Eugene receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Springfield
Eugene
Opportunity
42 · Bottom 21%
vs47 · Bottom 29%
Growth
46 · Bottom 43%
vs56 · Top 39%
Climate
74 · Top 35%
vs74 · Top 35%
Physical resilience
29 · Bottom 23%
vs29 · Bottom 23%
Housing affordability
67 · Bottom 30%
vs50 · Bottom 10%
Schools
22 · Bottom 13%
vs55 · Top 46%
Access
89 · Bottom 39%
vs90 · Bottom 44%
Economic stability
59 · Bottom 47%
vs48 · Bottom 29%
Measured values
| Metric | Springfield | Eugene | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 61,499 | 179,591 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $68,761 | $66,562 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $32,388 | $41,560 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,861/sq mi | 4,037/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $358,700 | $460,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,258 | $1,402 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 55.0% | 47.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.4% | 5.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.5% | -0.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.4% | 45.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.9% | 19.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 260 | 770 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.2 | 4.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -37.9% | 86.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 84°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 35°F | 35°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 40.8" | 40.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 12 mi | 7 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.0 min | 19.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.4 | 35.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 21 | 45 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 18.22 | 18.04 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 16.7% | 35.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 34.2% | 40.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 91.1% | 72.2% | 2024-25 school 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
Springfield
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Eugene
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Springfield
53
Your Score
48
Area Score
Eugene
56
Your Score
52
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Springfield, OR · Eugene, OR · How this is calculated: methodology