Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Eugene, OR
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Eugene leads 14 of 23 categories
Eugene
Oregon
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,481 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
176,755
Providence
Rhode Island
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Eugene, OR
Pros
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°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 3% higher than Providence
Providence, RI
Pros
Homes cost $113k less ($293,000 vs $406,000)
13% less violent crime than Eugene
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Eugene
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Providence
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Violent Crime
13% lower
276.7 vs 317.9 per 100k
Providence
Median Home Value
$113k less
$293,000 vs $406,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Eugene, OR | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.8⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $406,000⚠ High | $293,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,269 | $1,214 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,481 ✓ Higher | $61,365 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.2% ✓ Higher | 34.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Eugene SD 4J | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.1" ✓ Drier | 47.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 36.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,755 | 189,715 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Eugene's cost of living index is 103.8 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Providence is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Eugene leads 14 of 23 categories. Eugene wins 14 and Providence wins 9. 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($406,000 vs $293,000 median home), income ($61,481 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Eugene, OR and Providence, RI are about 2,576 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.