Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Eugene, OR
VS
Norman, OK
🏆 Norman leads 16 of 23 categories
Eugene
Oregon
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,481
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
176,755 ✓ Larger
Norman
Oklahoma
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Eugene, OR
Pros
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $406,000
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Norman
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 5.8%)
Norman, OK
Pros
Homes cost $181k less ($224,900 vs $406,000)
18% less violent crime than Eugene
Rent averages $265/mo less ($1,004 vs $1,269)
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.8%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Eugene
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Norman
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Median Income
$1,368
$62,849 vs $61,481/yr
Norman
Violent Crime
18% lower
260.2 vs 317.9 per 100k
Norman
Median Home Value
$181k less
$224,900 vs $406,000
Norman
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.1% unemployment
Norman
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Eugene, OR | Norman, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.8⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $406,000⚠ High | $224,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,269 | $1,004 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,481 | $62,849 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 22.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 68 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.2% | 45.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 94.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Eugene SD 4J | NORMAN |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.1" | 37.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 4.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,755 ✓ Larger | 127,701 |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 18.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Eugene's cost of living index is 103.8 vs Norman's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Norman is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norman leads 16 of 23 categories. Eugene wins 7 and Norman wins 16. 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 Norman or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($406,000 vs $224,900 median home), income ($61,481 vs $62,849), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Eugene, OR and Norman, OK are about 1,492 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.