An atmosphere shaped by counterculture and higher education
Set along the Willamette River, between the Pacific Coast, the snow-capped Cascade Mountains and Willamette National Forest, Eugene is known for its scenic views, preserved by its low buildings and architectural restrictions. Getting outdoors year-round is an important part of local culture, and a trendy downtown food illustrates the city's focus on locally sourced products and sustainability. Eugene's steady growth attracts new residents each year, contributing to the area’s overall housing shortage and related struggle with high homelessness rates—a common issue across Oregon.
Located over 100 miles south of Portland and a quarter of its size, Eugene is the state's second-most populated city and maintains its own job market. Top local industries include wood manufacturing and technology, and one of the city's largest employers is the University of Oregon; the school's nationally ranked track and field team inspires the city's nickname — TrackTown USA — and its renowned Oregon Ducks football team brings gameday crowds and traffic that are otherwise rare in town.
The Willamette River runs along the south border of the Harlow neighborhood in Eugene.
Marché located in Downtown Eugene offers delicious ingredient-driven French-based cuisine.
The Eugene Marathon finishes with a half lap around the track at iconic Hayward Field.
The Duck's Autzen Stadium makes its home in the Harlow neighborhood in Eugene.
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Sought-after neighborhoods close to the university
As of early 2025, Eugene's median home sale price of around $490,000 is slightly above the national median, and lower than Portland's. Eugene’s oldest homes date to the early and mid-20th century and are found downtown and around the university. These areas are in high demand among students and faculty, raising property values and attracting lots of rental investors. “Housing close to the university is very competitive,” says Katie Juth, a Eugene local and broker with Windermere Real Estate. “The rest of the housing market has some good seasonality. It can be crazy in spring but slower in the winter.”
Fairmount, located just next to the university, has some of the area's highest home values, thanks to scenic streetscapes and large lots. New construction in Eugene is extremely limited, making the market more and more competitive as the population grows. Still, homes from the late 20th century can be found in north Eugene and around the city’s edges. Condo buildings within Eugene are only about four stories tall, as the city maintains strict height limits to preserve the city’s mountain views; condo units are hard to come by.
Large homes with beautiful landscaping spotted in South University.
College Hill is easily seen when looking at the Friendly neighborhood in Eugene.
Residents enjoy walking their dogs in the Fairmount neighborhood.
Condos can be found in Downtown Eugene.
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A love of running and the outdoors in TrackTown USA
Eugene is home to 133 parks, six community gardens and over 50 playgrounds. In 2018, city put together a 30-year plan to develop and maintain its existing parks and gardens, as well as develop new recreational spaces. Pipe Dream, the city’s first mountain bike trail, opened in 2022, and a new riverfront plaza began construction in 2024.
Running is a popular local pastime, and there are miles' worth of paved paths and bark chip trails in city parks, including one trail honoring Steve "Pre" Prefontaine, a famous University of Oregon track star and Olympian who died young in a local car accident. Prefontaine's track coach at UO, Bill Bowerman, further contributed to the city’s love of running by co-founding of athletic-shoe company Nike in Eugene back in 1964, and writing his bestselling book, "Jogging," in 1967. UO has had a winning track and field team since 1895, and its Hayward Field regularly hosts the World Athletics Championships and the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, drawing large crowds of visitors and competitors. Community running events include the annual Eugene Marathon each April, which spans much of the city.
The stunning landscapes surrounding Eugene inspire a local focus on outdoor recreation. About 60 miles to the east, the Cascade Mountains are home ski resorts, hiking trails and the Willamette National Forest, while the Pacific coastline is about 65 miles to the west. Locals also have easy access to the Willamette River. “During the summer, there’s tons of fishing upriver, but not as much in town,” Juth says. “A lot of people tie their inner tubes together and float along the river.”
A volunteer group tends to the Hendricks Park Native Plant Garden in Laurel Hill.
The North Amazon Running Trail is a 1 mile loop in the Amazon neighborhood.
Runners in the Eugene Marathon begin the race in the South University neighborhood.
Hileman Landing provides residents of Santa Clara access to the Willamette River.
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Embracing local artistry and sustainability in Willamette Valley
Downtown Eugene is the center of dining and nightlife for the city. The southeast portion is located close to the University of Oregon, which makes it especially popular with students on weekends. Downtown's 5th Street Public Market, an outdoor mall full of upscale boutiques and trendy eateries, is open year-round, often with live music; some locals even use this market as an office, as it also houses multiple coworking spaces. Two other downtown markets run seasonally: the Eugene Saturday Market is held from April to December, with over 200 vendors selling international cuisine and handmade goods, while the Lane County Farmers Market runs every Saturday from February to December, and every Tuesday from May to October.
Locally made food and beverages are championed in the city. Eugene has an extensive network of food trucks and carts, many of which park outside the city’s 20 breweries, and local beer, kombucha and hard cider are commonly sold in the city's cafes and restaurants. Eugene lies at the southern end of Oregon's Willamette Valley wine region, and lots of wineries can be found within and just outside of the city, generally using grapes that are locally grown and sustainably farmed.
Though only a quarter the size of Portland, Eugene maintains a vibrant art scene with its own symphony, ballet and opera. The city is also home to the Very Little Theatre, one of the oldest continuously running theaters in the country, which stages musicals, improv shows and other live productions. The Illioo Native Theatre, a program housed within the Very Little Theatre, highlights indigenous playwrights.
5th Street Market Alley has a mix of restaurants and retail just minutes from Laurel Hill.
Musicians play throughout the day at the Eugene Saturday Market in Downtown Eugene.
Bobablastic is a food truck in the Bethel Neighborhood serving bubble tea and snacks.
Eugene's Very Little Theater is one of the west coast's longest running theaters.
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Getting around the city and up the Pacific Coast
Interstate 5 runs along Eugene’s east side, leading 110 miles north to Portland. Highway 126 runs 60 miles west to the coastal town of Florence. Traffic in the area is generally limited, even at rush hour; however, Oregon Ducks football games can cause congestion around the university, so the Lane Transit District maintains park-and-ride stops that help alleviate gameday traffic.
There’s an Amtrak Station north of downtown, and the Cascades route travels to Portland and Tacoma. The nearest major hospitals are about 6 miles away in the neighboring town of Springfield, including PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center and the McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center; within Eugene, there are smaller medical facilities and urgent care centers. The regional Eugene Airport offers limited direct flights to 16 cities in the United States, including Dallas and Phoenix; the larger Portland International Airport is 120 miles north.
Top-rated district in Lane County and hub of higher education
The Eugene School District is ranked by Niche as the No. 1 school district in Lane County, with an overall rating of B-plus. One of the district's top-rated schools is Yujin Gakuen Elementary, the nation’s first Japanese Immersion school, located in the River Road neighborhood alongside North Eugene High School. Marist Catholic High School is ranked among the top 25 private schools in the state and sits in the northern part of Eugene.
The University of Oregon is integral to the local community. Set south of the Willamette River, close to downtown, the institution is ranked among the top 100 universities in the country by U.S. News & World Report and attracts many new residents looking to work or study there. The school is known for its track and field program and offers degrees in business, law, and landscape architecture. Other options for higher education include Lane Community College, the private Bushnell University, and New Hope Christian College.
Yujin Gakuen Elementary is a Japanese immersion school on N Park Ave in Eugene.
Marist Catholic School is a top-ranked private high school in the Cal Young neighborhood
North Eugene High School serves grades 9-12 in Eugene, Oregon.
Hayward Field and the University of Oregon seen from the South University neighborhood.
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Steady decline in crime rates
The FBI reports that Eugene's overall rate of property crime is higher than the national average, while the overall rate of violent crime is significantly lower. According to the Eugene Police Department, the city saw a roughly 5% collective drop in crime between late 2022 and late 2023. Most crime is concentrated near the city's downtown, though city police report that between late 2022 and late 2023, property crime in this area decreased by almost 19%.
Year-round mild climates and environmental protection
Eugene experiences four distinct seasons, with mild temperatures year-round. According to FEMA, there are special flood hazard areas along the Willamette River, meaning homes close to the waterfront are at higher risk of flooding, especially during heavy rainfall. Flood insurance may be required for some homeowners.
The city aims to preserve its natural appeal through the Climate Action Plan 2.0, which pledges to reduce the use of fossil fuels and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Over a decade, the city has reduced its fossil fuel use by 14%, according to the City of Eugene’s Community Greenhouse Gas Inventory, but the goal is to reach a 50% reduction by 2030. West Eugene currently accounts for over 90% of the city’s air pollution due to its industrial corridor. Lane County is also working on initiatives to combat climate change by focusing on renewable energy sources, infrastructure improvements and operational emissions minimization.
Nearby Trainsong is Maurie Jacobs Park which is fun for the whole family, rain or shine.
Whiteley Landing provides residents of Santa Clara with access to the Willamette River.
The Cal Young neighborhood stretches across the north side of Eugene, Oregon.
The Santa Clara neighborhood in Eugene is bordered on the north by the Willamette River.
I was born and raised here in this great State of Oregon. Having grown up in Eastern Oregon, I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in History from Portland State University; with an eye towards being a public educator along with being a high school football coach. My licensing for Real Estate was completed in December of 2022, I immediately got to work and had great success in 2023-2024. I take great pride in serving the Southwestern Willamette Valley and Southern Oregon Coast communities. I live and work out of Coos County, Oregon. My wife and I moved to Coos County, in 2019, after living in Eugene, Oregon from 2015. We have purchased homes in Coos Bay and in North Bend, Oregon and we have embraced our local communities. I decided on a career change, after spending almost 20 years in the Automotive Retail Business. I have worked with most major automotive brands from Hyundai to Mercedes Benz, from an entry level sales person position in August of 2004 to General Sales Manager by 2015. My background allowed me to accumulate a great deal of knowledge in the areas of customer service, sales management, finance and lending, to building long lasting relationships with customers. My #1 priority is to ensure that customers get the best level of customer service; along with the best possible information and education on the products and services available to them. I strive to ensure this happens, so that when they make a purchas decision, they feel comfortable throughout the process. In making the change from the automotive industry, to Real Estate, I had one goal in mind, and that was to determine my work life balance. My wife and I love spending time with our 3 labradors, Winston (our chocolate lab), Franklin (our Yellow Lab), and Brix, our black lab/boxer mix. We enjoy traveling, and exploring our beautiful state of Oregon.
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