Wendell Falls
Raleigh, North Carolina
Eugene, Oregon
What It Is Like to Retire in Eugene
Eugene, population 158,000, has many attractions as a place to retire. For one, it is a vibrant college town; 17,000 students attend the University of Oregon here. It has the Cascade Mountain range for unlimited hiking, skiing and outdoor opportunities. The wild and rugged Pacific coast is just an hour to the west. The city, birthplace of Nike, is famous for its extensive park system, which includes many bike and running trails. The university gives the community a decided liberal slant and cultural boost.
Eugene enjoys a national reputation as one of the most livable cities in the country. As a retirement community Eugene offers small town charm combined with big city sparkle. It has a thriving and eclectic arts scene along with unsurpassed natural beauty. Its slogan is that it is “The World’s Greatest City of the Arts and the Outdoors”.
Eugene is located in Lane County. Use this Oregon retirement guide for more information about taxes, etc. Photo of Fern Ridge Lake, also known as Fern Ridge Reservoir, courtesy of Wikipedia and Bill Johnson, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (public domain); photos of The Hult Center and Eugene Public Library courtesy of Wikipedia and Cacophony (public domain), Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5/.
Where to Retire in Eugene and Home Prices
The Zillow Home Value Index in mid 2023 was $468,000.
What Is Special about Eugene
University town. Natural beauty and the nearby Cascade Mountains. An extensive and beautiful park system including: Skinner Butte Park, Alton Baker Park, Hendricks Park (Rhododendron Garden). Activist political leanings and alternative lifestyles. Recreation opportunities - especially bicycling, rafting, and kayaking. An arts focus. The Oregon Experiment (participatory planning).
What Is Not Special about Eugene
Some people might not appreciate that this is a very green, liberal community with a significant aging hippie population. Air quality is below average.
Who Will Like Retirement in Eugene
Eugene attracts a community of active adults who want to live in a college town and who enjoy being close to one of the world's great outdoor environments.
Local Economy Is Driven by
Eugene's largest industries are wood products manufacturing and RV manufacturing. The University of Oregon is the largest employer. Several multinational companies got their start here, including Nike.
Climate and Physical Environment
It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley where the McKenzie and Willamette rivers come together. It is about 60 miles east of the Oregon Coast. Eugene averages 50 inches of rain per year, the average year round temperature is 52. It occasionally snows in winter. he median temperature in January is about 40.
Restaurants & Cultural Scene
There are a number of important cultural institutions here: the Eugene Symphony, the Eugene Ballet, the Eugene Opera, the Eugene Concert Choir, the Oregon Bach Festival, the Oregon Children's Choir, and Oregon Festival of American Music. There is also the Hult Center for the Performing Arts, The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts, along with the Beall Concert Hall on the University of Oregon campus. Not to mention the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art and the Museum of Natural and Cultural History. Live theater groups in Eugene include: the Willamette Repertory Theatre, Lord Leebrick Theatre.
Crime
The crime rate in Eugene is well above the national average.
Medical facilities
PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Hospital is located here, and McKenzie-Willamette Hospital is located in adjacent Springfield.
Transportation
Eugene Airport is here. Amtrak service is available. The Lane Transit System is excellent and buses have bike racks and are wheelchair accessible. The System covers 240 square miles and has more than 3.7 million passenger trips per year. Eugene's extensive bike trails, some of the best in the country, are legendary. Eugene is average in walkability when compared to other communities.
Valuable Links
Eugene Cascades Coast Eugene, Oregon City-Data facts about Eugene
Comments on "Eugene"
Lori says:
Several multinational companies got there start here, including Nike.
should be their, not there
me says:
Several multinational companies got there start here, including Nike.
should be their, not there
Admin says:
Thank you Lori for noticing that typo, now corrected. It is great that members of the community are helping make this a better site. Eugene sounds like a great place to retire - do you have experience here?