r/Eugene • u/pataphor_ • 4d ago
Louisville -> Portland or Eugene? Moving
My wife and I (both 30, no plan to have kids) are planning to move to Oregon, and visited Portland for a couple weeks in December as a test run. Loved it even through all the rain.
We didn't get a chance to visit Eugene, but are considering it primarily for:
- Access to natural sights, parks, hiking, etc.
- Relatively cheaper than Portland
- Smaller city, may be an easier adjustment going from KY to OR, having never made a cross-country move before.
Some info about us: - I'm a remote developer, so no need to worry about finding work. - My wife needs to see a healthcare specialist twice a year due to some genetic health issues, and regularly needs to fill some important prescriptions. I saw a comment where this can be a struggle in Eugene, and would be curious about others' experiences. - We plan to stay in an AirBNB for a week or 2 while we find somewhere to rent long-term. Eventually may look for a house, but for now looking to rent. - We love being around nature, and want to be able to garden. - I like to make electronic music (Ableton + Elektron gear). - We are a couple of nerds; we'd be more drawn to libraries/universities than we would bars, if that tells anything.
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u/Bicycle_the_Earth 4d ago
You'll have better luck with healthcare specialists in Portland than in Eugene. That said, it's just a two hour drive to Portland from Eugene or (my preferred option) you can take the train and get around Portland by bicycle or the light rail
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u/pataphor_ 4d ago edited 4d ago
I figured so; for the specialist, driving
1.52+ hrs to Portland wouldn't be so bad, but a commenter in another thread indicated that filling prescriptions can be a challenge26
u/Intelligent-Rope9420 4d ago
I’ve never had a problem with getting prescriptions filled in Eugene and I take a few.
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u/Dank009 4d ago
It might seem a bit pedantic but 2-2.5 hour drive is a better estimate as far as location to location, depending on what parts of each city you are in/going to. It's like 110 miles between cities, 65 mph speed limit most of the way. Often will be slower through Salem. You are bound to get stuck behind idiots driving slow in the fast lane and once you get close to Portland the traffic gets terrible for quite a while. All that being said it's not a terrible drive if you are only doing it twice a year but you are going to be disappointed if you expect to get from your apartment in Eugene to your healthcare specialist in Portland in an hour and a half.
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u/garfilio 4d ago
I just said the same thing, and worried it was nitpicking, but as someone who commuted to Portland quite frequently, it does make a difference.
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u/Calm_Astronaut7732 4d ago
It depends the kind of medication and other circumstances. Obviously any national stock issue of meds will be there no matter where you go. It sounds like you guys are on top of your wives health and would be up to date with meds. In my personal opinion and experience, if you’re willing to do some patient work if needed (calling for refills if it’s missed etc) you won’t have too many issues. Same day fills here can be tricky because all the doctors are so busy.. but if you make sure your doctor gets it in the prescription most pharmacies work to have it done within 2 days on average. I use Walgreens pharmacy here and I’ve noticed some staffing issues but they’re always friendly at the counter and fix it if there’s issues. Granted, my meds would be as needed for usually generic things. I hope this helps :)
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u/EnthusiasmBroad5496 4d ago
My wife had and beat breast cancer in Eugene, doctors, prescriptions, clinics etc etc, she couldn’t have been more happy with. For what it’s worth
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u/greenbeans7711 4d ago
I’m sure the commercial pharmacies (Walgreens, CVS, Fred Meyers, etc) all carry the same meds in portland and Eugene. If it’s a special order medication it might take a day longer to get in Eugene than Portland but I am sure you could plan in advance for that if needed. That said, specialist physicians are really limited in Eugene. Portland has the medical school and probably 4 other hospitals larger than what is available in Eugene/springfield.
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u/Mrsvantiki 4d ago
Never an issue filling Rx. Even so, there’s so many options to fill via online. If it’s a known Rx, Cost Plus drugs online is incredibly cheap. Or PhilRx.
One key thing that’s a billion times better than Portland is our traffic. Portland traffic is infuriating. But we don’t really have decent restaurants. But that’s ok. It saves us money!
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u/El_Bistro 4d ago
If you need it, Hiron’s will have it.
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u/Smooth_Row_3563 4d ago
Yes. Go to Hirons for prescriptions, stay for impulse buys on things you never knew you needed. It’s amazing in there
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u/AdSilver3605 3d ago
The problem I have is many specialists are refusing to see patients who live over 100 miles away, claiming it's better to see a generalist closer (or a generalist in that specialty).
For prescriptions, a major Oregon pharmacy chain closed (Bi-Mart) and that has caused problems all over the state - mostly because the other pharmacies are unwilling to hire more staff to handle the load - the staff mostly exist because they worked at the other chain.
Eugene has a PCP crisis, so if you need a prescriber for your meds, that is likely to be a problem. The same triggering circumstances (large practice group bought by Optum) happened more recently in Corvallis.
I would look at where in Oregon the specialists you need are and make sure you at least live in their region by this map - https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/PREPAREDNESS/PARTNERS/Documents/AllState.pdf
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u/ChebaButt 4d ago
If you plan to have kids, Eugene. If it’s just you two for the (foreseeable) future, then Portland is your place.
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u/pataphor_ 4d ago
Yup, no kids (✂️)
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u/ChebaButt 4d ago
I’d say the age range for your peers would be much better up in Portland, especially for meeting other kid free couples! Eugene has a ton of people aged 1-22, a drought of people aged 25-40, and a plethora aged 40-90. It’s really a place for people who want a more laidback, less infrastructure lifestyle
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u/Armthedillos5 4d ago
What is a plethora, jefe? I'd just like to know that when someone says I have a plethora, they know what a plethora is.
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u/El_Bistro 4d ago
Like everyone I know is 25-40 in Eugene. Where are you looking? On college hill?
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u/EnthusiasmBroad5496 4d ago
I play in a basketball league as a 45 year old, believe me there are a plethora of 25-40 years olds unfortunately for me and my greying beard
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u/Dank009 4d ago
From what you said I think either city would be a good fit but I'd try to have a spot lined up before you come out here. May take you longer than expected to find a spot.
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u/pataphor_ 4d ago
Our plan was to spend ~2 weeks in an AirBNB, maybe more if necessary so we can search for a place in person while we're there. I'm reluctant to sign a lease on somewhere I've never seen; do you think that's enough time to find something?
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u/No-Platypus6693 4d ago
Renting in either city can be very challenging . I would recommend you set up meetings to start looking at places before you even move. Just to get an idea of what is out there.
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u/pataphor_ 4d ago
Hmm, thats good to know. We're getting rid of 90% of our things, only keeping what will fit in our outback which we'll use to drive out there. In that case, we'll probably want to line up places to tour the day we arrive.
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u/Redditheist 4d ago
Does your wife work? I recently read a post where a couple could not find a place because the wife didn't work and each resident needed to make 2x the rent. People were commenting that is common. Blew my damned mind!
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u/pataphor_ 4d ago
Wow, that's crazy. She does work in person now, but I make more than enough to sustain us both (~140k) so the plan was to let her casually job search after we've moved if her job here doesn't let her go full remote. It would be a lot more challenging if we both needed to have jobs to rent...
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u/Redditheist 4d ago
Would her job possibly "confirm" she is fully remote, even if it's yet to be determined? Definitely check with some rental management companies. They're all terrible and hard to get info from, but it's a place to start and something you want to nail down (the info, not necessarily an apartment) before you make the jump to get here.
As you're willing to rent an apartment and don't have kids, it will be easier than renting a house. As far as gardening, there are several community gardens, but they might have waiting lists.
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u/EverSarah 4d ago
There’s a city law (since 2022 I think) that a landlord has to rent a place FCFS to the first person who meets their income and credit requirements (even if they’re a total asshole in person). I think that’s why requirements have gotten really high. The older I get, the more I see the unintended consequences of well-intentioned liberal laws.
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u/Redditheist 4d ago
That's insane. I rented a place in Florence where the landlord was whining about how tough the world is on him (he owns several rental properties). It cost us $6k and excellent credit to move in.
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u/Wild-Interview-2391 4d ago
I don't think that is sufficient time to find a place outside of an apartment. When I moved back here I gave myself two months (granted, I was buying) and that was barely enough time. The housing market for buying and rentals moves very fast.
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u/EnthusiasmBroad5496 4d ago
We moved to a townhouse in West Eugene, and found we really only wanted to live in the areas of South Eugene High or Sheldon High. Took us a few months to find a house we wanted, but the market is probably different now, might be easier.
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u/smileyriley328 3d ago
I moved from Portland to Eugene just two years ago and I’d say you need more time of moving to portland, like maybe 4-5 weeks depending. Eugene just a few weeks would be okay but the housing options are more limited so you need time for things to cycle and fresh listings. Otherwise there can be like, 4 options.
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u/Dank009 3d ago
I wouldn't sign anything without seeing it either but I'd do as much research as you can prior to coming out and have several options lined up. Based on your income you are probably ok, you can probably at least find something tolerable while you look for something better. And if it takes a bit longer you can afford a few more days in an Airbnb.
Good luck, hope the move goes smoothly for you.
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u/eug_fan 4d ago
This is the way (says someone with kids who moved from Portland to Eugene a few years ago). If I didn’t have kids, I would 100% still be in Portland.
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u/EnthusiasmBroad5496 4d ago
There’s plenty of kids in Portland, their schools beat up on my kids’ soccer teams just fine. Tells me there’s beyond a plethora of kids in Portland too.
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u/happilyretired23 4d ago
A few things I don't see in other comments. I'm an Evansville transplant, so not so far from Louisville before I moved. Big differences (not an exhaustive list): many more wet/gray days, generally friendlier people, dispensaries on seemingly every corner, cultural prejudice against umbrellas, liberal politics (until you get 30 minutes out of town and there are enough Trump signs that you'll think you're back in Kentucky), black bears & cougars to be aware of when hiking, flocks of turkeys in the streets (depending on where you are in town), random dogs in the grocery stores.
As a remote developer, be sure to check what internet you can get when looking at properties. Some areas have fiber, many don't. There's not a lot of competition in the market.
On the whole, I much prefer Eugene to the midwest.
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u/pataphor_ 4d ago
Appreciate your thoughts as someone from Kentuckiana. Our trip out to Portland revealed some some of this; it rained just about every day (we embraced the no-umbrella culture lol). I was surprised to find people were nicer in Portland than Louisville too, quite unexpected.
The cougars are something new to me, thanks for the heads up. Same with the internet - AT&T fiber is surprisingly stellar in Louisville, but I need to dig into the Oregon ISPs...
I'm curious, what led you to choose Eugene vs other cities in OR?
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u/Dank009 4d ago
I've lived in Oregon for 40 years and hike and camp tons. I've seen a cougar in the wild once. I've seen black bears in Oregon like a dozen times or so and every single one ran away as fast as they could as soon as they noticed me, including a mother with two cubs that just ran off leaving them behind (the cubs ran off too just slower). Something good to be aware of but will mostly likely never be an issue and not something to be actively afraid of.
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u/A-Mando623 4d ago
Moved here from Kentucky 2 years ago (Lexington, but my husband went to medical school in Louisville so I’ve spent a lot of time there). The people in Oregon can feel oddly similar to Kentuckians…but I do think people here are overall much kinder. If you have any questions specific to Kentucky vs. Oregon I’m happy to answer.
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u/happilyretired23 4d ago
Liberal culture & access to hiking. Availability of work wasn't a big issue for us either, though having an airport close was a consideration. You can't fly from EUG direct to too many places, but it meets our work needs.
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u/EnthusiasmBroad5496 4d ago
Agree with all this, I came from Omaha after 42 years. People in Oregon are genuinely nice vs the Midwest where they are a smarmy nice. There are too many people that use all the trails to actually have to worry about bears and cougars. Just don’t hike in the middle of the night and you’ll be fine. They don’t want anything to do with us.
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u/happilyretired23 4d ago
Depends a bit on which trails you're hiking, I think. I do carry bear spray in some places, though obviously not on the urban trails (despite the city signing on the Ridgeline Trail warning of danger). Haven't had to use it, have seen a bear but not an aggressive one. Plenty of people do get through decades of hiking with no large critter problems, for sure.
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u/garfilio 4d ago
3rd generation Oregonian, the umbrella prejudice is fake news.
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u/happilyretired23 4d ago
Well if you say so. I still see far fewer umbrellas here when it's raining than I did in the Midwest. Maybe it's just my neighborhood.
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u/EverSarah 4d ago
Western Oregonian as well - I have a theory about this - maybe a client scientist or some older Oregonians with vague memories of childhood can chime in. It used to rain more lightly, all the time didn’t it? Like we were caught in a liminal space between rain and mist from September to April. And in that weather, the best thing to do is wear a rain jacket. I feel that now it’s a rain/not rain binary, in which case an umbrella is better.
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u/elementalbee 4d ago edited 4d ago
I’ve been in Eugene for the past 13yrs but regularly spend time in Portland as my sister lives there…I probably go up there at least twice a month.
I’ll start with my reasons why I personally like Eugene….
I love the proximity Eugene is to everything…we can essentially do day trips anywhere in the state. It’s not uncommon for me to drive to bend for the day to do a hike or even up to mount hood. Portland is only 1hr 45min north and the coast is only 1hr west. You will also be close to nature in Portland, but not as many options within close proximity.
The other main reason I love Eugene is I’m super into sports. If you want to be a ducks fan you’ll have a blast lol. I spend a lot of my year going to football games, basketball games, track meets, etc. The UO is undeniably the best university in the state (OSU in Corvallis grads will argue with me on this one).
Eugene is big enough that there’s anonymity (like you generally won’t see anyone you know out shopping) but small enough that you’re not going to sit in traffic constantly.
With that, the driving is honestly a huge reason I would hate living in Portland. Traffic is horrendous and it’s not uncommon for a commute to turn into nearly an hour at 5pm on a weekday. Parking is also horrendous and the cost of parking downtown is really high. Car theft/window break ins are BAD (also bad in Eugene, but more based on neighborhood in Eugene than in Portland). If you don’t mind driving in cities and are used to it, this likely won’t bother you.
Now reasons I think Portland is better…
The restaurant scene in Portland is superior and nothing like you’ll find in Eugene. Between the food cart pods and quirky restaurants and fine dining you’ll always have somewhere new to try in Portland.
Portland has several music venues and there’s a lot of good shows/concerts. Eugene definitely has its own scene for this as well but nothing like Portland. Most of us commute to Portland for concerts.
Portland is just a cool fucking city with lots going on and lots to do. It gets a lot of shit talk around the country because it’s weird (yes, it really is) but it’s a fun vibe. Homelessness is bad and it will be shocking to you but you will get used to it. It’s bad everywhere in Oregon.
Lots of similarities between the two as far as price goes (renting is pretty comparable, buying is worse in Portland at the moment) and otherwise things are just slightly more expensive in Portland. Weather is also essentially the same — lots of rain and little sunlight, be prepared for the first few winters to be rough. You get used to it though and appreciate the seasons even more.
I ultimately like the laid back vibe of Eugene but if you’re used to the city life and want that, Portland is definitely your better choice. I just like throwing on sweats and taking a non stressful drive to the store 5min away and coming home without dealing with traffic or all the stimuli. I visit a lot and I love the time I spend there, I just don’t want it as part of my “daily routine.” I also like road trips so I don’t mind darting up there for the day.
This is random and all over the place but hope it kinda helps :)
***medical side note, PeaceHealth Hospital is big. It’s not a small hospital. It’s the primary destination for a lot of smaller areas around the state. We do have a lot of medical providers and facilities in Eugene, but so does Portland and Portland has more. Eugene is bigger than you may be envisioning. I would just avoid Keizer at all costs in both locations.
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u/EnthusiasmBroad5496 4d ago
This was a good synopsis, I agree with all of it. Coming from a bigger city it’s been so cool just leaving a Ducks game and being home in legitimately 10 minutes. Yet this never feels like a small place because there’s always so many people out and about. It’s a very active small city.
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u/Fuego355 3d ago
UofO might be a great college, but they sadly don't have a forestry program, unlike OSU :(
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u/TheNachoSupreme 4d ago
Call the type of doctor she needs and see how long it takes to get an appointment and if they are accepting new patients.
If it's twice a year, going up to Portland isn't so bad if you end up choosing Eugene and need to be on a wait-list til you can get one here.
Ultimately, there's more to do, see, eat, etc, in Portland, but there's also more traffic and things are further away.
Everything in Eugene is within 20 minutes drive, including incredible access to nature. Pretty much anywhere you want to go in the state is within 4 hours, which is nice of you're a day tripper.
U of Os art museum and library are great. Loads better than Portland States art museum and library.
I personally love Eugene
Edit: also, Eugene is on a bed of volcanic rock, so if you're an anxious person, when you inevitably start to worry about "the big one" Eugene is the safer bet.
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u/Armthedillos5 4d ago
Wait, I need to be worried About volcanos now too?!?
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u/TheNachoSupreme 4d ago
Lol, not as far as I'm aware. The volcanic rock is not on active volcanic land as far as I'm aware. It just makes the ground sturdier
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u/opalmirrorx 4d ago
Eugene's volcanoes were active as recently as 23M years ago and are extinct. Mt. Hood near Portland in 1866, Mt. St. Helens near Portland erupted in the 1980s.
All of Western Oregon and Washington are atop a subduction zone fault, which will give a regional 8.0 to 9.5 magnitude Earthquake, but it may not happen for a few hundred years. Last one of those in 1700. It's best to be on sturdy rock for these events rather than on deep soggy muddy valley fill or heaven forbid on the coast.
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u/AlmondDavis 4d ago
I want to add to the Pro list for Eugene: the U of O and Lane Community College have vibrant electronic music programs if you want to dip a toe in. Music scene here is pretty good.
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u/Amanderka 4d ago
Are you talking about all the Calderas east of Eugene?
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u/TheNachoSupreme 4d ago
Nah, this map of a simulated magnitude 9 earthquake of the cascadia subduction zone
https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HEALTHYENVIRONMENTS/DRINKINGWATER/PLANREVIEW/Documents/seismic-map.pdf
I heard it was volcanic rock under us, but it may be wrong on the reasoning. Either way, Eugene Springfield is predicted to be somewhat ok
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u/Aithon22 4d ago
I’ve lived in Eugene for fifty years, and regularly visit Portland. I’d pick Portland for the experimental music scene, art museum, public transportation, food, bridges. You can take the train between the two, and when in Portland get around on Max, streetcar, and buses. I love Portland!
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u/Aithon22 4d ago
My experience with healthcare in Eugene has been good, but many people have had difficulty getting a doctor. Eugene has no hospital, but Springfield has two. From my home near downtown it’s nearly an hour on the bus to get to the hospital. It’s crazy, but we drove our hospital out of town.
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u/El_Bistro 4d ago
Springfield and Eugene are functionally the same town. Idk why it’s such a big deal river bend just happens to be a mile over the interstate in Springfield.
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u/Betty_the_crow 4d ago
Until "the big one" happens and the overpasses and bridges become unstable...
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u/El_Bistro 4d ago
I’m not planning my life around an earthquake that might never happen. That’s stupid. Also Riverbend will probably fall into the McKenzie due to soil liquefaction anyway.
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u/DragonfruitTiny6021 4d ago
"Riverbend will probably fall into the McKenzie due to soil liquefaction anyway" - without an earthquake
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u/Hartmt1999forever 4d ago edited 4d ago
My gut reaction: PDX due to interests, age, city activity, etc
Affordability not sure there’s a big enough difference to sway a decision for me. Oregon is expensive and housing ..whew is a whole other story.
My heart is here’s feedback re: Eugene- - as a parent with children with specific medical needs- we go to PDX- that’s our option as it is Peds BUT we do have good experiences here in town for general needs. There is a shortage of doctors & practices due to a variety of factors and drama - I’d dig into your insurance- learn what options you would have for either city, and research whose/how to line up care for yourselves 2) I don’t mind a day trip to PDX, it’s not a huge inconvenience imo, sometimes make a weekend out of it. They’re not emergency medical needs so works for us. 3) there are some OHSU outreach clinics at Riverbend hospital and once we’re on the patient list we now see the doctor here. otherwise yes it could be telehealth or a PdX trip. 4) prescriptions I have no problems with in Eugene, though now do mail delivery and works for us. We have a pharmacy nearby that we’ll use too. I know their routines and just be patient as they’re all overloaded I believe. But establishing a relationship takes time and patience imo and can work in your favor too. who knows?
Nature- I’ve grown up here, PDX family, traveled around Oregon- Nowadays in my 40’s I have very little patience for Portland traffic and leaving town to hike, ski, beach days, etc. It’s even more congested nowadays- thus I’d prefer Eugene area as it’s easier to escape and return. Of course it’s all relative, eh? lol
If you’re committed to a smaller community, it’ll take time and patience to learn, meet people in Eug. People do have positive experiences, but human nature we’re more apt to share negatives and complain, you might just need to dig a bit more to meet folks who are having a good time in Eugene and PDX even. I’d welcome you, Always refreshing to have new people!
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u/knefr 4d ago
I live in and like Eugene. But I have to say, moving here without visiting first and while having specialized healthcare needs is a mistake. For the second biggest city in the state it’s small. Portland is only a little bigger probably than Louisville.
In Eugene there are pretty limited healthcare resources. My wife will need to go to Portland for a neurologist. It’s not so far that it’s a huge pain but it’s something to consider.
Both cities will have great access to the outdoors. Portland will have more libraries, book stores, etc. Eugene obviously has a better college football situation. They’ll both be great for gardening.
Eugene is sleepy, most places close by 9pm. It’s nice and quiet and has better traffic than Portland. They’re both close to the mountains and the coast.
I’m from back your way btw. The lack of healthcare resources is pretty shocking in Lane County overall. A city this size back East would have at least double what’s available here. Expect long delays in getting in to see anyone. Portland has the lion’s share of the state’s healthcare infrastructure.
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u/benconomics 4d ago
Portland doesn't have great urban natural outdoor parks like Eugene. Ridgeline and Thurston Hills are much better than the PDX metro parks.
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u/knefr 4d ago
That’s a great point! I’ve never lived in Portland so didn’t know that. I love that river walk area downtown, though!
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u/benconomics 4d ago
The riverwalk in PDX is great. We have great nature river trails in Eugene and Springfield. I'm interested to see how the Eugene riverfront redevelopment and Glenwood go over the next 10-15 years. That stuff will be great for the community.
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u/knefr 4d ago
That is great to hear. I didn’t realize it stood out in a state like this but I’m glad to hear! The first time I went up Spencer Butte it blew my mind…being able to have a view like that so close to home. I love the bike trail system here too, and I love how much people value it all.
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u/benconomics 4d ago
The only bike trail access that sucks in Eugene relative to other places in the state is mountain biking, which will change soon (but Eugene POS has been planning this for 10 years so....).
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u/CoconutYung 4d ago
What's the plan? More bike trails off the Ridgeline than just the one?
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u/benconomics 4d ago
There is the potential for more bike trails off the ridgeline but the area is actually pretty tough. Northern facing (more water), and very steep (hard to build sustainable trails). There's 1 or 2 illicit trails that may be adopted and modified. The potential is really in Arlie Park (part of ridgeline south of LCC).
Here's the plan.
https://www.eugene-or.gov/5164/Suzanne-Arlie-Park-Development
Lots of single track and a variety of trails and some shared use options too. They got a 1.2 million grant to help build it. As I understand, the city is now just figuring out how to write a contract so it can go to bid (something they don't have a ton of experience with).
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u/CoconutYung 4d ago
That looks great! I hope they get it sorted while I still live here
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u/benconomics 4d ago
If they don't break ground this year, they lose the $1.2M grant, so hopefully next summer we'll have trails to ride.
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u/EnthusiasmBroad5496 4d ago
Eugene is planning a new riverfront development as well, though I’m pretty sure all they’ve built so far is a website
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u/benconomics 4d ago
Actually the city built a park (improved the trails, areas with seating, etc). They held events for the World Track and Field Champs. Park development alone was $15m or something.
Now they've fixed up city hall, and built one apartment complex. They plan to convert the old steam plant into a hotel, and build some more apartments with restaurants, etc. In 10 years, could end up really nice.
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u/bones_n_worms4dollas 4d ago
Have lived in both. For me, the traffic in Portland drives me bonkers. Eugene is quiet and rush hours add 10 minutes instead of hours.
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u/tactical_cakes 4d ago
Have you considered Corvallis? University town, 40 minutes closer to Portland, with bookstores, arts collective, and indy theaters downtown. Rte 20 connects you to the coast and the mountains. Worth a visit while you're in Eugene.
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u/Purple_Penguin73 4d ago
Depending on which specialist your wife needs to see, she may have to go to OHSU in Portland for visits. There are a few specialties that we just don’t have in Eugene (genetics being one) or depending on your insurance you will not have access to in Eugene. Twice a year visits probably not make or break but if that changes I’d rather be closer to my providers.
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u/etherbunnies The mum of /r/eugene...also a dude. 4d ago
Portland. First two points really aren't different between the two spots, and while Eugene smaller, Louisville and Portland are about the same size of city.
You might want to look at Corvallis or Ashland, btw, if you're deadset on a small college town.
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u/smdhenrichs 4d ago
Def don’t do Ashland. Corvallis would be the preferred alternative you mentioned between the two.
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u/benconomics 4d ago
Everyone will give you negative advice about moving here. A lot of NIMBY's.
Eugene is a nice small city with
Great city parks which will only get better (mountain bike coming to Arlie next year)
Great libraries and good public university with a growing computer science department (in case you ever need to hire people).
Way less traffic than Portland.
Close to the mountains and the coast.
Good regional airports which can get you most places in the country with one stop (sometimes non stop).
My daugther needs to a specialist about her heart. There's touring specialists which come from PDX to Eugene on a regular interval through Peacehealth/Sacredheard. So we've never had to leave for specialists.
We get a bit less rain than PDX.
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u/bksi 4d ago
Do some research on the type of specialist medical stuff your wife needs and see if it exists in Eugene. Call offices and ask about them taking on new patients. Lots of medical offices turn up in those online reviews but when you actually talk to them they stopped taking new patients or don't take your insurance (even tho' insurance site says they do).
Husband's electro cardiologist just gave up their practice and we were scrambling to find a replacement. We think we found someone but won't know until late January. We're considering moving because of this. There is a dearth of medical people in this town and the abrupt closing of the Peace Health hospital left a bunch of folks with few options. Out of all your points in your outline, medical stuff is probably the thing you have to worry about.
You'll probably have a better culture fit in Portland. Eugene has few museums. Both towns have easy access to outdoors. Eugene is a bit cheaper but you'll probably get depressed by the property crime rate - definitely growing. If you do need to seek work you won't find any tech in Eugene. Portland at least has some tech firms (Intel, Mentor Graphics, ON Semi) and supporting businesses.
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u/El_Bistro 4d ago edited 4d ago
You’re not gonna go wrong in either. But from your wants, Eugene would probably be a better fit. Lots more nature here and much easier to get to the Coast or the Cascades.
People will argue with me but I think Eugene has 90% of what Portland has for less money. Also if you want the Portland experience a train ticket is $17. Or you can drive up in 2.5 hours or so.
I moved here from back east and know many people who’ve done it and it’s universally agreed upon that we’d all rather die than move away from Oregon. It’s great here.
One note, this goes for anywhere out west too. You need to have some sort plan for living situation lined up. The rental market is tight and finding a decent house is tough.
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u/avocadotoes 4d ago
I don’t understand why you think Eugene is easier to get to the coast/cascades than Portland. They’re essentially equal distance from their respective latitude counterparts. Portland you have multiple access routes from Astoria to Lincoln city and Eugene really only has a straight shot to Florence. From Portland to government camp it’s just about an hour and getting over the pass is only another 45ish minutes, similar to Eugene to Bend. The access is the same, just different places.
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u/El_Bistro 4d ago
Traffic
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u/avocadotoes 4d ago
The traffic really isn’t that bad. Usually if either city has traffic to their respective coast/cascades so does the other if it’s for weather, busy season, etc. Car accidents are random events and those can happen anywhere. I go to the coast a lot and only experienced noticeably bad traffic coming back from Newport once… and that was going into Corvallis.
There’s also plently of natural areas around Portland. I guess I just find these specific points kinda weak in my experience.
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u/EnthusiasmBroad5496 4d ago
Eugene is like a great Portland neighborhood just without 2 million other people.
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u/JustAnotherSpoonie 4d ago
I have a rare disease, live in Eugene, but get care at OHSU in Portland. If I could move to Portland I would. Even though I only have a handful of specialist visits a year, the healthcare in Eugene is so sparse and disconnected that getting routine tests means you have to run around playing secretary across various labs/imaging centers/etc. There is also no guarantee that the Healthcare offices in Eugene will want to send your results to PDX or even process referrals promptly. It is an exhausting game of tag.
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u/LMFAEIOUplusY 4d ago
Portland.
Medical support here in the Eug sucks right now.
You're remote now, but if you EVER want to go back to an office, Metro Portland may have it. Eugene . . . will. not.
EDM shows many times better in PDX than down here.
Portland Metro OBJECTIVELY has more libraries and universities than Eugene.
re: 'Smaller city, may be an easier adjustment....' Focus on the neighborhood.
Sooooooo many neighborhoods to choose from in Portland Metro. You could try one area for a year, then a different area....
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u/throwra1525 4d ago
Agreed with all of that, I wish our food scene was better here and we had more variety in international stores like Portland does.
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u/Smooth_Row_3563 4d ago
I have lived in Eugene for 14 years. I’m from Louisville. I am here because I’m an avid outdoorsman and this was my driving factor. Also prior to this I lived in San Francisco for years and chose Eugene because it was a smaller city that still had most if not all big town amenities. I moved here when I was 31. Even though I’m constantly out doing outdoor things in my area, I never run out of things to do and new places to explore. This wouldn’t be any different in Portland, and honestly you may have even more options (faster access to well known mountains that are slightly bigger and crazier). When doing these outdoor activities from Portland area, you are competing with Portland and the greater Seattle area residents as well. That’s a LOT of people at the trailheads, parks, etc. This is my main detracting reason why I didn’t choose Portland. I do make special trips to the WA cascades and Mt hood areas but it’s nice to have the same quality out the back door with a tiny fraction of the people. I made more close life long friends in my first couple years in Eugene than ten years in SF. People are generally less jaded here. I go to Portland a few times a year for shows but the university keeps the arts and lecture scene here alive and well. Also many of those shows come through Eugene on weeknights before heading up to Portland, so you seldom have to travel to see a good band. Some other thoughts: -Homeless people are part of life in both areas and you have to be ready for this. -Eugene gets way less rain than Portland, and it’s easier to escape bad weather by adjusting your adventures by going to the coast vs mountains, or running further south a couple hours (CA climate is only three hours south of here as far as the outdoors is concerned) -you’re going to take a hit on ethnic diversity in Eugene. This is the same with restaurants. Your options will be less here, and they aren’t usually fantastic. -the hospital problems are a thing, but they aren’t terrible. Many people from all over Oregon come to Eugene/springfield for medical treatments -choose your neighborhood wisely. I love the older parts of town but to each their own. -I’ve lived many places, but I like it here the most
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u/Healthy_Exit1507 4d ago
Plan on spending 500-800k for a decent property in Eugene and tack 200-300k to tht for Portland property
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u/EnthusiasmBroad5496 4d ago
Sticker price is high on the west coast, however at least in Eugene our property taxes are way way lower than our houses in Omaha. So it’s nearly a wash.
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u/Healthy_Exit1507 1d ago
Not sure where you found that information but our prop taxes are high and it is not a wash at all
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u/EnthusiasmBroad5496 21h ago
My property taxes in Eugene are thousands of dollars lower than Omaha. But I was in a suburb called Elkhorn which was high. I’m just saying the actual payment is only a little more in Eugene for a home that’s $100k higher. You can look up statistics to find the averages, but I’m giving you a first hand account
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u/Healthy_Exit1507 1d ago
Omaha Nebraska housing is a whopping 41% less expensive then Eugene oregon
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u/EnthusiasmBroad5496 21h ago
Omaha’s a bigger place. There is a much greater difference between nice neighborhoods and poor neighborhoods, which brings the median down. Eugene neighborhoods are all relatively similar in price except for a few
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u/Healthy_Exit1507 1d ago
Median house in Omaha at 252k while in Eugene we are median housing 459k. The only thing less exp in Eugene comparatively speaking is medical care / and Thts not a good thing. It's reflective on our lack of specialty medicine and dentistry.
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u/drunkandy 4d ago
I’ve spent a bunch of time in Louisville and Portland is definitely more of a size/vibe match- that said- I love Eugene and would rather live here.
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u/booksdogstravel 4d ago
If your wife needs specialized health care then Portland is a better choice than Eugene.
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u/lilvoodoomama 4d ago
Love Eugene, moved from Tennessee. But be aware the healthcare system here is total trash.
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u/CoconutYung 4d ago
Some advice about renting in Eugene based on my experience and my friends in grad school. I had a very hard time finding a place to rent when I moved here (granted, I make <20k/yr, so my price range was limited), so you may need more than two weeks. That said, each neighborhood is different and worth checking out/researching before you commit. Some areas will have loud college parties, some are very sleepy non-walkable suburbs, some are cool and full of old hippies and young tweakers. There are some spots in Springfield that are pretty cool and put you closer to better outdoor rec sites. If you're looking st property manager websites, don't trust Chinook. They are notorious for leaving a listing online after they have already rented it in order to collect more application fees. Also avoid Jennings if you want a responsive landlord and to get your deposit back. Shotolla is the best, if you can find one of theirs open. Their units are well built, somewhat reasonably priced, and the management is honest and responsive. If you like the outdoors, Eugene has a slight advantage over portland, but I think both are nearly equal. In general, it takes about 40 minutes to be at a great trailhead, fishing spot, or river put-in, from Eugene. It's probably an hour for the same in Portland depending on traffic. Ski hills are 1.5 hr from either, but MUCH cheaper near Eugene. Both cities have recreation within the city as well. You'll find more crowds in the Gorge and around Mt Hood (Portland) than you will in the McKenzie valley and Coast Range (Eugene), but you can find secluded/obscure places not far from either city.
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u/galactabat 4d ago
I lived in Louisville for High School and College then moved to Eugene after. I'm not sure about the price-comparison, but I enjoy the people and scenery here much more, plus Eugene is like adjacent to almost everything (skiing, beaches, hiking, bigger cities, etc..)
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u/littlehops 4d ago
Isn’t Louisville a pretty big city? Eugene is cheaper and honestly I love it, but anywhere up and down the Valley (Portland to Eugene) are lots of smaller cities and all have their own vibe but all are close to the outdoors. Filling prescription in Eugene isn’t that hard, you just may need to find a pharmacy willing to make the order. The (techno?) music scene is definitely smaller in Eugene but it is here, but much larger in Portland. I think both places would be a good fit, but there is way more to do in Portland. I’ve always thought of Eugene as a large town more than a city as far as vibes.
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u/pataphor_ 4d ago
Louisville's a decent size, but more sprawling so it feels smaller than it is. Good info though, thanks!
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u/EnthusiasmBroad5496 4d ago
We moved with our kids from Omaha (relative to the size of Louisville) to Eugene which is much smaller. Eugene is great, probably the only smaller city I’d live in. Portland is great too and an easy drive. Eugene is essentially Portland without 3 million people. It’s a very very active small city with a many trails, people are welcoming and enjoyable to talk to. Most people have interesting stories about living all over the country and world.
We couldn’t be happier here to be honest. Also the climate is steady, predictable and enjoyable all year long. Driving anywhere in Eugene is easy and close as well. Coming from a place the size of Louisville to Eugene you’ll feel like traffic is a thing from a previous life. In the summer the coast is an hour to the west. In the winter we go skiing an hour to the east, yet we don’t have any snow to shovel in Eugene. Cheers and good luck.
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u/independentgirl3000 4d ago
i am a student at UO living in the hendricks park area, a very diverse (elderly, students, families, and couples) in a VERY nature oriented place with constant walkers, easy access to nature, hiking trails, wildlife, quiet and peaceful neighborhood. it wasn’t ever the plan for my parents to own a house but it worked out well. the neighborhood is largely lower than 1mil for a new or remodeled home with its “remote” distance from UO campus and its rural status. my only complaint is poor wifi so plan for putting in fiber optics.
I also receive special medications and just have them sent to the CVS away from campus. the stand alone store NOT in a target or anything. i have never had an issue with my medications in eugene and it’s been way easier than getting them in california shockingly.
specialists are also available in portland, salem, and the west linn areas depending on the medical concerns.
i would contact theresa Stanley a local realtor in the know, on the ball, and incredible throughout the home purchasing process for my parents and i!
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u/LMFAEIOUplusY 4d ago
Where is the standalone CVS in Eugene? I only know of the one in Target out on West 11th.
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u/thelineupisfire 4d ago
Your second point in the more info part, it is VERY VERY VEEEERRRRYYYYYYY difficult to get healthcare in Eugene right now.
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u/Oregonguy1954 4d ago
Eugene has much more smoke during the summers and allergy problems they don't have in Portland because they're not stuck down in the bottom end of a valley. Breathing is easier in Portland.
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u/Birdsonme 4d ago
I’ve been trying to get into a doctor for months here and can’t. Either they aren’t taking new patients, they’re booking several months out, or just decide to cancel the appointment for unknown reasons only to reschedule months out… don’t trust Eugene for medical treatment, even basic care.
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u/RealityShaper 4d ago
If you plan to buy a house, go for Eugene: https://gis.dogami.oregon.gov/maps/hazvu/ Check the Cascadia Earthquake Hazard checkbox.
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u/Bluebikes 4d ago
No longer live in Eugene, but spent most of my 30s there with kids. It’s definitely kid-friendly, but since that’s not an issue for you, Portland may be preferable? Honestly Eugene has most of the cultural things you can find in Portland, just on a smaller scale. Eugene is like a tiny Portland, or maybe Portland is like 10 Eugenes?
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u/EnthusiasmBroad5496 4d ago
The people are the same in both, it just comes down to how many restaurants you need vs how much traffic and people you can withstand.
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u/youreseeingdouble 4d ago
I think the biggest factor is the size of the two cities. Eugene is 200k Portland is like 1.5 mil. Portland has more to offer but it being bigger has some drawbacks - more crime, traffic can be really bad. Both have great outdoor activities.
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u/EverSarah 4d ago
Does Portland really have more crime per capita? I was working in downtown Eugene and found it pretty stressful. I moved up to Portland a couple months ago and haven’t had a single person scream “c*nt” at me since. In fairness, I think it’s just because I don’t work downtown anymore- there are SO MANY more job opportunities and neighborhoods in Portland- but yeah, if OP is working from home and can afford the Friendly neighborhood or something, he’ll never have to go downtown.
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u/No_Context5435 4d ago
Come join us in Eugene! We can always use more childfree adults here. My spouse and I moved here from the East Coast ten years ago and we love it. We visited Louisville a couple of times and I remember there was a big beer scene there - our breweries have decreased since the pandemic but we still have a pretty solid beer community going.
Many of my favorite things about Eugene have already been said, but I wanted to put in another plug for the arts here - I believe it's on par with Louisville, which is a feat especially because it is a much smaller city.
Good luck! Don't be afraid to explore some of the surrounding areas of Eugene for cheaper housing - Veneta, Creswell, and Junction City are not far by car, and you're probably used to driving anyway!
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u/Spore-Gasm 4d ago
I pay more for rent here than I did in Portland. Eugene doesn’t have a hospital now. I would avoid Eugene.
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u/_Pulltab_ 4d ago
We are much older - empty nesters, but very similar circumstances otherwise. We chose Eugene because:
- cost of living
- university town (just like the vibes)
- central to coast, mountains, desert (PDX is too, to some degree but Eugene just felt more central and easy to travel from
- smaller - we same from a city about 1/2 the size of PDX and I just didn’t want to live in a city that big
So far I haven’t come across any major detractors. Definitely will need to assess medical professional requirements but like others said, Portland is only a couple of hours away.
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u/ExtraSpinach 4d ago
Having reviewed a lot of the comments I think everything has been covered. I moved back to Eugene after living abroad in a very Portland-like city for over ten years, primarily to be with family and raise my kid. I’ll be moving back to a Portland-like city as soon as my kid leaves for college.
In terms of finding short term housing when you arrive, try Furnished Finder as well as Airbnb, and always reach out to the Airbnb host with your specific needs because they may be willing to do a deal on a middle-term rental vs their sticker price.
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u/Oregonguy1954 3d ago
Many people on this sub complain they can't get a primary care provider in Eugene. Also, know that Eugene leads the world in pollen count from time to time (this is not an exaggeration, you can look it up) and we are first in the nation in homeless per capita and the last time I looked, in incidences of road rage, well ahead of second place Atlanta. We have had one blue sky day that I remember since Thanksgiving. If you are subject to S.A.D this seems to be a particularly bad year for it. Yesterday the street light outside my house turned on just after 3PM, so great was the darkness. Just be ready. If you visit here certain times of the year, it's glorious, but we pay for three nice months by dealing with nine not so nice months. Sometimes we get a break a little early or a little late, but right now the sky comes in three colors: Light gray, dark gray, and black, with occasional blue holes. Folks who are not used to it are often quite surprised by how dark it is in Eugene this time of year. According to CurrentResults.com, you're getting 195 sunny days in Louisville per year. Eugene gets 157, more than a whole month a year fewer sunny days, and Portland is even worse, at 142. Do your due diligence. Nowhere will you find paradise on earth.
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u/BakedHousewife 3d ago
I would highly suggest having housing a little closer to lined up than renting an air b&b while looking. Affordable housing, housing in particular can be difficult to find and is one of the issues of such rampant homelessness in the area. Eugene fast became a place to move to, and people were living in their cars, not realizing how many other people had the same idea.
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u/Univited_Arbiter 3d ago
Because you’re a dev and your age range, move to Portland. You can likely afford it (it’s really not that much more expensive) especially for what you get.
Having PDX airport to fly in and out of will be a huge upgrade from Eugene as well, especially if you plan to travel or people want to travel to you
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u/AppropriatePirate702 4d ago
Portland is an expensive cesspool of homelessness, drugs and violence, not that it's any better here in Eugene but I wouldn't live there
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u/Lopsided_Piece9542 4d ago
Don’t let your wife go to Coburg 10 at pacific women’s center. Both my kids were emergency csections and I don’t recommend them.
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u/Calm_Astronaut7732 4d ago
OP said in another comment no kids (✂️) so that won’t be an issue thankfully. Not that this helpful for OP, but who was your doctor if you don’t mind me asking? I had 2 different delivering doctors but also had 2 emergency c sections through them.
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u/Lopsided_Piece9542 4d ago
Im kinda out of it this start of the year so sorry in advance for any edgy tone i really don’t mean it. Sometimes it helps to know where NOT to go 🤣 He did say his wife needs medical care for a genetic thing, so I thought it was helpful where to let them know NOT to start- I’d assume she would start looking for women’s care 🤷🏻♀️ who knows. Now, our topic, Did you give birth at Riverbend? I assume bc most docs at pwc only work with Riverbend. I had the same Dr for both pregnancies and they were 5.5 years apart. I gave her another chance, but when she didn’t advocate enough for me with Riverbend to schedule the second preg. C-section for week 38 I knew it was too late to do week 39. Looooong story short. I went into labor the day before the scheduled C-section and it was troubled- became emergency, uterus erupted I could have bled out. We can chat more in dm. It was Dr. Gerhards.
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u/iNardoman 4d ago
I don't think Eugene is cheaper than Portland anymore.