Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Eugene, OR
VS
Norwalk, CA
🏆 Eugene leads 12 of 23 categories
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 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
101,893
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Eugene, OR
Pros
Rent averages $591/mo less ($1,269 vs $1,860)
Homes cost $187k less ($406,000 vs $593,100)
15% less violent crime than Norwalk
More college-educated — 44.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $29,778/yr
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 5.6%)
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,778 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Eugene
Key Differences at a Glance
Eugene
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Eugene
Violent Crime
15% lower
317.9 vs 374.4 per 100k
Eugene
Median Home Value
$187k less
$406,000 vs $593,100
Norwalk
Median Income
$29,778
$91,259 vs $61,481/yr
Norwalk
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Eugene, OR | Norwalk, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $406,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $593,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,269 ✓ Lower | $1,860⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,481 | $91,259 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 99 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.2% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 76.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Eugene SD 4J | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.1" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,755 ✓ Larger | 101,893 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 67.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Eugene's cost of living index is 103.8 vs Norwalk's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Eugene is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Eugene leads 12 of 23 categories. Eugene wins 12 and Norwalk 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($406,000 vs $593,100 median home), income ($61,481 vs $91,259), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Eugene, OR and Norwalk, CA are about 751 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.