Albany receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Eugene-Springfield
Albany
Opportunity
46 · Bottom 30%
vs46 · Bottom 30%
Growth
46 · Bottom 43%
vs56 · Top 40%
Climate
74 · Top 25%
vs68 · Top 44%
Physical resilience
29 · Bottom 19%
vs31 · Bottom 21%
Housing affordability
61 · Bottom 6%
vs72 · Bottom 14%
Access
84 · Top 35%
vs74 · Bottom 47%
Economic stability
56 · Top 44%
vs64 · Top 33%
Measured values
| Metric | Eugene-Springfield | Albany | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 384,207 | 130,706 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $71,544 | $76,329 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $39,088 | $34,924 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 84/sq mi | 57/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $430,600 | $376,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,355 | $1,320 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 59.7% | 66.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.4% | 5.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.5% | 0.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.0% | 21.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.3% | 13.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,276 | 235 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.3 | 1.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -3.7% | 27.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 79°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 35°F | 33°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 40.8" | 63.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 21 mi | 42 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.6 min | 26.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.3 | 40.1 | 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
Eugene-Springfield
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Albany
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Eugene-Springfield
57
Your Score
52
Area Score
Albany
59
Your Score
54
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Eugene-Springfield, OR Metro Area · Albany, OR Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology