Sweet Home is an unassuming city on the Santiam River. The foundation of this former logging town is a petrified forest where rock enthusiasts search for blue agate crystals. With a population of 10,000, Sweet Home draws potential homeowners to its abundant nature scenes between the Cascade Mountain Range and the Willamette National Forest. "We love it because it's a small-town vibe," says Lagea Mull, longtime resident and Executive Director at the Sweet Home Chamber of Commerce. "We're tucked away in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. Because of remote work, people can live in this beautiful place with lakes and hiking trails."
Sweet Home is surrounded by nature at the foothills of the Cascade Mountains.
The Santiam River runns along the north side of Sweet Home.
1/2
Custom-built homes by the river
Houses in Sweet Home sit on flat, fenced-in lots ranging from a few thousand square feet to 2-acre parcels. The most common architectural styles are Craftsman, New Traditional and ranch-style homes. Properties built around the 1950s are closer to Main Street, while modern custom homes are farther east on the outskirts of town, reaching 1,800 square feet closer to the South Santiam River. The median single-family price is $349,000, which is lower compared to the national median of $407,200. "Sweet Home doesn't have a lot, but it has enough. It's got a nice, country, small-town feel, and the surroundings are beautiful up in the hills," says Lisa Lang, Principal Broker at Premiere Property Group in Albany.
Many houses in Sweet Home are built on gridded streets with fenced lots.
Modern custom homes tend to be located on the east side of Sweet Home.
1/2
Lumber history and modern-day manufacturing
Because of the skyrocketing demand for lumber nationwide, Sweet Home was a boom town in the 20th century with sawmills and Oregon's oldest water-powered mill. Many of the city's logging operations closed in the 1980s. Residents commute to Albany's prominent employers, such as Samaritan Health Services, Linn Benton Community College and Greater Albany Public Schools, each employing over 1,000 people in Linn County.
Greater Albany Public Schools is prominent employer in the region drawing workers from neighboring Sweet Home.
Linn County Community College is a prominent employer in the region drawing employees from the vity of Albany and nearby Sweet Home.
1/2
Scenic waterfalls and lakeside recreation
Sweet Home has seven city parks, such as Sankey Park, which features walking paths and historic architecture like the covered Weddle Bridge, a pedestrian route above Ames Creek, which flows through the town center. The city's premier attractions are the scenic nature areas outside town. McDowell Creek Falls County Park is a forested hiking area with boardwalk paths and picturesque waterfalls. Another highlight is Lewis Creek Park, on the Foster Reservoir, a deep blue lake fed by the South Santiam River, with popular swimming holes and kayaking areas.
Lewis Creek Park is a Linn County Park located on the Foster Reservoir in Sweet Home.
McDowell Creek Falls County Park features several waterfalls and is roughly 15 minutes north of Sweet Home.
1/2
Historic downtown and country music at the Oregon Jamboree
U.S. Route 22 morphs into Main Street, the epicenter of a historic downtown lined with old-fashioned storefronts and restaurants. The town center is home to Mexican, Korean, Japanese and vegetarian restaurants. "I have to say the restaurants are all very good. They're top quality," Lang says. The Main Street supermarkets are Safeway and Thriftway, and local market-and-deli operations are abundant.
The Oregon Jamboree is a three-day country music festival that draws over 10,000 fans to Sweet Home each August. The stage has featured performers like Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood and Tim McGraw. Outside the festival season, the Rio Theatre is a vintage cinema that keeps residents entertained. "It is the most adorable movie theater, with recliners and a 1950s vibe," Mull says.
U.S. 22 morphs in Main Street in historic downtown Sweet Home.
Downtown Sweet Home features many taverns and locally owned restaurants.
1/2
Vocational courses and college credit at Sweet Home High
The Sweet Home School District serves over 2,000 students and earns a C-minus grade from Niche. The district’s athletic program boasts state championships in wrestling, girls swimming and cheerleading. Sweet Home High School offers courses for college credit and vocational study in business and auto mechanics.
Sweet Home High School offers courses for college credit and vocational study in business and auto mechanics.
The Sweet Home School District serves over 2,000 students and earns a C-minus grade from Niche.
1/2
Low rates of violent crime and a Mediterranean climate
According to FBI crime data, Sweet Home’s violent crime rate is below the state and national averages, while property crime is more frequent.
Sweet Home has a Mediterranean climate, with warm, dry summers and wet, foggy winters contributing to high annual rainfall. Some residential areas may be subject to flooding challenges from Ames Creek and the Santiam River.
I-5 and flying out of Eugene Airport
Sidewalks are a prominent feature, connecting many of Sweet Home’s suburban areas. Many residents require automobiles for transportation, although the Linn Shuttle offers fixed routes to Lebanon and Albany. Interstate 5 is a West Coast expressway about 20 miles east of Sweet Home, although there are alternate routes to the surrounding areas. Albany is a metropolitan area roughly 30 miles north, while Eugene is a major city around 45 miles south. The Eugene Airport-Mahlon Sweet Field (EUG) provides domestic flights to destinations like San Francisco, Las Vegas and Seattle.
We are aggressive, knowledgeable and quick to respond. We strive to provide complete care with your Real Estate Concerns thereby achieving our goal as Your Personal Real Estate Expert for Life! We have been very successful in our business and have a wide knowledge of the market and homes on the market. You would be making a wise move by using an aggressive team to buy or sell your home. As a home buyer you should take advantage of our expertise, market value knowledge and "Value Finds" within our purview. If you are looking to list a property, we have a very extensive marketing program that will give your home the exposure it needs to get sold quickly and seamlessly. We look Forward to working with you.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
