Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Eugene, OR
🏆 Eugene leads 14 of 23 categories
Downey
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052
Eugene
Oregon
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,481
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
176,755 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Downey, CA
Pros
Households earn $22,755 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Eugene, OR
Pros
Homes cost $273k less ($406,000 vs $679,000)
Rent averages $545/mo less ($1,269 vs $1,814)
31% less violent crime than Downey
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Cons
Median income trails Downey by $22,755/yr
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$22,755
$84,236 vs $61,481/yr
Downey
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.1% unemployment
Eugene
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Eugene
Violent Crime
31% lower
317.9 vs 460.5 per 100k
Eugene
Median Home Value
$273k less
$406,000 vs $679,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Eugene, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $406,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,269 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $61,481 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 44.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Eugene SD 4J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 45.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 176,755 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Eugene's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Eugene is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Eugene leads 14 of 23 categories. Downey wins 9 and Eugene wins 14. 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 Downey to Eugene or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $406,000 median home), income ($84,236 vs $61,481), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Eugene, OR are about 748 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.