Worst city - 8/26/2019

Worst place i've ever lived. I've been here a year and had 2 car break ins, a home robbery, and had drug addicts stalk/attack me. never coming back. Definitely not worth the expensive rent

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Avoid - 8/26/2019

Awful, just awful. I lived in a bad part of LA and the crime and drug problem here is way worse.

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Not a very nice place to live ... too much crime - 6/30/2019

My daughter lived here 4 years and attended school at UofO. In that time her car window was broken 2 times even with nothing in vehicle and one time it was parked in her apartment's secure parking lot. She was a victim of hit and run twice while riding her bike, and had to replace it once. Rampant illegal drug use everywhere down town. Generally unpleasant central city area. The area is beautiful except for the urban core.

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A Special Place to live 2.5 years in... - 7/6/2018

I have lived in 5 states and many towns and cities and Eugene is my favorite by far. Yes it is very progressive, but not to the point where you probably would be uncomfortable if you are conservative. But if you are progressive or liberal, you will feel like you have come home. People may challenge your views, but in a polite and well-informed way. I noticed a difference in the kids here. They seem genuinely happy and free to express their happy silly selves in public. This does not turn heads as there is an air of personal freedom here. Any 18 year old can buy marijuanna here so if you have a medical condition and it is illegal where you live, come for a visit here and give it a go to see if it will help you. People are polite and friendly and are not agressive drivers, but as in other places I have lived, the more expensive the neighborhood, the less likely you will know your neighbors. I love that there is a thick booklet that tells you all about the farms, CSA’s, organic grocery stores and farmers markets and restaurants that serve local produce. It’s easy to eat clean organic local food here. There is a thriving live music scene here although I am too old to know who these bands are, sadly. The long damp winters means moss and mold grows on any horizontal surface which means a green roof if you dont treat it. But so far, I find the weather quite lovely. So far, no problems from the damp winters other than not wanting to walk the dog. All of the seasons are mild. The 4th of July was down right chilly this year.

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Not for everyone - 11/15/2017

Eugene is a unique place, and it will not suit everyone well. There is a strong influence left over from the 60's here, much of it is positive, such as an open minded and open hearted atmosphere that can really feel good to the right person. Eugene is not diverse in racial terms, but it is diverse in political views, certain sections of town are very liberal, others are not. Still, one does not see much animosity here between anyone, what someone from a more crowded, frenzied place will appreciate right away is how nice people are in general, which is reflected in the way they drive too, a delight unless you are a chronically rushed person or type A personality. Opportunities here for starting a career and thriving are not what they are down south. A lot of people just get by, but even in that, there is something different, many people, the core Eugene people, value education over money, so people can feel satisfied with less. They may take the bus rather than dream of owning a BMW and be quite content. Like many places in America, the homeless and transient problem is pretty bad, and can make a trip downtown iffy. The police and city seem to be working to clean things up a bit in that regard, but don't worry about the homeless, here they are taken care of as well as anywhere, some might say too well. There is a lack of fine ethnic restaurants and the music scene is not the greatest, although top acts do come through here. Portland is only 2 hours away if you need a fine food and entertainment fix. For me, Eugene is the perfect sized city, big enough to have everything you need available, but small enough to feel friendly. Eugene is a gateway to the rest of Oregon, an hour from the coast, less to the finest fishing rivers imaginable. Lakes, rivers, mountains, all easy commutes. A large system of bike paths runs all through the area, there is a fine university and community college here. Yes, it rains in the winter, but way less than it used to, and you'll forget all about it when spring comes. Summers are glorious, fall is beautiful too. But mainly, it's the people. They mind their own business, and yet you will find yourself having delightful conversations with strangers that look you in the eye and smile as the speak to you. The city itself is beautiful, big river runs right through it, trees abound, the skies are dramatic, the old houses are lovely. Not the place for those who crave excitement, but a great place to live. Reasonable housing prices, clean water and air, surrounded by beauty, those are just some of the pluses. But really, it's the people who make this town so great, this is one of the most friendly places I've ever lived, and I wouldn't trade it for the world, but it is not for everyone, neither is Oregon, visit first, spend some time, see if you are a candidate for a good life here.

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rental housing - 8/23/2016

how much does a 3bd 2bth with a guest house cost

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"O" verated - 3/19/2016

Thank you for a truthful and sincere post. I believe you are being honest and telling it like it is. This is the case just about everywhere now. I blame meth ultra liberal politicians and the overall downturn of the economy. California is much the same way. Especially forested areas like Placerville etc where it is easy to hide meth labs. I'll visit but stay in Santa Cruz which has also taken a major downturn due to overcrowding, traffic, drugs, gangs and mucho mucho homelessness...I still call them bums. Our county almost invites them here. Like feeding a stray dog. Now we have strays everywhere, roadsides, under overpasses, green areas off freeways and main roads etc. I feel for these people but geeze...most don't even try. All this being said, most parts of Santa Cruz county are still some of the best on the west coast. Having lived in the sierra foothills also, I can almost see and feel what Oregon is experiencing. Sorry. If real estate is comparably cheap, there is a reason for this.

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My All Time Favorite Place - 12/13/2015

I am 83 years old and have lived in Eugene for 40 years after traveling and living in many places. Eugene is the finest place I have ever been..... Contact me if you want details. Jerry Robinson

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Civility, Courtesy Quality - 4/11/2015

Civility and courtesy are everyday occurrences; I once had a woman follow me for blocks in her car before I finally pulled over to see what was going on. I had left my house keys in the car trunk keyhole and she didn't want me to lose them. Countless other examples: people don't honk their horns, drivers and bikers are polite, kids and youth in general are pleasantly responsive to spontaneous conversation and have "good manners," the scenery is beautiful, farm produce is first rate and with easy access, people readily smile. I got the firm impression this is not religious based, but people are nice just because it's the right thing to do. Obviously, I am a transplant!

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it's great but... - 6/22/2014

There's so many things we love about Eugene, having moved from LA 19 years ago...affordable housing, less crowds and traffic, the beauty, the gorgeous coast, the bike paths, the growing wine and microbrew business, the fun summer festivals, the progressive community, and I believe the best kept secret weather-wise in the summer (no humidity) in the country. All that said, it's the long winter season - no sun, cold rain - that has finally taken its toll...

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Newbie to Eugene - 7/17/2013

I am looking for suggestions about apartment rentals. I'm moving sight unseen because of an employment opportunity. There's no family or pet to worry about. Is there a downtown/business district where it's possible to live/work without owning a vehicle? I've been reading the comments and so far it's only the panhandlers and bums that are freaking me out. Thanks for the help in advance.

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I moved to Eugene a year ago - 4/21/2013

I moved to Eugene last summer from the eastern Washington area and I have to say most reviews I've read are spot on about almost everything. The humidity is ungodly if you are not used to it. It's not as bad on the coast or further inland, but here in the valley it is extremely humid year round. The traffic is awful during the school year. Need to get from the south Eugene area to the Gateway mall? Plan on a 20 minute drive to go about 5 miles through downtown or take the freeway (twice as many miles). Don't even get me started on trying to get anywhere between 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. If you've been living in western Washington (which is where I lived prior to moving to the east side of the state), the traffic probably seems light :) There are not any decent lakes in this area, and the ones that are here are freezing cold year round. We had jet skis when we moved here but sold them because there really are no decent fresh water lakes. There are panhandlers on just about every major street corner and I'm guessing, thanks to so many "bleeding hearts" they make as much as some of the professors, doctors and CPA's. Crime though? Not that I'm aware of. And the police don't make their presence felt except for in the downtown areas.

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If you're coming to OR - hard pressed to beat Euge - 2/25/2013

I read all the posts... Many good points have been made. But I'll add another perspective. Disclaimer: I was raised in Eugene. My family lives there. I can relocate there and still make a six figure income. I could live anywhere. My employment opportunities are endless - I could go work for Goldman, iBnak, whatever. I attended UO and love my Ducks. I say this only for perspective. But I am choosing to move back to Eugene. Here is my honest review of over 25+ years of living there: Jobs: If you are a doctor, lawyer, CPA, etc. you will be fine. If you are trying to start a career? Forget it. I am moving back after I built a strong résumé but if you want to start something in Eugene you need to be an entrepreneur or have a family business; guaranteed. If you want to be 30 making 6 figures working on a "career" that is not going to happen easily; and is in many cases basically impossible; regardless of education. Housing: It's expensive. Period. If its somewhere you would "want to live" get used to paying serious cash. I have a 220k house in the state of WA and its a LOT more than you can get there. But, if you buy a house built in the 60's or 70's, the yards are huge. Lots of green space, room to expand, etc. if you have vision for a house, or are willing to put in work, you can get something with a ton of positives and make it your own for 250k without trouble; and in a decent to nice area. Schools: They are fine in the nice areas, bad in the bad areas. Stands to reason - this is universally applicable. Go to Sheldon and you will see BMW/Mercedes/Porsche in student parking. Go to north Eugene, and you will see clapped out cars with low income children driving them. It's just the way it is. This spills over into academic/athletic achievement and resources. People are, on average, highly educated there. People who work at Red Lobster as waiters have masters degrees - no joke! And people have a thirst for knowledge; they soak it up and it bleeds into the rest of life. Economy: Eugene does not weather storms well because, despite the "education" people have. Eugene is no doubt anti-business. They want to keep people out as much as possible to not disturb the "utopia" that exists. Ill get into that more later. Religion: Extremely diverse. No one will judge you on that basis. Feel free to bring your opinions and beliefs and people will gladly listen to you. Politics: Local politics are certainly left leaning. However, there is a big "silent majority" there that keeps the really off-the-wall things in check. If you're a conservative, you're not alone. If you're a liberal, you will love it. Crime: Is non-existent. Meth heads are dealt with easily. Someone breaks into my house and I bring out my Glock 10mm, they will run like the wind. These are not "real criminals". Don't act like a victim and you won't be a victim. This is common logic that can be applied anywhere. I have literally never felt truly "unsafe" after living in and visiting other big cities - and I would not be concerned about it. If you have a shred of common sense regarding your property, you're fine. Traffic: Does not exist in Eugene. If you have lived in any metro area, you will literally never complain. Cost of living: Is relatively low. Cheaper than Portland but not by a lot. It's by design. Eugene wants to make it just expensive enough to stop people from wanting to come there, while keeping it cheap enough for the natives to stay there. Climate: It rains. A lot. No worse than portland or anywhere in the state of Washington on the west side of the mountains. It's the PNW, you know it's not so cal when you come here. It's also mild and not too extreme. Humidity is basically non-existent. Summers are perfect;literally. But no one says that for fear other people might figure it out and move there. Transportation: Tons of mass transit. The airport is small but extremely nice. You can connect anywhere out of Eugene and you will literally never stand in a TSA line, wait more than 10 minutes for bags, or sit on a Tarmac or wait in a holding pattern. It's a small version of a major airport and thus it's void of all the bad. Don't expect to see designer shops, but that's not what traveling is for anyway. Want a sandwich or a preflight cocktail? You got it. Hippies: It's Berkley north, and the 60's never died. There are a lot of hippies. I am not a hippy. But, a good friend of mine once said, "you know, we hate the hippies, but in a lot of ways, they are what makes this place great". And he is right. Their lack of urgency and isolationist attitude keeps people out who don't "get it". And if you do, they welcome all with open arms. Finally, the reason I am heading back.... Quality of life and the people: Quality if life is literally unparalleled. You have more outdoor activities than you can think of; rivers, lakes, ocean, mountain, biking, running, and everything else. Golf, tennis, baseball; it's all there. People in Eugene are abnormally happy. They live in a place that economically could use an overhaul but they don't care - I call it the Eugene "life tax". You give a little to get a LOT. If you are over 35 and employed you chose to live there - and it shows in how people behave and think. They are truly happy. People are healthy, and unusually so. Both mentally and physically. People are not pretentious, self-absorbed, negative, or generally bad. It's really strange in some ways because there are places that are far more prosperous and sunny but people there are really happy. It's refreshing. Air quality is fantastic. Arts, theatre, food, beverage is all local and abundant. People really do open doors and "love thy neighbor". I see some posts that are negative and I'm sure that is their experience, but ultimately it's about location and ability to see the surroundings for what they are. You never are really "unsafe" and people are highly educated. In many cases, the people there literally know they are giving up much more money and advancement by living there, but they don't care. This means people are there who want to be there. The city literally stunts growth nearly intentionally; they really want to make sure that those who live there "want" to be there... And it reflects in the diverse and happy people who populate it. It's a special place. I have been all over, seen lots of money and amazing areas and homes, but it doesn't hold a candle to a 1200 square foot bungalow in Eugene and all of the people, activities, and the quality of life that accompanies it.

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Crime - 1/22/2013

High

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Eugene vs. Portland in terms of overcast skies? - 7/10/2012

Has anyone lived in both cities for several seasons to give a thorough comparison? Weather data alone doesn't seem to tell the story. I'd like to know the difference between Eugene and Portland Oregon in terms of the "gloom" factor, since Eugene gets more total rainfall than Portland, but also seems to have more "sunny" days (partly sunny, mostly likely). Is Eugene's rain more concentrated into fewer total days? How about overcast days with drizzle that lack heavy rain? Thanks for any details.

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Hippie Land, Somewhat Evolved - 12/29/2011

There are enough STRONG pros and cons about Eugene that anyone contemplating moving here should definitely consider: PROS: 1. The people are really, really nice. In fact, it's a bit scary. People open doors for you, wave you ahead in traffic, greet you with a sincere friendliness, etc. It's refreshing to not hear honking horns in traffic! (Really. I've been honked at exactly twice in three years.) 2. The university enriches the cultural life of the city. There's more going on here than in some cities five times the size. 3. Eugene is beautiful and green. It's also clean--and that includes the air. 4. You are within an hour of both a beautiful coastline and some fantastic mountain scenery. The best hiking and camping anywhere! 5. Cost of living is fairly low, though the university puts upward pressure on rental housing prices. Oregon tax structure is fairly progressive, meaning that it's pretty easy to survive on a low income. CONS: 1. The weather is Oregon weather. That means: yes, it rains all the friggin' time. Surprisingly, the summer isn't all that pleasant either--it gets pretty hot and humid. But that's when you should be up in mountains or out at the beach anyway. The shoulder seasons can be absolutely perfect (unless it rains). 2. The town revolves around the university, and especially, the football team. Five tuition hikes in five years, and the football team loses ten of millions a year. The town comes to a complete stop every day there's a home game. So it would be good if you like football, because you'll pay for it one way or another. The thtudent athletes (an oxymoron if there ever was one) get preferential treatment, from special buildings just for them to thtudy and to live in, from carte blanche to be low-grade felons (a few of them overdid it and got heaved off the team last year). 3. A social climate that is openly hostile to business. Not only a confiscatory tax structure at the high end, but also a series of rape-the-rich bills passed in the legislature ensure that businesses stay the hell out, which, with the commensurate high unemployment, seems to be EXACTLY what people want--none of those BEEEEEG EEEEEEVIL corporations sullying our greenscape! All of the above means that what type of person you are and your personal goals can make this place either heaven or hell on earth. If you're a student or a teacher--great. If you just want to escape the rat race--great. If you love the outdoors--great. If you want to make money--forget it. If you like warm, sunny weather--forget it. If you're a political conservative--actually, it might not be that bad. People here are just too damn nice and mellow to get that worked up over anything. "Diversity" and "tolerance" aren't just buzzwords here. I think that stems from the not-too-distant past when this was jumping-up-and-down, marching-in-the-streets, blowing-up-things, radical Berkeley-of-the-North. The present social climate is a reaction to that. Plus, due to the ongoing Second Great Depression, no one can afford to buy drugs, so things are calmer than they have been for quite a while.

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A very nice town - 10/7/2011

I went there to visit in June of 2011 and overall I like Eugene a lot because its very green with a lot tall evergreen trees and flowers. Its very clean compare to cities in Tx. Very nice weather not too hot at all and its was in the 70's and a few clouds. Very friendly people there. Many sight seeing not far from Eugene and the ocean is about an hour away. Oregon and Eugene is very pretty place and I am from Texas and Texas is not very pretty at all in most places so Oregon has a more larger area that is so beautiful there that I didn't want to leave Oregon. I will visit Eugene Or again when I have vacation time and just hang out and visit all these beautiful sight seeing near Eugene and is so relaxing there and a nice place to get away from Texas.

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Not safe you are nuts - 9/15/2011

Eugene is one of those few places where people are so incredibly nice that if you see someone on the streets and don't say high you might very well hurt their feelings this is a town of 150,000 that might go all year without a single murder there is almost nowhere like that anymore anywhere, your best bet might be under a rock and whatever you do don't ever head anywhere east or south cause you won't make it not safe you are either making this up or just plan nuts no offense but my god dude grow a pair eugene is a rare phenomenom of honest nice people.

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Hard place to go against the flow - 5/6/2011

Eugene is a great place to live but its decision-making is dominated by well-meaning, liberal-progressive social engineers. They see themselves as tolerant but that doesn't apply much to those who disagree with the "correct" thinkers.

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Not Safe - 2/28/2011

The sad and simple fact is, growing up in downtown Eugene is hellacious. I've been robbed, at the point of various weapons, on the street in the neighbourhood I grew up in three times- twice in broad daylight. The police never did anything about it. My house was broken into four times. Police did nothing. I've had rocks and beer cans thrown out of car windows at me for no apparent reason, and been attacked by surly burn-outs and thugs more times than I can count. Schools are sub-par and dangerous. I grew up near (multiple) meth-houses and swarms of homeless. At times I felt terrorized everywhere I went. The U of O is vastly underrated, and I am pleased I stayed around to study there. But life after university is desolate. When I moved to South Brooklyn, New York, I was prepared for the worst, Eugene being the only place I ever lived. I'm surprised everyday that there are no bums here, there is no noticeable crime, no public inebriation, etc. I'm definitely safer in one of the less safe neighbourhoods of New York City than an average neighbourhood in Eugene, Oregon. I realize others who have lived in more remote and affluent parts of Eugene have different experiences, but this is my experience and the experience of those I grew up with.

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