Eugene earns its spot as a classic hippie playground. It’s very laid back, full of lush greenery, and extremely liberal (though the city is surrounded by some more conservative communities, making for an interesting and sometimes combative mix.) There’s a dispensary on practically every corner and an extremely pro-health vibe.

The beautiful forests and hiking trails in Oregon come with a price, and that price is devastatingly bad allergies for those who are sensitive to grass. The worst of it runs from February to April, but for those who suffer, it can be murder.

It’s the land of the free

LookyLOO Review of Eugene

Eugene is consistently named one of the best small cities in the United States. Situated by the beautiful Willamette River, Alton Baker Park offers a scenic respite and there will be hiking -- lots of it. It doesn’t have great public transportation, but it’s a small town and it’s relatively easy to get around -- particularly on bike. Locals flock to the many farmer’s markets, including the renowned Saturday Market, and enjoy good schools, plenty of open spaces, and moderate nightlife.

To see what locals get up to for fun in Eugene check out the [calendar of events](https://calendar.eugeneweekly.com/calendars/all-events). 

We highly recommend visiting Eugene and staying in the community in a [VRBO](https://vrbo.com/affiliate/p4JS4ZC) rather than a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our [partnership with Expedia](expedia.com/affiliate/9NZ8LBQ) as well.

Lifestyle 

Eugene is reliably consistent. It’s a comfortable place to live and offers a great quality of life. And if you tire of small city life, Seattle, Portland and San Francisco aren’t really all that far away.

Comfy

Why You Should Move Here Now?

SquirrellyGrrly
7mo ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

I'll have been here one year in July.

Everyone in my household found jobs far better than anything available where we lived in Texas within the first few weeks. We have much better healthcare and benefits. The landscape is incredibly beautiful, and I have loved every season. We got here and it was sunny and warm. We picked wild plums and blackberries and visited farmers markets and hiked. Everything was so much prettier than we'd imagined. Then autumn came and blew us away. The trees turned orange and red and purple and it was just gorgeous. We picked pears and apples and the perfect pumpkin from local farms. The winter days were perfect fireplace weather, when you just cuddle up with a hot tea and a kitty and watch the rain fall outside. All that rain kept the lawns and bushes happy and green. We had a few days of snow, all in the same week, and the whole town shut down for it. Beyond that, it really wasn't too cold. Spring came and everything flowered. The trees bloomed, we walked everywhere on carpets of falling blossoms. It was like a fairytale. Then the cherry blossoms joined in. Just gorgeous. And now it's warm again. We just went and swam and hiked at Silver Falls, which is a reasonable day trip from here. I've never lived anywhere so beautiful.

People here have been kind. I feel safer here than I did in Texas. Gun violence is lower. People walk and bike everywhere. Geese and ducks just hang out in the parks, totally comfortable with people walking around them. Moving here was one of the best decisions we've ever made.

Reviews of Eugene from Locals

**The Best Thing About Eugene?**  It’s the land of the free

Eugene earns its spot as a classic hippie playground. It’s very laid back, full of lush greenery and extremely liberal (though the city is surrounded by some more conservative communities, making for an interesting and sometimes combative mix.) There’s a dispensary on practically every corner, and an extremely pro-health vibe. 

**The Worst Thing About Eugene?**  The allergies

The beautiful forests and hiking trails in Oregon come with a price, and that price is devastatingly bad allergies for those that are sensitive to grass. The worst of it runs from February to April, but for those who suffer, it can be murder. 

**How You Living?**  Simply

Eugene is consistently named one of the best small cities in the United States. Situated by the beautiful Willamette River, Alton Baker Park offers a scenic respite and there will be hiking -- lots of it. It doesn’t have great public transportation, but it’s a small town and it’s relatively easy to get around -- particularly on bike. Locals flock to the many farmer’s markets, including the renowned Saturday Market and enjoy good schools, plenty of open spaces and a moderate nightlife.

**Why You Should Move Here Now?** 

Eugene is reliably consistent. It’s a comfortable place to live and offers a great quality of life. And if you tire of small city life, Seattle, Portland and San Francisco aren’t really all that far away.



University of Oregon only houses around 17% of students and so the overflow fills plenty of neighborhoods around the school. South University gets more of the graduate student community. Single family homes and a relaxed chill pub and cafe vibe attracts older students, college faculty and families. Undergrads spread out in other neighborhoods including Downtown and West University. 
- West University
- Downtown
- South University

College Students

West University

West University pulls in a lot of young professionals, sometimes graduates who like being close to campus, and sometimes new professionals who want to be next to downtown but who like the outdoor recreation the neighborhood offers. Downtown of course is another popular choice with short walks to work appealing and the social scene of the area a powerful combination. 
- West University
- Downtown


Young Professionals 

Downtown

West Eugene is an ideal starting point for families who crave a more rural neighborhood feel. While there is a real commercial district here for shopping and entertainment, there are also working farms and huge city parks that give the kids a true “out-of-city” experience, all from within the city limits. If you’re craving a more urban family-friendly neighborhood then check out Jefferson Westside. Just north of downtown you get easy access to the most active parts of the city and amazing arts and culture right in the neighborhood. 
- West Eugene
- Jefferson Westside
- Santa Clara


Families 

West Eugene

Eugene

**PoledraDog**
7mo ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

I grew up in Texas (Austin area), moved to Phoenix after college, and then moved here in 2010. I absolutely love it here! For me it's big enough to have everything I need on a regular basis (with a new exception, which I'll explain below), without all the hassle of traffic and long commutes that come with a larger city. (I have to go back to both the DFW and Austin areas frequently for family, and I HATE driving there! Makes me appreciate Eugene even more!). However I'm one who loves nature, quiet, doesn't do a lot other than an occasional night out to dinner or a concert. I do travel to Phoenix or Seattle a few times a year for events, and that's pretty easy by train. So some find this town boring, but I do not. I think it's beautiful, there are some lovely neighborhoods to walk through, and I can't get enough of the hiking that's available from 1-2 hours from here. Even our local Ridgeline trail system is pretty awesome! The available produce is amazing, and we have some quality butchers and fish markets as well.

**d0ughb0y17**
7mo ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉🦉

As an out of state person Eugene has some interesting things. They have a huge hippie population and it's not uncommon for a local to put trash in their pocket rather than throwing it away. You might see everyone here "avoid" you which might seem rude but people like to mind their own business here. It's a college town so September through June is its busy time with summers being more quiet. The town is left leaning in terms of politics if you care about such things. It rains a lot but the temperature is mild with the occasional spike in temp or drop depending on the time of year. The beach is an hour away to the west, and the Cascades and high desert is east an hour. This is Micro brew and wine country so if knocking back a few is your thing have at it. No one knows how to drive here... But that's everywhere in the country. This state is the first or second largest trans community in the countryside (percapita?). The coolest thing here in my opinion is the amount of outdoors activities you can do such as biking, hiking, and camping.

I like living here I have been all over the country and find this place to be the most beautiful and diverse community I have encountered. I have lived here almost thirty years since I was in middle school and I cannot imagine living anywhere else. Hopefully this helps you out with what you are looking for.

**Potato_Donkey_1**
7mo ago
🦉🦉🦉

I have lived in Eugene since 1996 with the exception of residencies in Kyoto, Budapest, Toronto, Paris and London of anywhere from three months to two years. I have sometimes joked that what Eugene needs is a subway system and somewhere to go on it. But in truth, I find Eugene to be a very livable US city. Mass transit is actually pretty good for a metro of just under a quarter million (Eugene and Springfield together), by US standards. Now, US standards except in New York, Boston, and Chicago include the assumption that only the poor will use mass transit.

Culturally, we have a very nice and very busy performing arts center, a relatively new library, and the usual amenities that come with being a university town.

Like many communities west of the Mississippi, the class structure is flat compared to east coast cities. I haven't lived in Texas as an adult, but I think there's much more wealth consciousness in urban Texas than you'll find here. The flip side is that we are, in aggregate, a comparatively poor state. Without a lot of status-conscious Old Money (or New Money for that matter), we benefit from fewer spectacular gestures of philanthropy. The most visible donor around here is probably Phil Knight. He lives in Seattle, but he has rained support on the university for things like a beautiful basketball stadium and other athletic facilities.

Eugene, Oregon

Hippie Haven

Looklyloo Score: 90