Thinking about moving to a mid-sized city in Oregon, but don’t know where to start? Oregon is home to many beautiful towns where you’ll find top-of-the-line amenities, without the sprawl and anonymity of a large metropolis. From coastal communities to historic towns, these 12 wonderful cities in Oregon are truly delightful:
- Astoria
flickr/ David Grant Located at the northwest tip of Oregon where the Columbia River meets the ocean, Astoria is a beautiful seaside city full of amazing history, lovely architecture, and vibrant culture. The population is just under 10,000.
- Ashland
flickr/ Al Case Ashland is a beautiful town in Jackson County with nearly 21,000 residents. Home of Southern Oregon University and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, this small city is a cultural hotspot.
- Newport
flickr/ Ben Grewell Newport is a beautiful city on the coast of Lincoln County. With just over 10,000 residents, Newport is home to incredible landmarks including the famous Yaquina Head Lighthouse, the Oregon Coast Aquarium, Rogue Brewery, and the stunning Nye Beach, among others.
- Medford
flickr/ John Hyun Located in Jackson County, this awesome city has a population of nearly 80,000. The city’s economy is mainly fueled by the two medical centers. The town is home to beautiful parks, a library, an arboretum, and more.
- Corvallis
wikipedia/ Gregkeene Located in Benton County, Corvallis (population 55,000) is a wonderful mid-sized city, and home to Oregon State University. Here you’ll find museums, libraries, cafes, galleries, farmers markets, and more.
- Cottage Grove
wikipedia/ Visitor7 Cottage Grove is an enchanting little city in Lane County with a population of 9,700. Cottage Grove is the “Covered Bridge Capital of Oregon,” and has six beautiful covered bridges. Here you’ll find a gold mining museum, a cute downtown, two golf courses, beautiful lakes, and murals throughout the city that depict the town’s history.
- Lake Oswego
flickr/ Rupak Anto This beautiful little city is located south of Portland in Clackamas County and has a population of 37,000. Lake Oswego has great schools, a golf course, parks, and the beautiful Oswego Lake, and it’s also close enough to Portland that one can easily access all of the bigger city’s amenities.
- Coos Bay
flickr/ Pat Kight With a population of 16,000, Coos Bay is the largest city on the coast. This scenic city is located in Coos County and has a vibrant downtown area, a boardwalk, museums, parks, and is home to two awesome music and art festivals in the summer.
- Baker City
flickr/ Ken Lund This charming little town in Baker County is surrounded by breathtaking scenery. With a population of 9,800, Baker City has an abundance of small town charm and a historical downtown.
- Silverton
wikipedia/ Gary Halvorson Located in Marion County, this lovely little city has a population of 9,300. The glittering Silver Creek flows through the charming downtown, and nearby is the amazing Silver Falls State Park. In town you’ll find the serene Oregon Garden, a Frank Lloyd Wright house that’s open to the public, a theater, farmers markets, and more.
- Bend
flickr/ Rhiannon Boyle Located in central Oregon on the Deschutes River, Bend is an incredible city with just over 76,000 residents. Bend is the perfect place for nature lovers and is surrounded with amazing scenery and outdoor recreation opportunities like rock climbing, hiking, rafting, skiing, and more. There is also a bustling downtown area with numerous amazing restaurants, and breweries.
- McMinnville
flickr/ Andy Nystrom Located in Yamhill County, McMinnville is a gorgeous mid-sized city with a population of roughly 33,000. McMinnville is located in Oregon’s beautiful wine country and is surrounded by rolling countryside, vineyards, and farms. This charming town is home to amazing farm-to-fork restaurants, galleries, parks, museums, and festivals in the summertime.
Of course, everyone has a different idea of “perfect” and there are countless wonderful cities in Oregon to check out. What are some other great mid-sized cities in Oregon?
flickr/ David Grant
Located at the northwest tip of Oregon where the Columbia River meets the ocean, Astoria is a beautiful seaside city full of amazing history, lovely architecture, and vibrant culture. The population is just under 10,000.
flickr/ Al Case
Ashland is a beautiful town in Jackson County with nearly 21,000 residents. Home of Southern Oregon University and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, this small city is a cultural hotspot.
flickr/ Ben Grewell
Newport is a beautiful city on the coast of Lincoln County. With just over 10,000 residents, Newport is home to incredible landmarks including the famous Yaquina Head Lighthouse, the Oregon Coast Aquarium, Rogue Brewery, and the stunning Nye Beach, among others.
flickr/ John Hyun
Located in Jackson County, this awesome city has a population of nearly 80,000. The city’s economy is mainly fueled by the two medical centers. The town is home to beautiful parks, a library, an arboretum, and more.
wikipedia/ Gregkeene
Located in Benton County, Corvallis (population 55,000) is a wonderful mid-sized city, and home to Oregon State University. Here you’ll find museums, libraries, cafes, galleries, farmers markets, and more.
wikipedia/ Visitor7
Cottage Grove is an enchanting little city in Lane County with a population of 9,700. Cottage Grove is the “Covered Bridge Capital of Oregon,” and has six beautiful covered bridges. Here you’ll find a gold mining museum, a cute downtown, two golf courses, beautiful lakes, and murals throughout the city that depict the town’s history.
flickr/ Rupak Anto
This beautiful little city is located south of Portland in Clackamas County and has a population of 37,000. Lake Oswego has great schools, a golf course, parks, and the beautiful Oswego Lake, and it’s also close enough to Portland that one can easily access all of the bigger city’s amenities.
flickr/ Pat Kight
With a population of 16,000, Coos Bay is the largest city on the coast. This scenic city is located in Coos County and has a vibrant downtown area, a boardwalk, museums, parks, and is home to two awesome music and art festivals in the summer.
flickr/ Ken Lund
This charming little town in Baker County is surrounded by breathtaking scenery. With a population of 9,800, Baker City has an abundance of small town charm and a historical downtown.
wikipedia/ Gary Halvorson
Located in Marion County, this lovely little city has a population of 9,300. The glittering Silver Creek flows through the charming downtown, and nearby is the amazing Silver Falls State Park. In town you’ll find the serene Oregon Garden, a Frank Lloyd Wright house that’s open to the public, a theater, farmers markets, and more.
flickr/ Rhiannon Boyle
Located in central Oregon on the Deschutes River, Bend is an incredible city with just over 76,000 residents. Bend is the perfect place for nature lovers and is surrounded with amazing scenery and outdoor recreation opportunities like rock climbing, hiking, rafting, skiing, and more. There is also a bustling downtown area with numerous amazing restaurants, and breweries.
flickr/ Andy Nystrom
Located in Yamhill County, McMinnville is a gorgeous mid-sized city with a population of roughly 33,000. McMinnville is located in Oregon’s beautiful wine country and is surrounded by rolling countryside, vineyards, and farms. This charming town is home to amazing farm-to-fork restaurants, galleries, parks, museums, and festivals in the summertime.
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