Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Eugene, OR
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 Eugene leads 12 of 23 categories
Eugene
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,481
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
176,755
Salt Lake City
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,357 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Eugene, OR
Pros
63% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Homes cost $53k less ($406,000 vs $458,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 40°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Cons
Median income trails Salt Lake City by $10,876/yr
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 3.6%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (3.6%)
Households earn $10,876 more per year on average
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Eugene
Cons
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Eugene
Violent Crime
63% lower
317.9 vs 864.2 per 100k
Eugene
Median Home Value
$53k less
$406,000 vs $458,600
Salt Lake City
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Salt Lake City
Median Income
$10,876
$72,357 vs $61,481/yr
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
3.6% vs 7.1% unemployment
Salt Lake City
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Eugene, OR | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.8⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $406,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $458,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,269 | $1,254 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,481 | $72,357 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 19.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.2% | 50.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Eugene SD 4J | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.1" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,755 | 201,269 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 32.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 18.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Eugene's cost of living index is 103.8 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Salt Lake City is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Eugene leads 12 of 23 categories. Eugene wins 12 and Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($406,000 vs $458,600 median home), income ($61,481 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Eugene, OR and Salt Lake City, UT are about 613 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.