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Living in Coos Bay Oregon - EVERYTHING You Need to Know

Cape Arago Lighthouse, Near Coos Bay Oregon

What is Living in Coos Bay Oregon Like?

The Oregon Coast's largest town, Coos Bay, sits 116 miles southwest of Eugene and 222 miles southwest of Oregon's biggest city, Portland. With a population of around 16,000 people a the time of writing, Coos Bay, is the medical, education, and professional epicenter for Oregon's south coast region. 

The city of Coos Bay offers a wide variety of recreation opportunities. There are several parks in the area, including Mingus Park, Sunset Bay State Park, Golden and Silver Falls State Natural Area, Bullards Beach State Park, and Shore Acres State Park. The Lower Empire Lake, Upper Empire Lake, and Middle Empire Lake provide boating and fishing facilities. Tourists can also visit the Coos Historical and Maritime Museum. Visit downtown Coos Bay's Art Museum for world-class exhibits. Enjoy the nationally acclaimed Oregon Coast Music Festival in July. Visit the annual holiday lights display with over 200,000 lights at nearby Shore Acres State Park in December. Coos Bay's downtown farmer's market on Wednesdays is popular with Coos Bay residents and visitors from March through October. With the ocean just a few miles away, the Bay, and abundant coastal rivers and forests, residents enjoy great fishing and a wide variety of outdoor activities.

With the lower cost of living, wonderful beaches, state parks, nature preserves, mild winters and summers, and friendly people, you might find living in Coos Bay, Oregon, is a good choice for you. Read on to find out about Coos Bay neighborhoods, some tips and info about living in Coos Bay, and get some answers to FAQs about living in Coos Bay, Oregon, to see if living in Coos Bay is a good fit  for you!

Are You Considering Buying a Home in Coos Bay Oregon?

Would you like to buy a home in Coos Bay, Oregon? Let our team of trusted professionals help you buy or/and sell a home in the Coos Bay area. To connect with a local expert/real estate professional in Coos Bay, Oregon, to help you navigate your home buying journey, CLICK HERETo start receiving emails with homes that match your criteria, CLICK HERE and sign up for Listing Alert. With a little info on what, where, and how much, you'll get newly listed homes matching your criteria sent to your inbox as they hit the market. This can give you a big leg up in your home search.

The first step in the home-buying process is getting pre-approved for a mortgage. Todd Davidson is an experienced mortgage broker and can help you get the best financing option for your home purchase. Not quite ready yet? Todd can help you put together a plan to get you there. Whether you're thinking a few months or a year or more if you want to buy a home, reach out to Todd and he can help. CLICK HERE to email Todd and set up a call to get the process started or just call at 971-275-2465. 

Todd Davidson Headshot.JPG

Todd Davidson

Mortgage Broker

Coos Bay Oregon Neighborhoods

Coos Bay, Oregon is a city with several distinct neighborhoods, each with its own unique character and features. If considering moving to Coos Bay, here are some of the neighborhoods that make the town a great place to live:

  • Empire District: This neighborhood is located in the southern part of Coos Bay and is known for its historic charm. It is home to the Empire Lakes and the Coos Historical and Maritime Museum.

  • Mingus Park: This neighborhood is situated around the picturesque Mingus Park and features many beautiful homes and tree-lined streets.

  • Telegraph Hill: This neighborhood is located on a hill overlooking the bay and offers stunning views of the ocean. It is known for its quiet streets and upscale homes.

  • Eastside: This neighborhood is situated on the eastern side of Coos Bay and features many small, affordable homes and apartments. It is a popular area for families and young professionals.

  • Downtown: Coos Bay's downtown area features many unique shops, restaurants, and attractions. It is a lively and bustling neighborhood with a mix of residential and commercial properties.

  • Bunker Hill: This neighborhood is located on a hill overlooking downtown Coos Bay and offers stunning views of the city and the bay. It is known for its large homes and quiet streets.

  • Barview: This neighborhood is located just south of Coos Bay and is known for its beaches and outdoor activities. It is a popular area for tourists and retirees.

If moving to Coos Bay, Oregon, and you'd like to buy a home in one of these fabulous neighborhoods, CLICK HERE to sign up for LISTING ALERT and get notified when homes matching your criteria hit the market in Coos Bay. To connect with a local realtor, CLICK HERE. One of the most important decisions you'll make when moving to Coos Bay, Oregon, is picking an experienced realtor who can help you get the house you want at the best price. At living in Oregon, we work with the best realtors throughout the state and can help you get the right realtor to make your move and home purchase as easy as possible.

Living in Coos Bay Oregon Tips/Info/Blog Posts

Helpful Tips for Moving to Oregon and Buying a Home

NEW BLOG ALERT SIGN UPCLICK HERE

WANT TO KNOW WHEN A HOME MATCHING YOUR CRITERIA GETS LISTED? SIGN UP FOR LISTING ALERT > CLICK HERE

REALTOR CONNECTCLICK HERE

DOWNLOAD FREE HOMEBUYERS GUIDECLICK HERE

DOWNPAYMENT ASSISTANCE INFO > CLICK HERE

OREGON BOOKS AND OTHER RESOURCES > CLICK HERE

Living in Coos Bay Oregon Pros & Cons

Living Coos Bay Oregon Pros

  1. Coastal location: Coos Bay is located on the coast of Oregon, providing residents with easy access to beautiful beaches, fishing, and other water activities.

  2. Mild climate: The climate in Coos Bay is mild and pleasant, with cool summers and mild winters. The area receives plenty of rain, which helps to keep the surrounding landscape lush and green.

  3. Affordable cost of living: The cost of living in Coos Bay is relatively low compared to other coastal cities in the region. Housing prices are reasonable, and there are many affordable rental options available.

  4. Natural beauty: Coos Bay is surrounded by natural beauty, including the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, which features miles of dunes and hiking trails. The area also has several state parks, lakes, and forests that offer a range of outdoor recreational opportunities.

  5. Small-town feel: Despite being the largest city on the Oregon coast, Coos Bay has a small-town feel. The community is close-knit and friendly, with many local events and festivals throughout the year.

Living in Coos Bay Oregon Cons

  1. Limited job opportunities: Coos Bay is a relatively small city, and job opportunities in some industries may be limited. Many residents work in the fishing or timber industries, but other industries may have fewer job openings.

  2. Isolation: Coos Bay is located on the coast of Oregon, which means it is somewhat isolated from larger cities. The nearest major city, Eugene, is over 100 miles away.

  3. Weather: While the mild climate in Coos Bay can be pleasant, the area can also be prone to rain and fog. This can make outdoor activities more challenging during certain times of the year.

  4. Natural disasters: The coast of Oregon is prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis. While the risk is relatively low, it is something that residents should be aware of.

  5. Limited cultural amenities: Coos Bay is a relatively small city with fewer cultural amenities than larger cities. Some local art galleries and theaters exist, but residents may need to travel to larger towns to experience more cultural offerings.

Whiskey Run beach ocean waves Oregon Landscape, near Bandon and Coos Bay

FAQs About Moving to and Living in Coos Bay Oregon

What is Coos Bay, Oregon, known for? 

Visiting or living in Coos Bay, Oregon, you'll find it's known as "Oregon's Adventure Coast," along with North Bend and Charleston. One of the biggest adventures in the area has to be the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Sporting the largest expanse of coastal dunes in North America, the Oregon dunes stretch approximately 40 miles from Florence, Oregon, in the North, down to Coos Bay in the south. Visited by people around the world, the Oregon Dunes are a must for anyone visiting or living in Coos Bay, Oregon.

What cities are nearby Coos Bay, Oregon?

If visiting or living in Coos Bay, Oregon, some of the closest cities are Coquille - 18 Miles, Bandon - 24 Miles, Reedsport - 27 Miles, Florence - 48 Miles, Eugene - 116 Miles, Portland - 222 Miles.

What is the weather like in Coos Bay, Oregon?

With 64 inches of rain a year, on average, you'll find living in Coos Bay, Oregon, to be one of the drier spots on the Oregon Coast. With rain 153 days out of the year and sun 186 days, you'll find the summers comfortable and dry, rarely getting above 73°F, and winters cold, wet, and cloudy, rarely dipping below 32°F. The weather living in Coos Bay, Oregon, is pretty mild compared to other towns on the Oregon Coast.

What is the cost of living in Coos Bay, Oregon, like?

The cost of living in Coos Bay, Oregon, is lower than in other spots on the Oregon Coast but still not cheap. Factoring in housing, transportation, utilities, food, healthcare, other necessities, and taxes, you need to make around $42,000 a year to live in Coos Bay, Oregon, and rent a home. If you're looking to move to Coos Bay and buy a home, you'll need to make at least $62,000 a year. For more info on the cost of living on the Oregon Coast and its various cities, including how we calculated, check out my blog post, "The REAL Cost of Living on the Oregon Coast."

What are home prices like if I'm thinking of moving to Coos Bay, Oregon?

If looking to move to Coos Bay, Oregon, you'll find home prices pretty modest compared to the rest of the Oregon Coast. Prices go up to well over $1,000,000 for nicer homes with views. There's a decent supply of homes in the $400,000 to $500,000 range.

What is there to do and see in Coos Bay, Oregon?

There's a lot to do and see if visiting or living in Coos Bay, Oregon. Check out these attractions!: Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, Elliott State Forest, Cape Arago State Park, Shore Acres State Park, Mingus Park, Coos History Museum & Maritime Collection, Coos Art Museum, Bastendorff Beach and the Coos Bay Boardwalk. After all that exploring, you better grab a brew! Check out 7 Devils Brewing and Walt's Pour House. 

I'm thinking of retiring in Coos Bay, Oregon. Is it a good idea?

The Oregon Coast is a popular option for retirees. Retiring in Coos Bay, Oregon, would be a great idea, especially in light of the cost of living in Coos Bay, Oregon, being a little lower than other towns on the Oregon Coast. Mix in an abundance of outdoor recreation and less rain than other towns on the coast, and living in Coos Bay, Oregon, might be a good fit for you. 

How is the healthcare in Coos Bay, Oregon?

Living in Coos Bay, Oregon, puts you near the largest hospital on the Oregon Coast. With 134 beds the Bay Area Hospital in Coos Bay is a level III trauma center and would likely be able provide you with most of your medical needs. If looking for a specialist and can't find them in the Coos Bay area, you're around 110 miles away from the states seventh largest hospital, in Springfield, Oregon, which is close to three times the size.

 

I want to move to Coos Bay, Oregon. How do I make that happen?

If you're considering moving to Coos Bay, Oregon, we're here to help! The information on this website, including the helpful links below, should give you some good information to aid your research. If you want to ask questions, try our Facebook Group > Moving to Oregon, where we have a broad group of locals and Oregon transplants to answer any question you might have. If you're looking to buy a home in Coos Bay or other communities on the Oregon Coast, getting pre-approved for a mortgage should be your first step. For Mortgage Info, reach out to me. I specialize in working with people moving to Oregon and the Coos Bay area and would love to help you buy a home and move to Coos Bay, Oregon.

For FAQs about moving to Oregon or living in Oregon, check out my blog, 31 FAQs About Living in Oregon. For more information about living in Oregon, check out the homepage of LIVING IN OREGON.

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