Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Eugene, OR
VS
Fort Lauderdale, FL
🏆 Fort Lauderdale leads 11 of 20 categories
Eugene
Oregon
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,481
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
176,755
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Eugene, OR
Pros
Rent averages $358/mo less ($1,269 vs $1,627)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Lauderdale
More college-educated — 44.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fort Lauderdale by $13,895/yr
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 5.4%)
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Households earn $13,895 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,627/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Eugene
Key Differences at a Glance
Eugene
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Eugene
Median Home Value
$12k less
$406,000 vs $417,600
Fort Lauderdale
Median Income
$13,895
$75,376 vs $61,481/yr
Fort Lauderdale
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.1% unemployment
Fort Lauderdale
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Eugene, OR | Fort Lauderdale, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $406,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $417,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,269 ✓ Lower | $1,627⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,481 | $75,376 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 26.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.2% ✓ Higher | 40.3% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Eugene SD 4J | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.1" ✓ Drier | 63.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,755 | 182,673 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 43.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 54.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 16.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% | 19.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Eugene's cost of living index is 103.8 vs Fort Lauderdale's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Eugene is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Fort Lauderdale leads 11 of 20 categories. Eugene wins 9 and Fort Lauderdale wins 11. 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 Eugene to Fort Lauderdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($406,000 vs $417,600 median home), income ($61,481 vs $75,376), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Eugene, OR and Fort Lauderdale, FL are about 2,687 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.