Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Eugene, OR
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 12 of 23 categories
Eugene
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,481
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
176,755 ✓ Larger
Orange
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Eugene, OR
Pros
Homes cost $442k less ($406,000 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $879/mo less ($1,269 vs $2,148)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
More college-educated — 44.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Orange by $47,854/yr
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 4.7%)
Orange, CA
Pros
Households earn $47,854 more per year on average
29% less violent crime than Eugene
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
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
Median Home Value
$442k less
$406,000 vs $848,200
Orange
Median Income
$47,854
$109,335 vs $61,481/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
29% lower
226.1 vs 317.9 per 100k
Orange
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Eugene, OR | Orange, 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 | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,269 ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,481 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 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 | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.2% ✓ Higher | 40.3% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Eugene SD 4J | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.1" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,755 ✓ Larger | 138,728 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 14.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Eugene's cost of living index is 103.8 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Eugene is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orange leads 12 of 23 categories. Eugene wins 11 and Orange wins 12. 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($406,000 vs $848,200 median home), income ($61,481 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Eugene, OR and Orange, CA are about 763 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.