that attitude exists here and there.

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

20. I guess the Native Americans would have something to say,

too.

Who gets to lock the door? Just wondering.