Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Eugene, OR
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 West Palm Beach leads 12 of 22 categories
Eugene
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,481
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
176,755 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Eugene, OR
Pros
45% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
Rent averages $345/mo less ($1,269 vs $1,614)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $406,000
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 6.2%)
Median income trails West Palm Beach by $2,563/yr
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Homes cost $81k less ($324,800 vs $406,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (6.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 48°F
Households earn $2,563 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Eugene
Key Differences at a Glance
Eugene
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Eugene
Violent Crime
45% lower
317.9 vs 575.8 per 100k
West Palm Beach
Median Income
$2,563
$64,044 vs $61,481/yr
West Palm Beach
Median Home Value
$81k less
$324,800 vs $406,000
West Palm Beach
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.1% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Eugene, OR | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $406,000⚠ High | $324,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,269 ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,481 | $64,044 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.2% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Eugene SD 4J | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.1" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,755 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 49.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 17.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Eugene's cost of living index is 103.8 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Eugene is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, West Palm Beach leads 12 of 22 categories. Eugene wins 10 and West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($406,000 vs $324,800 median home), income ($61,481 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Eugene, OR and West Palm Beach, FL are about 2,662 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.