Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Eugene, OR
VS
Hartford, CT
🏆 Eugene leads 15 of 23 categories
Eugene
Oregon
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,481 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
176,755 ✓ Larger
Hartford
Connecticut
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
121,057
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Eugene, OR
Pros
Households earn $19,640 more per year on average
38% less violent crime than Hartford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (7.1%)
More college-educated — 44.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $406,000
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Hartford
Hartford, CT
Pros
Homes cost $207k less ($198,900 vs $406,000)
Rent averages $115/mo less ($1,154 vs $1,269)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Eugene
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Eugene by $19,640/yr
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 7.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Eugene
Median Income
$19,640
$61,481 vs $41,841/yr
Eugene
Violent Crime
38% lower
317.9 vs 515.8 per 100k
Eugene
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
7.1% vs 10.6% unemployment
Hartford
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Hartford
Median Home Value
$207k less
$198,900 vs $406,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Eugene, OR | Hartford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.8⚠ High | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $406,000⚠ High | $198,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,269 | $1,154 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,481 ✓ Higher | $41,841 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 7.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.2% ✓ Higher | 17.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Eugene SD 4J | Hartford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 36.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 84.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.1" | 42.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,755 ✓ Larger | 121,057 |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% ✓ Higher | 25.6% |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Eugene's cost of living index is 103.8 vs Hartford's 96.1 (US average = 100).
Hartford is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Eugene leads 15 of 23 categories. Eugene wins 15 and Hartford wins 8. 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 Hartford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($406,000 vs $198,900 median home), income ($61,481 vs $41,841), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Eugene, OR and Hartford, CT are about 2,517 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.