Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Eugene, OR
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
176,755 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Eugene, OR
Pros
42% less violent crime than Yakima
More college-educated — 44.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (7.1%)
Households earn $5,747 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 40°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 2% higher than Yakima
Yakima, WA
Pros
Homes cost $163k less ($243,300 vs $406,000)
Rent averages $255/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,269)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Eugene
Cons
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 7.1%)
Median income trails Eugene by $5,747/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Eugene
Median Income
$5,747
$61,481 vs $55,734/yr
Eugene
Violent Crime
42% lower
317.9 vs 544.3 per 100k
Eugene
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
7.1% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Yakima
Median Home Value
$163k less
$243,300 vs $406,000
Yakima
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Eugene, OR | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.8⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $406,000⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,269 | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,481 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.2% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Eugene SD 4J | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.1" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,755 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 53.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Eugene's cost of living index is 103.8 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Yakima is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Eugene leads 14 of 23 categories. Eugene wins 14 and Yakima 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($406,000 vs $243,300 median home), income ($61,481 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Eugene, OR and Yakima, WA are about 215 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.