Corvallis receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Corvallis
Santa Fe
Opportunity
58 · Top 44%
vs49 · Bottom 36%
Growth
83 · Top 4%
vs61 · Top 32%
Climate
73 · Top 27%
vs62 · Bottom 38%
Physical resilience
50 · Bottom 43%
vs49 · Bottom 41%
Housing affordability
60 · Bottom 6%
vs67 · Bottom 10%
Access
83 · Top 36%
vs99 · Top 4%
Economic stability
50 · Top 50%
vs52 · Top 48%
Measured values
| Metric | Corvallis | Santa Fe | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 96,303 | 156,105 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $77,702 | $79,071 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $45,624 | $52,207 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 143/sq mi | 82/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $513,000 | $446,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,410 | $1,389 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 56.9% | 71.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.8% | 4.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.4% | -2.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 54.2% | 46.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 18.2% | 12.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 669 | 555 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 6.9 | 3.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 364.6% | 143.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 34°F | 20°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 41.5" | 10.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 28 mi | 10 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.0 min | 25.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 34.5 | 48.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Corvallis
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Santa Fe
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, earthquake.
Full profiles: Corvallis, OR Metro Area · Santa Fe, NM Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology