Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Eugene, OR
🏆 Alexandria leads 13 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594
Eugene
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,481
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
176,755 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $51,698 more per year on average
31% less violent crime than Eugene
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.1 min average each way
Eugene, OR
Pros
Homes cost $250k less ($406,000 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $714/mo less ($1,269 vs $1,983)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $51,698/yr
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$51,698
$113,179 vs $61,481/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
31% lower
219.1 vs 317.9 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
3.2% vs 7.1% unemployment
Alexandria
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 84.0°F
Eugene
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Eugene
Median Home Value
$250k less
$406,000 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Eugene, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $406,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,269 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $61,481 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 44.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Eugene SD 4J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 45.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 176,755 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 47.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Eugene's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Eugene is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 13 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 13 and Eugene wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alexandria to Eugene or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $406,000 median home), income ($113,179 vs $61,481), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Eugene, OR are about 2,380 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.