Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Eugene, OR
🏆 Eugene leads 12 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Eugene
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,481
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
176,755
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denver, CO
Pros
Households earn $24,372 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Eugene, OR
Pros
68% less violent crime than Denver
Homes cost $134k less ($406,000 vs $540,400)
Rent averages $396/mo less ($1,269 vs $1,665)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails Denver by $24,372/yr
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Median Income
$24,372
$85,853 vs $61,481/yr
Denver
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.1% unemployment
Denver
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 84.0°F
Eugene
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Eugene
Violent Crime
68% lower
317.9 vs 993.0 per 100k
Eugene
Median Home Value
$134k less
$406,000 vs $540,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Eugene, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $406,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,269 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 ✓ Higher | $61,481 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 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 | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 44.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | Eugene SD 4J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 45.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 176,755 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Eugene's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Eugene is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Eugene leads 12 of 23 categories. Denver wins 11 and Eugene wins 12. 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 Denver to Eugene or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $406,000 median home), income ($85,853 vs $61,481), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Eugene, OR are about 981 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.